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GRE Vocab Genius > Advanced Vocab Words - Set 3 > Flashcards

Advanced Vocab Words - Set 3 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.

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1
Q

Define:

burnish

(bur-nish)

A

v. to polish or make shine

n. a shiny appearance

The store owner’s son’s only job was to burnish the statues in the window every day.

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2
Q

Define:

buttress

(but-riss)

A

n. a supporting structure

v. to support or encourage

The parents decided to buttress the after-school programs that were in danger of ending by making donations.

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3
Q

Define:

equivocate

(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)

A

v. to make vague, unclear statements

The mayor equivocated when confronted about his use of public funds.

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4
Q

Define:

paragon

(par-uh-gon)

A

n. a model of excellence

The man was a paragon of virtue who had never stolen so much as a loaf of bread in his life.

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5
Q

Define:

cacophony

(kuh-kof-uh-nee)

A

n. unpleasant, discordant sounds

The orchestra’s first attempt to play together was a cacophony of jarring notes.

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6
Q

Define:

mawkish

(maw-kish)

A

adj. overly sentimental to a sickening point

The group of graduating seniors was a mawkish sight, crying and taking hundreds of pictures.

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7
Q

Define:

cajole

(kuh-djohl)

A

v. to make someone do something with flattery or promises

Mother cajoled her into driving the other children to school, promising to make her favorite dinner.

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8
Q

Define:

dogmatic

(dawg-matt-ik)

A

adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner

The dogmatic theorist refused to listen to any other possibilities.

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9
Q

Define:

calibrate

(kal-ih-brehyt)

A

v. to check or balance the scale of a measuring device with a standard scale

The new thermometer needed to be calibrated before it could be used.

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10
Q

Define:

perdition

(per-dish-uhn)

A

n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation

n. hell

Poor moral choices led Johnny down the road to perdition.

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11
Q

Define:

beseech

(bih-seech)

A

v. to request urgently

The dying man beseeched his family to visit him.

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12
Q

Define:

canny

(can-ee)

A

adj. careful; shrewd

John was a canny negotiator; no matter how bad his bargaining position, he would always come out on top.

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13
Q

Define:

seminal

(sem-uh-nl)

A

adj. original and influential

The seminal works of the artist developed into a new style of interpretation.

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14
Q

Define:

cantankerous

(can-tang-kurr-us)

A

adj. difficult to handle; ill-tempered

The worst part about working in customer service was having to deal with irate, cantankerous callers.

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15
Q

Define:

semantic

(suh-man-tick)

A

adj. related to the meaning of words

Susan felt that the abortion debate had become too focused on semantic arguments.

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16
Q

Define:

serrate

(sare-ate)

A

adj. having toothed edges (“serrated” is an alternate form of the adj.)

Kate used the serrate edge of the knife to cut through the tough meat.

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17
Q

Define:

sever

(sev-er)

A

v. to cut off

Unfortunately, to prevent the infection from spreading, the doctors had to sever the infected parts of the hand.

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18
Q

Define:

sinuous

(sin-you-us)

A

adj. twisting and winding

adj. not direct

The sinuous path through the mountains was probably the most dangerous route to take.

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19
Q

Define:

solicitude

(suh-liss-ih-tood)

A

n. caring about others’ well being

Though she claims not to have any feelings for Julio, she showed a great deal of solicitude when she learned of his illness.

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20
Q

Define:

solidarity

(sol-ih-dare-ih-tee)

A

n. a feeling of camaraderie with others due to shared goals

Several townspeople expressed solidarity with the union members by protesting with them.

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21
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to polish or make shine

n. a shiny appearance

A

burnish

(bur-nish)

synonyms: polish, brighten, shine, buff, enhance

He spent hours burnishing the silverware until it gleamed.

The marble floors had a burnish that reflected the sunlight beautifully.

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22
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a supporting structure

v. to support or encourage

A

buttress

(but-riss)

synonyms: prop, support; bolster, reinforce, shore up, sustain

The ancient cathedral was held up by massive stone buttresses.

The evidence presented in court buttressed his claims of innocence.

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23
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make vague, unclear statements

A

equivocate

(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)

synonyms: evade, sidestep, hedge, prevaricate, obscure

When asked about his plans, he began to equivocate, avoiding a direct answer.

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24
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a model of excellence

A

paragon

(par-uh-gon)

synonyms: archetype, ideal, exemplar, standard, model

She was considered a paragon of virtue and kindness by everyone who knew her.

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25
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. unpleasant, discordant sounds

A

cacophony

(kuh-kof-uh-nee)

synonyms: noise, clamor, din, racket, uproar

The cacophony of traffic and construction made it impossible to concentrate.

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26
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. overly sentimental to a sickening point

A

mawkish

(maw-kish)

synonyms: emotional, mushy, sentimental, sappy, overemotional

The movie’s mawkish love scenes were so exaggerated that they felt insincere.

