Advanced Vocab Words - Set 2 Flashcards
Learn to understand and effectively use 100 advanced vocabulary words. Improve your test scores, or simply be more articulate in your daily life. Each word is used in context in a sample sentence and includes synonyms and a pronunciation guide.
Define:
odium
(oh-dee-um)
n. repugnance, hatred
n. strong dislike
The popular odium of attorneys is often unmerited.
Define:
officious
(uh-fish-us)
adj. prone to giving unwanted advice
I make a habit of giving honest opinions, but I try to avoid being officious with my friends.
Define:
opaque
(owe-peyk)
adj. blocking all light
adj. hard to understand
The windows became so dirty they were almost opaque.
Define:
opportune
(opp-er-tune)
adj. happening under fitting circumstances, or at an appropriate or favorable time
The students waited for an opportune moment to surprise their teacher with the bouquet of flowers they had prepared.
Define:
superfluous
(suh-per-flu-us)
adj. more than necessary; unnecessary
The student’s essay was full of superfluous phrases that needed to be deleted.
Define:
supersede
(sue-per-seed)
v. to substitute; to take precedence over
It had been my understanding that the new tax code supersedes the old one, but actually both are in vigor simultaneously.
Define:
supplant
(suh-plant)
v. to replace
The higher-ups tried to supplant rebellious teachers with conformists.
Define:
supplicate
(sup-lih-kate)
v. to humbly ask
The churchgoers then bowed their heads and supplicated God to answer their prayers.
Define:
surmount
(ser-mount)
v. to overcome
v. to rise above
Through sheer determination, he was able to surmount his disadvantages and win the contest outright.
Define:
surreptitious
(ser-up-tish-us)
adj. secretive
Since they were not allowed to speak, the couple exchanged surreptitious glances from across the room.
Define:
symbiotic
(sim-bee-ott-ik)
adj. related to a relationship between two or more organisms living together
The whale and the small fish that cling to its body have a symbiotic relationship.
Define:
synapse
(sin-apse)
n. the small gap between the cells of nerves
Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse between brain cells.
Define:
synchronous
(sing-kruh-nuss)
adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate
The film was notable for its synchronous premiere in 11 capital cities around the globe.
Define:
tacit
(tass-it)
adj. implied or unspoken
There was a tacit agreement between the two companies that neither would expand into the other’s city.
Define:
taciturn
(tass-ih-turn)
adj. tending to be silent; quiet
Some of the students were quite taciturn and had to be asked to participate more.
Define:
exacerbate
(ig-zass-er-bate)
v. to make worse
The children’s screaming exacerbated their father’s headache.
Define:
exact
(ig-zact)
v. to forcibly obtain
The detectives finally exacted the truth from the witness.
Define:
exculpate
(ek-skull-pate)
v. to free from blame
The political prisoner was fully exculpated only when the dictatorship was overthrown and an independent truth commission established.
Define:
exhort
(ig-zort)
v. to urge by strong appeal
Taking the loudspeaker in her hand, the policewoman exhorted the kidnapper to release his hostage.
Define:
exigent
(ek-suh-djunt)
adj. requiring immediate attention; pressing, demanding
The show’s run was cut short by an exigent lack of funds.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. blame
n. strong dislike
odium
(oh-dee-um)
synonyms: shame, dishonor; disgust, detestation, contempt, aversion, revulsion
He faced odium from his peers after the project failed due to his oversight.
The odium directed at the politician was palpable after the controversial decision.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. prone to giving unwanted advice
officious
(uh-fish-us)
synonyms: forward, meddlesome, intrusive, impertinent, pushy
Her officious nature made her unpopular at social gatherings, as she constantly offered unsolicited tips.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. blocking all light
adj. hard to understand
opaque
(owe-peyk)
synonyms: blurred, darkened, lusterless; baffling, cryptic, clouded, unclear, ambiguous
The opaque curtains kept the room completely dark even during midday.
His explanation was so opaque that no one in the class could follow his logic.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. happening under fitting circumstances
opportune
(opp-er-tune)
synonyms: advantageous, favorable, timely, appropriate, convenient
The job offer came at an opportune moment, just as she was considering a career change.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. more than necessary; unnecessary
superfluous
(suh-per-flu-us)
synonyms: extra, excessive, overdone, redundant, unnecessary, surplus
Her apology seemed superfluous, as the issue had already been resolved.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to substitute; to take precedence over
supersede
(sue-per-seed)
synonyms: usurp, succeed, replace, take over, displace
The new law will supersede the outdated regulations next year.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to replace
supplant
(suh-plant)
synonyms: substitute, usurp, replace, displace, supplant
As technology evolves, new devices continually supplant older models in the market.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to humbly ask
supplicate
(sup-lih-kate)
synonyms: ask, pray for, desire, beseech, implore, entreat
The villagers supplicated for rain during the prolonged drought.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to overcome
v. to rise above
surmount
(ser-mount)
synonyms: vanquish, transcend, overcome, rise above, conquer
She managed to surmount all obstacles and graduate at the top of her class.
The athlete’s determination allowed him to surmount his previous records.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. secretive
surreptitious
(ser-up-tish-us)
synonyms: sneaky, secret, covert, furtive, stealthy, clandestine
Their surreptitious meeting was held late at night to avoid detection.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to a relationship between two or more organisms living together
symbiotic
(sim-bee-ott-ik)
synonyms: coactive, harmonious, joining, interdependent, collaborative, mutual
The symbiotic relationship between the bees and flowers benefits both species.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the small gap between the cells of nerves
synapse
(sin-apse)
synonyms: break, gap, divide, junction, connection, interface
The synapse is crucial for transmitting signals between neurons in the brain.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate
synchronous
(sing-kruh-nuss)
synonyms: concurrent, simultaneous, coordinated, aligned, parallel
The dancers moved in synchronous harmony, perfectly in sync with the music.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. implied or unspoken
tacit
(tass-it)
synonyms: suggested, unsaid, understood, implicit, implied, unspoken
There was a tacit understanding between them, even though no words were exchanged.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tending to be silent; quiet
taciturn
(tass-ih-turn)
synonyms: aloof, silent, mum, reserved, reticent, quiet
He remained taciturn throughout the meeting, preferring to listen rather than speak.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make worse
exacerbate
(ig-zass-er-bate)
synonyms: intensify, worsen, aggravate, heighten, amplify
His careless remarks only exacerbated the tense situation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly obtain
exact
(ig-zact)
synonyms: claim, take, demand, require, impose
The conqueror exacted heavy taxes from the subdued population.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to free from blame
exculpate
(ek-skull-pate)
synonyms: forgive, excuse, absolve, clear, vindicate
New evidence helped to exculpate the accused of all charges.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to urge by strong appeal
exhort
(ig-zort)
synonyms: warn, beseech, encourage, urge, implore
The coach exhorted his team to give their best performance during the final match.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. requiring immediate attention; pressing, demanding
exigent
(ek-suh-djunt)
synonyms: urgent, pressing, critical, imperative, demanding
The exigent nature of the patient’s condition required immediate medical intervention.
Define:
exonerate
(ig-zawn-ih-rate)
v. to clear of blame, guilt, or burden
Though the defendant had clearly done something wrong, the court had no choice but to exonerate her on the present charges.
Define:
expedient
(ek-spee-dee-unt)
adj. beneficial for one’s goal
n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem
The politician tended to bring up his humble origins when it was politically expedient.
Define:
expedite
(ek-spuh-dahyt)
v. to speed up
For an extra fee, the post office can expedite your package’s delivery.
Define:
expiate
(ek-spee-ate)
v. to atone for
After destroying his friend’s car, Jim hoped the fruit basket he sent would expiate his guilt.
Define:
extemporaneous
(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)
adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed
To be a news anchor, she would have to improve her extemporaneous speaking skills.
Define:
extol
(ik-stole)
v. to praise
Melinda was often heard extolling her daughter’s many talents.
Define:
extrapolate
(ek-strap-ih-late)
v. to make a guess based on facts
Pete figured it was possible to extrapolate her personality from her Facebook profile.
Define:
extricate
(ek-strih-kate)
v. to disentangle, to break free from
It was heartbreaking to watch the butterfly struggle in vain to extricate itself from the spider web.
Define:
churl
(churl)
n. a rude person
n. a cheap person
I had been waiting in line for hours when some churl tried to cut in front of me.
Define:
circuitous
(sir-cue-ih-tuss)
adj. roundabout
Because of the traffic accident, we had to take a circuitous route to the bank.
Define
circumscribe
(sir-come-skrahyb)
v. to draw or contain in a circle
v. to limit or restrain
I believe our government’s actions are circumscribed by financial interests as well as moral imperatives.