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27
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make someone do something with flattery or promises

A

cajole

(kuh-djohl)

synonyms: coax, persuade, wheedle, sweet-talk, entice, manipulate

He managed to cajole his friend into lending him the car for the weekend.

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28
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner

A

dogmatic

(dawg-matt-ik)

synonyms: arrogant, bullheaded, authoritarian, opinionated, inflexible, doctrinaire

Her dogmatic stance on the issue left no room for discussion or compromise.

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29
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to check or balance the scale of a measuring device with a standard scale

A

calibrate

(kal-ih-brehyt)

synonyms: align, balance, fix, adjust, standardize, regulate

Before starting the experiment, the scientist calibrated the instruments to ensure accuracy.

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30
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation

n. hell

A

perdition

(per-dish-uhn)

synonyms: hell, damnation, corruption, underworld, eternal torment, abyss

The villain’s actions led him down a path of perdition, doomed to eternal suffering.

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to request urgently

A

beseech

(bih-seech)

synonyms: beg, appeal, plead, implore, urge, solicit

The villagers beseeched the king for help in their time of need.

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. careful; shrewd

A

canny

(can-ee)

synonyms: acute, cunning, astute, perceptive, shrewd

Her canny negotiation skills helped her secure a great deal on the contract.

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. original and influential

A

seminal

(sem-uh-nl)

synonyms: landmark, fundamental, fertile, groundbreaking, pioneering, innovative

His seminal work in physics changed the way scientists understood the universe.

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. difficult to handle; ill-tempered

A

cantankerous

(can-tang-kurr-us)

synonyms: crabby, cranky, aggressive, irritable, quarrelsome, testy

The cantankerous old man yelled at anyone who crossed his lawn.

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to the meaning of words

A

semantic

(suh-man-tick)

synonyms: linguistic, verbal, meaning-related, lexical, interpretive

The argument boiled down to a semantic difference in how they interpreted the contract.

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. having toothed edges

A

serrate

(sare-ate)

synonyms: a toothed edge or blade, notched, jagged, indented

The serrate edge of the knife made it easier to cut through tough materials.

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to cut off

A

sever

(sev-er)

synonyms: carve, disconnect, break off, cut, split, detach

The company had to sever ties with the contractor after the project went over budget.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. twisting and winding

adj. not direct

A

sinuous

(sin-you-us)

synonyms: curved, circuitous, meandering, twisting, serpentine, indirect

The sinuous path through the mountains made for a challenging hike.

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39
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. caring about others’ well being

A

solicitude

(suh-liss-ih-tood)

synonyms: consideration, watchfulness, care, concern, attentiveness

Her solicitude for her elderly neighbors was evident in the way she checked on them daily.

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40
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a feeling of camaraderie with others due to shared goals

A

solidarity

(sol-ih-dare-ih-tee)

synonyms: alliance, sympathy, unity, togetherness, support

The workers showed solidarity during the strike, united in their demands for better conditions.

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41
Q

Define:

soluble

(sol-yuh-bull)

A

adj. capable of being dissolved in a liquid

adj. capable of being solved

Certain medicines are soluble in water so they can be taken with ease.

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42
Q

Define:

solvent

(sol-vunt)

A

adj. able to meet financial obligations

n. a substance that can dissolve other substances

To remain solvent, the business was forced to sell its overseas operations.

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43
Q

Define:

soporific

(sop-uh-riff-ik)

A

adj. able to cause sleepiness

n. a substance that causes sleepiness

Bill’s new cold medication has soporific side effects that interfere with his ability to drive.

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44
Q

Define:

emulate

(em-yuh-lehyt)

A

v. to try to imitate or exceed another’s actions

Nancy wanted to emulate her older sister and so began to study more often.

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45
Q

Define:

enamor

(ih-nam-er)

A

v. to make infatuated; to cause to love

He was so enamored of her that he thought about her every day.

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46
Q

Define:

endemic

(in-dem-ik)

A

adj. originating in, native to, particular to

There are some deadly diseases that are endemic to the tropics.

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47
Q

Define:

endow

(in-dow)

A

v. to give (esp. an inheritance or genetic trait)

Christine’s mother endowed her with beautiful green eyes.

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48
Q

Define:

dour

(doo-er)

A

adj. harsh; gloomy, forbidding

adj. stern, humorless

The old headmaster never had anything but a dour expression to offer.

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49
Q

Define:

enervate

(in-er-vehyt)

A

v. to make weaker

The heat enervated the soccer players’ strength with each passing minute, and by halftime most were in no condition to continue playing.

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50
Q

Define:

insouciant

(in-soo-see-uhnt)

A

adj. unconcerned, nonchalant, lighthearted

Michael’s insouciant attitude towards schoolwork led to poor test grades.