Define:
circumspect
(sir-come-spekt)
adj. prudent; cautious
Though her mother’s boyfriend attempted to win affection with toys and treats, Elise remained circumspect around him.
Define:
circumvent
(sir-kum-vent)
v. to get around an obstacle
She managed to circumvent security and approached her favorite actor backstage.
Define:
cleave
(kleev)
v. to cut off with force
v. to be loyal to
v. to develop an emotional bond with
She vowed that even when tempted she would cleave to her principles.
Define:
cloister
(cloy-stur)
v. to isolate
n. a place for religious isolation
The boy’s parents tended to cloister him from the harsher realities of the world.
Define:
coagulate
(koh-ag-yuh-late)
v. to clot or solidify
The poorly-made syrup began to coagulate on the pancakes after a few minutes.
Define:
coalesce
(koh-ih-less)
v. to come together to form a single unit
Our county’s many poverty initiatives are too different to coalesce into an effective whole.
Define:
cogent
(koh-djunt)
adj. clear and convincing
adj. relevant
We won the debate because the other team was unable to mount a cogent counter argument.
Define:
cohere
(koh-heer)
v. to be logically connected to
v. to stick to each other
These short stories are quite charming when taken separately, but they will not cohere if published together as a collection.
Define:
intransigent
(in-tran-suh-junt)
adj. unwilling to compromise
The government remained intransigent despite the people’s protest.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to clear of blame or guilt
exonerate
(ig-zawn-ih-rate)
synonyms: absolve, acquit, vindicate, clear, exculpate, discharge
The new evidence exonerated the defendant, proving he had no involvement in the crime.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beneficial for one’s goal
n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem
expedient
(ek-spee-dee-unt)
synonyms: worthwhile, advantageous; means, convenient, practical, beneficial
Choosing the most expedient option, he decided to postpone the meeting to meet his deadline.
Using a bucket to catch the leak was only an expedient until the plumber arrived.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to speed up
expedite
(ek-spuh-dahyt)
synonyms: accelerate, hasten, facilitate, quicken, speed up
They hired more workers to expedite the construction process and finish ahead of schedule.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to atone for wrongdoing
expiate
(ek-spee-ate)
synonyms: amend, atone, redeem, compensate, rectify
He worked to expiate his guilt by volunteering at the local shelter.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed
extemporaneous
(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)
synonyms: improvised, impromptu, unprepared, spontaneous, ad-libbed
Her extemporaneous speech impressed the audience, despite being unplanned.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to praise
extol
(ik-stole)
synonyms: praise, celebrate, laud, commend, glorify, acclaim
The teacher extolled the student for her outstanding performance in the competition.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make a guess based on facts; to conjecture
extrapolate
(ek-strap-ih-late)
synonyms: assume, hypothesize, infer, deduce, project
Scientists used data from past experiments to extrapolate the likely outcome of the new test.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to disentangle, to break free from
extricate
(ek-strih-kate)
synonyms: clear, disburden, extract, free, release, liberate
It took hours to extricate the hiker from the thick underbrush.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a rude person
n. a cheap person
churl
(churl)
synonyms: lout, oaf; miser, peasant, boor, clod, misanthrope
The churl refused to hold the door open for the elderly woman.
Known for his stinginess, the churl never tipped the waiter, no matter how good the service.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. roundabout
circuitous
(sir-cue-ih-tuss)
synonyms: indirect, labyrinthine, roundabout, winding, devious
Their journey took a circuitous route through the countryside, avoiding the main highway.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to draw or contain in a circle
v. to limit or restrain
circumscribe
(sir-come-skrahyb)
synonyms: mark off, bound, confine, limit, restrict, delineate
The artist circumscribed the design with a fine, precise border.
The new rules circumscribe the amount of time employees can spend on personal tasks during work hours.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. prudent; cautious
circumspect
(sir-come-spekt)
synonyms: discreet, guarded, cautious, careful, wary
He was circumspect in his dealings, always thinking through the consequences before making a move.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to get around an obstacle
circumvent
(sir-kum-vent)
synonyms: avoid, bypass, dodge, evade, elude
He found a clever way to circumvent the security system and access the restricted area.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cut off with force
v. to be loyal to
v. to develop an emotional bond with
cleave
(kleev)
synonyms: divide, split; devote, join; bond, affix, sever, separate, adhere
The lumberjack cleaved the log in two with a single swing of his axe.
He cleaved to his principles even in the face of criticism.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to isolate
n. a place for religious isolation
cloister
(cloy-stur)
synonyms: secluded, monastery, convent, retreat
She chose to cloister herself in her room to focus on writing.
The monks lived in a quiet cloister, far removed from the bustle of the city.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to clot or solidify (for liquids)
coagulate
(koh-ag-yuh-late)
synonyms: condense, concrete, thicken, clot, congeal, solidify
The blood began to coagulate shortly after the injury.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to come together to form a single unit
coalesce
(koh-ih-less)
synonyms: adhere, cling, merge, unite, combine
The small towns coalesced into a single city over time.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. clear and convincing
adj. relevant
cogent
(koh-djunt)
synonyms: apt, compelling, valid, persuasive, forceful, coherent
Her cogent argument persuaded everyone in the room.
The lawyer’s points were cogent to the case at hand.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be logically connected to
v. to stick to each other
cohere
(koh-heer)
synonyms: adhere, conform, stick, bond, unite
The ideas in the paper cohere well, making the argument easy to follow.
After cooling, the molecules in the solution began to cohere and form a solid.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unwilling to compromise
intransigent
(in-tran-suh-junt)
synonyms: stubborn, unwilling, bullheaded, obstinate, inflexible, unyielding
The negotiators grew frustrated with the company’s intransigent stance on the contract terms.
Define:
intrepid
(in-trep-id)
adj. courageous
The intrepid naturalist routinely braved storms and mudslides to document new species.
Define:
intrinsic
(in-trin-zik)
adj. related to an object’s essence
Unfortunately, some degree of inefficiency is intrinsic to all democracies.
Define:
inure
(in-your)
v. to become accustomed to something negative or unpleasant
Nearby residents soon became inured to the noise from the construction project.
Define:
invective
(in-vek-tiv)
adj. verbally abusive
n. abusive or stern language
What this debate needs is a little less invective and a little more substance
Define:
irrevocable
(ih-rev-ih-kuh-bull)
adj. unable to be revoked; permanent
The laws the king decreed were irrevocable even after he left the throne.
Define:
jocular
(jock-yuh-lur)
adj. related to jokes
The boy was popular with his classmates due to his cheerful, jocular nature.
Define:
kernel
(kur-null)
n. the central part of a situation or seed
The kernel of the matter was that she didn’t even know where to begin looking for a new house.
Define:
lackluster
(lack-luss-tur)
adj. not lively; not bright
Tired from a long day, Susan gave a very lackluster performance during the dress rehearsal.
Define:
refractory
(rih-frack-tuh-ree)
adj. stubborn; difficult to treat or handle
The doctors did not know how to deal with such a refractory infection.
Define:
regiment
(redj-ih-munt)
n. a military unit of troops
v. to enforce a strict order or conformity
Four army regiments occupied the city last week.
Define:
remonstrate
(rih-mon-strehyt)
v. to protest
Many special-interest groups remonstrated against the new legislation.
Define:
remunerate
(rih-mew-nuh-rehyt)
v. to compensate monetarily for trouble or work done
Although they finally had to throw the computer out, Linda remunerated her friend for trying to fix it anyway.
Define:
render
(ren-der)
v. to take forcibly, result in, or cause to become
v. to do something for someone else
His harsh words rendered her speechless.
Define:
repose
(rih-poze)
n. peacefulness, rest
v. to be lying or stationary
In the summer, she would often lie under the willow trees in complete repose.
Define:
repudiate
(rih-pew-dee-ehyt)
v. to renounce ownership or disown
v. to refuse to recognize
v. to reject as true
The scientists who discovered the fossil were shocked when it was repudiated as a fake.
Define:
reticent
(rett-ih-sunt)
adj. not wanting to talk; reluctant
When asked about the stolen vase, the maid was reticent even though she had seen the thief take it.
Define:
retiring
(rih-tie-ring)
adj. shy; quiet
During high school, Mary became so retiring that people sometimes didn’t notice when they shared a class with her.
Define:
revere
(rih-veer)
v. to admire greatly; to honor
The mayor was so revered by the village that every single man, woman, and child attended his funeral.
Define:
platitude
(plat-ih-tewd)
n. a cliché, dull, or unenlightening saying
My father’s favorite platitude was, “Winners never quit, quitters never win”.
Define:
pliant
(ply-unt)
adj. easy to change or bend
adj. easy to convince
The professor needed a particularly pliant mind for his brainwashing experiments.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. courageous
intrepid
(in-trep-id)
synonyms: brave, heroic, fearless, dauntless, adventurous
The intrepid explorer ventured into the uncharted jungle without hesitation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to an object’s essence
intrinsic
(in-trin-zik)
synonyms: basic, inborn, fundamental, essential, inherent, innate
The desire to learn is intrinsic to human nature.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to become accustomed to something negative or unpleasant
inure
(in-your)
synonyms: desensitize, familiarize, habituate, harden, acclimate, condition
After years of working in harsh conditions, he became inured to the long hours and difficult tasks.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. verbally abusive
n. abusive or stern language
invective
(in-vek-tiv)
synonyms: berating, abuse, denunciation, vitriol, reprimand, tirade
The coach’s invective remarks demoralized the players.
The politician’s speech was filled with invective against his opponents.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unable to be revoked; permanent
irrevocable
(ih-rev-ih-kuh-bull)
synonyms: unchangeable, unalterable, final, binding, immutable
The decision to sell the house was irrevocable once the contract was signed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to jokes
jocular
(jock-yuh-lur)
synonyms: amusing, campy, jokey, humorous, witty, playful
His jocular personality always lightened the mood at gatherings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the central part of a situation or seed
kernel
(kur-null)
synonyms: core, crux, essence, nucleus, heart
At the kernel of the argument was a misunderstanding about expectations.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not lively; not bright
lackluster
(lack-luss-tur)
synonyms: dull, colorless, muted, uninspired, bland, mediocre
The movie’s lackluster plot left the audience disappointed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. stubborn; difficult to treat or handle
refractory
(rih-frack-tuh-ree)
synonyms: resistant, immune, unresponsive, obstinate, headstrong, intractable
The refractory patient refused to follow the doctor’s advice.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a military unit of troops
v. to enforce a strict order or conformity
regiment
(redj-ih-munt)
synonyms: military unit, command, designate, troop, battalion, organize
The regiment was deployed to the front lines during the conflict.
The new manager regimented the office, ensuring that everyone followed the rules to the letter.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to protest
remonstrate
(rih-mon-strehyt)
synonyms: argue, challenge, complain, dispute, object
The workers remonstrated against the unfair treatment by organizing a strike.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to compensate monetarily for trouble or work done
remunerate
(rih-mew-nuh-rehyt)
synonyms: compensate, reimburse, pay, reward, recompense
He was remunerated handsomely for the extra hours he worked on the project.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to take forcibly, result in, or cause to become
v. to do something for someone else
render
(ren-der)
synonyms: cause, become, execute; carry out, accomplish, provide, deliver, perform
The accident rendered him unable to continue his athletic career.
She rendered assistance to the elderly man struggling with his groceries.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. peacefulness
n. rest
repose
(rih-poze)
synonyms: rest, lack of work, tranquility, calm, relaxation
After a long day of work, he sought repose in the quiet of his garden.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to renounce ownership or disown
v. to refuse to recognize
v. to reject as true
repudiate
(rih-pew-dee-ehyt)
synonyms: reject, decline, disown, renounce, deny, abandon
He repudiated his involvement in the scandal.
The government repudiated the treaty after discovering the violation.
She repudiated the claims made against her in court.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not wanting to talk; reluctant
reticent
(rett-ih-sunt)
synonyms: not talkative, reserved, tight-lipped, taciturn, silent
He was reticent to share his opinions during the meeting.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. shy; quiet
retiring
(rih-tie-ring)
synonyms: bashful, unassuming, reserved, modest, introverted
Despite his retiring demeanor, he was well-liked by his colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to admire greatly; to honor
revere
(rih-veer)
synonyms: adore, esteem, value, venerate, respect, honor
The community reveres its elders for their wisdom and experience.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a cliché, dull, or unenlightening saying
platitude
(plat-ih-tewd)
synonyms: banality, cliché, triteness, overused expression, commonplace
Her speech was full of empty platitudes that added nothing new to the discussion.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. easy to change or bend
adj. easy to convince
pliant
(ply-unt)
synonyms: amenable, compliant, pliable, flexible, adaptable, yielding
The material was pliant, making it perfect for sculpting.
He was so pliant that he often went along with whatever his friends suggested.
Define:
poignant
(poin-yunt)
adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
Watching her daughter wake up was particularly poignant for her mother who had worried by her bedside the whole night.
Define:
polar
(poe-lur)
adj. related to opposite extremes or sides
The two were so different their personalities could be considered polar opposites.
Define:
polemic
(puh-lem-ik)
adj. controversial
n. a controversial argument
As soon as the graduate student obtained her doctorate, she published a polemic refutation of her mentor’s work.
Define:
ponderous
(pon-dur-us)
adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness
adj. requiring a lot of work
The ponderous task was completed in no time, thanks to the large number of volunteers we had.
Define:
portend
(pore-tend)
v. to foretell
The witch claimed that the stormy weather portended the ruler’s downfall.
Define:
posit
(poz-it)
v. to assume as fact
Some physicists posit that the universe will expand forever.
Define:
postulate
(poss-chuh-lehyt)
v. to assume a basic truth
Economic theory postulates limits on essential resources as the basis of human behavior.
Define:
bolster
(bole-stur)
v. to support
The candidate’s campaign was bolstered by endorsements by several former military leaders.
Define:
bombastic
(bom-bass-tick)
adj. inflated, arrogant
The bombastic way in which the author described his new novel repulsed me.
Define:
brood
(brewd)
n. a group of offspring
v. to worry over
The hen protected her new brood from the farmer’s inspection.
Define:
burgeon
(burr-djun)
v. to grow
The burgeoning mass of bees was heading straight for the picnic.
Define:
exacting
(ig-zak-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
The exacting professor wanted a 15-page paper due the next day in class.
Define:
rebuke
(rih-byook)
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
The child was rebuked for stealing candy.
Define:
dulcet
(duhl-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
The dulcet tone of the musical parody contrasted sharply with its offensive lyrics.
Define:
toady
(toh-dee)
n. a flatterer, a yes man
The president was surrounded by toadies rather than people with honest criticisms.
Define:
gall
(gawl)
n. audacity, impudence
He had the gall to request a raise after it was discovered that he was calling in sick in order to play golf.
Define:
cloying
(kloi-ing)
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
Unfortunately, cloying romantic comedies are sure box-office hits, and so Hollywood continues to churn them out.
Define:
sully
(suhl-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
Joe’s reputation as an ethical CEO was sullied by his selfish actions during his company’s merger.
Define:
defile
(dih-fahyl)
v. to dirty, spoil, or dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
The holy site was unwittingly defiled when the invaders, for whom it held no special meaning, used it as a stable.
Define:
pithy
(pith-ee)
adj. concise and relevant
Satya’s pithy keynote speech was more enlightening than the endless lectures that had preceded it.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
poignant
(poin-yunt)
synonyms: agonizing, bitter; sharp, keen, touching, moving, heartrending
The movie’s poignant ending left many in the audience in tears.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to opposite extremes or sides
polar
(poe-lur)
synonyms: opposite, contrary, counter, diametric, conflicting, opposing
Their political views were polar, making compromise difficult.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. controversial
n. a controversial argument
polemic
(puh-lem-ik)
synonyms: refutation, dispute, debate, controversy, argument
The author’s polemic essay sparked a heated debate.
He engaged in a polemic with the journalist over the ethics of the new policy.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness; or
adj. requiring a lot of work
ponderous
(pon-dur-us)
synonyms: burdensome, unwieldy, heavy, cumbersome, tedious
The ponderous box required two people to move it.
The ponderous task of organizing the event took several weeks.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to foretell
portend
(pore-tend)
synonyms: foreshadow, harbinger, signal, indicate, presage
Dark clouds portend an approaching storm.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to assume as fact
posit
(poz-it)
synonyms: propose an explanation based upon assumptions, postulate, assume, assert, suggest, hypothesize
The scientist posited a theory based on the available evidence.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to assume a basic truth
postulate
(poss-chuh-lehyt)
synonyms: assert, premise, suppose, hypothesize, posit, claim
The philosopher postulated that human beings are inherently good.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to support
bolster
(bole-stur)
synonyms: assist, aid, help, strengthen, reinforce, uphold
The new evidence helped bolster his argument in court.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. inflated, arrogant
bombastic
(bom-bass-tick)
synonyms: grandiose, egotistical, pompous, verbose, pretentious
His bombastic speech was filled with grandiose claims that lacked substance.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a group of offspring
v. to worry over
brood
(brewd)
synonyms: cluster, breed; grieve, dwell upon, family, litter, offspring
The mother hen carefully watched over her brood of chicks.
He sat by the window, brooding over his recent failures.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to grow
burgeon
(burr-djun)
synonyms: blossom, grow, expand, flourish, thrive, multiply
Her business began to burgeon after she introduced a new product line.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
exacting
(ig-zak-ting)
synonyms: claim, command; difficult, formidable, demanding, stringent, rigorous
Her exacting standards made it difficult to meet her expectations.
The exacting task of restoring the antique painting required precision.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
rebuke
(rih-byook)
synonyms: berate, blame, condemn, scold, reprimand, admonish
The teacher rebuked the student for not completing his homework on time.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
dulcet
(duhl-sit)
synonyms: melodious, pleasurable, sweet, harmonious, soothing
The dulcet tones of the violin soothed everyone in the room.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a flatterer, a yes man
toady
(toh-dee)
synonyms: doter, brownnoser, sycophant, flatterer, fawning
He surrounded himself with toadies who never questioned his decisions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. audacity, impudence
gall
(gawl)
synonyms: nerve, brashness, boldness, temerity, impertinence
It took a lot of gall for him to make such bold demands after his recent mistakes.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
cloying
(kloi-ing)
synonyms: cheesy, overly sentimental, sappy, sickly, sweet, excessive
The movie’s cloying romance scenes made it difficult to take the story seriously.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
sully
(suhl-ee)
synonyms: stain, blot, smear, taint, defile, corrupt
The scandal sullied his once pristine reputation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to dirty, spoil, dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
defile
(dih-fahyl)
synonyms: befoul, besmirch, corrupt, desecrate, degrade
The vandals defiled the historic monument with graffiti.
The ancient tale spoke of a king who sought to defile the queen, only to be punished by the gods.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. concise and relevant
pithy
(pith-ee)
synonyms: concise, cogent, precise, succinct, terse, to-the-point
His pithy remarks during the meeting were both insightful and brief.
Define:
slovenly
(sluhv-uhn-lee)
adj. untidy, disheveled; unclean in appearance or habits
The other dinner guests held the slovenly drunkard in contempt.
Define:
onerous
(oh-ner-uhs)
adj. causing hardship; burdensome, troublesome
The students relished making the teacher’s job as onerous as possible.
Define:
scourge
(skurdj)
n. a plague or cause of affliction
n. something that causes suffering
The scourge of drugs in American society will be its downfall.
Define:
candor
(kan-der)
n. the quality of being frank, sincere, or impartial in expression
Giorgio was known for his candor, so it surprised no one when he began to talk at length about his love life.
Define:
boor
(boor)
n. a crude, unmannered, or rude person
The boor upset everyone at the fancy restaurant.
Define:
moribund
(mawr-uh-buhnd)
adj. dying, decaying, on the brink of extinction
The moribund customs of the indigenous culture are only practiced in a few outlying areas.
Define:
pine
(pahyn)
v. to suffer from extreme desire or painful longing; to yearn deeply
v. to waste away with grief
The sailor’s wife pined for him all through the long, harsh winter.
Define:
siren
(sahy-ruhn)
n. a beautiful, seductive, or charming woman
The young men of the neighborhood are smitten with the siren who moved in last week.
Define:
cache
(kash)
n. a hidden place, a secret storage
n. a place for valuables
The bomb shelter had a cache of resources capable of supporting the family.
Define:
lionize
(lahy-uh-nahyz)
v. to treat a person as a celebrity
When the musical sensation returned to her hometown, she was lionized by everyone she knew.
Define:
skulk
(skuhlk)
v. to lie in wait; to hide with evil intent
The fugitive was spotted skulking about the docks just past midnight.
Define:
emendation
(ee-muhn-dey-shuhn)
n. a correction or revision in a text
Once the emendations have been made, the pamphlet can be sent to the printer.
Define:
euphony
(yoo-fuh-nee)
n. a pleasant, harmonious sound
The euphony of the Italian language is unparalleled.
Define:
terse
(turs)
adj. succinct, curt
Your terse apology does not even begin to give an adequate explanation for your behavior.
Define:
trite
(trahyt)
adj. uninteresting due to overuse; hackneyed
Though some may find Valentine’s Day chocolates trite, I look forward to every box I get.
Define:
malefactor
(mal-uh-fak-ter)
n. evildoer, culprit, a violator of the law
The Nuremberg trials brought the Nazi malefactors to justice.
Define:
obtuse
(uhb-toos)
adj. stupid, dull
adj. slow to perceive, feel, or respond
The obtuse response lacked a great deal of sophistication.
Define:
ingratiate
(ing-grey-shee-eyt)
v. to work oneself into the favor of someone
The intern ingratiated himself to his superiors starting on the first day.
Define:
travesty
(trav-uh-stee)
n. a perverse or ludicrous representation
Thom’s checkered tux was a travesty of good taste.
Define:
philology
(fih-lol-uh-djee)
n. the study of linguistics and literature
The students of philology were hunched over their Spanish literature texts.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. untidy, disheveled; unclean in appearance or habits
slovenly
(sluhv-uhn-lee)
synonyms: dirty, careless, messy, unkempt, disorganized
His slovenly appearance made a poor impression during the job interview.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. causing hardship; burdensome, troublesome
onerous
(oh-ner-uhs)
synonyms: arduous, cumbersome, vexatious, heavy, taxing, demanding
The onerous task of filing taxes each year often leaves people feeling frustrated.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a plague or cause of affliction
scourge
(skurdj)
synonyms: torment, affliction, pestilence, curse, bane, blight
The disease was a scourge on the population, causing widespread suffering.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the quality of being frank, sincere, or impartial in expression
candor
(kan-der)
synonyms: honesty, directness, openness, frankness, sincerity
Her candor in addressing the issues at hand earned her the respect of her colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a crude, unmannered, or rude person
boor
(boor)
synonyms: goon, oaf, barbarian, lout, clod, ruffian
The boor at the party offended everyone with his rude jokes and behavior.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. dying, decaying, on the brink of extinction
moribund
(mawr-uh-buhnd)
synonyms: doomed, expiring, passing, fading, declining, terminal
The once-thriving industry is now moribund, with very few companies still operating.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to suffer from extreme desire or painful longing
v. to waste away with grief
pine
(pahyn)
synonyms: dream, hanker, lust, long, yearn, ache
He spent months pining for his lost love.
She pined away after the death of her beloved pet.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a beautiful, seductive, and charming woman
siren
(sahy-ruhn)
synonyms: seductress, charmer, temptress, enchantress, diva
The actress played the role of a siren, luring men to their doom with her beauty.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a hidden place, a secret storage
n. a place for valuables
cache
(kash)
synonyms: secret storage place, hoard, stash, reserve
They found a cache of old coins hidden in the attic.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to treat a person as a celebrity
lionize
(lahy-uh-nahyz)
synonyms: adulate, worship, celebrate, glorify, praise
The young athlete was lionized by the media after his impressive victory.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to lie, to sneak into hiding, with evil intent
skulk
(skuhlk)
synonyms: tiptoe, sneak, slither, creep, lurk, hide, prowl
He skulked in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a correction or revisions in a text
emendation
(ee-muhn-dey-shuhn)
synonyms: editing, proofreading, revision, correction, amendment
The emendations made to the manuscript improved its clarity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a pleasant, harmonious sound
euphony
(yoo-fuh-nee)
synonyms: melody, symphony, harmony, music, tune
The euphony of the orchestra’s performance captivated the audience.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. succinct, curt
terse
(turs)
synonyms: brief, short, concise, succinct, to-the-point
His terse reply indicated he was not interested in continuing the conversation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. uninteresting due to overuse; hackneyed
trite
(trahyt)
synonyms: banal, common, stale, cliché, overused
The movie’s trite dialogue made it predictable and boring.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. evildoer, culprit, a violator of the law
malefactor
(mal-uh-fak-ter)
synonyms: felon, outlaw, villain, criminal, wrongdoer, perpetrator
The malefactor was finally caught after years of evading the authorities.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. stupid, dull
adj. slow to perceive, feel, or respond
obtuse
(uhb-toos)
synonyms: dense, dumb, insensitive, ignorant, thick-headed, slow-witted
He was so obtuse that he didn’t realize he had offended her with his comment.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to work oneself into the favor of someone
ingratiate
(ing-grey-shee-eyt)
synonyms: flatter, curry favor, ingratiate oneself, win over, charm
She tried to ingratiate herself with the boss by constantly praising his ideas.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a perverse or ludicrous parody or exaggeration
travesty
(trav-uh-stee)
synonyms: caricature, burlesque, parody, satire, farce
The film was a travesty of the original story, distorting its meaning entirely.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the study of linguistics and literature
philology
(fih-lol-uh-djee)
synonyms: the study of language; linguistics, and literature, linguistics, literary studies, language analysis
Her passion for philology led her to study ancient texts and their languages.