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51
Q

Define:

evince

(ih-vins)

A

v. to clearly prove something, to indicate

Her choice not to enter into an argument with him evinced her maturity.

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52
Q

Define:

enfranchise

(in-fran-chahyz)

A

v. to give rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote

When women were finally enfranchised, spontaneous celebrations occurred throughout the country.

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53
Q

Define:

filigree

(fil-ih-gree)

A

n. an ornamental work, esp. delicate and lacelike

v. to adorn

The wine glass was filigreed with a delicate pattern of grape vines.

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54
Q

Define:

engender

(in-djen-dur)

A

v. to cause, to lead to

The poor ventilation in the factory engendered health problems amongst the workers.

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55
Q

Define:

apocryphal

(uh-pok-ruh-fuhl)

A

adj. of dubious origin; of doubtful authenticity

I believe all stories of alien abduction are apocryphal.

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56
Q

Define:

enmity

(en-mih-tee)

A

n. strong mutual hatred

Great enmity has existed between the two tribes for centuries, leading to untold bloodshed.

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57
Q

Define:

aesthete

(es-theet)

A

n. one with artistic sensibilities

The aesthete was able to knowledgeably interpret the painting.

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58
Q

Define:

estimable

(es-tuh-muh-buhl)

A

adj. formidable, worthy

The team knew within the first few minutes that they faced an estimable opponent.

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59
Q

Define:

revile

(ruh-vahyl)

A

v. to criticize with harsh or abusive language

Film critics reviled the studio for gutting the director’s artistic vision and replacing it with meaningless action sequences.

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60
Q

Define:

indefatigable

(in-duh-fat-ih-guh-buhl)

A

adj. incapable of becoming exhausted; tireless; dogged

The marathon runner was seemingly indefatigable, keeping up his brisk pace while competitors fell behind one after the other.

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61
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. capable of being dissolved in a liquid

adj. capable of being solved

A

soluble

(sol-yuh-bull)

synonyms: dispersable, dissolvable; solvable, liquid, mixable, meltable

The sugar is soluble in water.

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62
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. able to meet financial obligations

n. a substance that can dissolve other substances within itself

A

solvent

(sol-vunt)

synonyms: financially stable, viable; dissolver, liquid, cleanser, agent

The company is solvent after restructuring.

Water is a universal solvent.

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63
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. able to cause sleepiness

n. a substance that causes sleepiness

A

soporific

(sop-uh-rif-ik)

synonyms: anesthetic, narcotic, sedative, sleep-inducing, tranquilizing, calming

The lecture was soporific.

The medication had a soporific effect.

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64
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to try to imitate or exceed another’s actions

A

emulate

(em-yuh-lehyt)

synonyms: copy, mimic, imitate, rival, follow

She tries to emulate her mentor’s success.

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65
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make infatuated; to cause to love

A

enamor

(ih-nam-er)

synonyms: fascinate, captivate, infatuate, allure, enchant

He was enamored with her charm.

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66
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. originating in, native to, particular to

A

endemic

(in-dem-ik)

synonyms: local, regional, native, indigenous, specific

This species is endemic to the island.

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67
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to give (esp. an inheritance or genetic trait)

A

endow

(in-dow)

synonyms: provide, impart, bestow, grant, furnish

Her grandmother endowed her with a trust fund.

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68
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. harsh; gloomy, forbidding

adj. stern, humorless

A

dour

(doo-er)

synonyms: uninviting, severe, sullen, grim, austere

His dour demeanor intimidated the staff.

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69
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make weaker

A

enervate

(in-er-vehyt)

synonyms: tire, exhaust, debilitate, sap, weaken

The heat enervated the athletes.

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70
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unconcerned, nonchalant, lighthearted

A

insouciant

(in-soo-see-uhnt)

synonyms: carefree, unworried, indifferent, casual, relaxed

Her insouciant attitude was refreshing.

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71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clearly prove something, to indicate

A

evince

(ih-vins)

synonyms: declare, demonstrate, reveal, show, manifest

He evinced great interest in the project.

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72
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to give rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote

A

enfranchise

(in-fran-chahyz)

synonyms: empower, naturalize, liberate, grant rights, enfranchisement

Women were enfranchised in the early 20th century.

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73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an ornamental work, esp. delicate and lacelike

v. to adorn

A

filigree

(fil-ih-gree)

synonyms: decoration, ornamentation; decorate, embellishment, lacework

The jewelry was adorned with gold filigree.

She filigreed the edges of her project.

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74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to cause, to lead to

A

engender

(in-djen-dur)

synonyms: develop, generate, bring about, produce, create, instigate

The policy engendered debate.

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75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. of dubious origin; of doubtful authenticity

A

apocryphal

(uh-pok-ruh-fuhl)

synonyms: fictitious, doubtful, unverified, questionable, spurious

The story of his victory seems apocryphal.

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76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. strong mutual hatred

A

enmity

(en-mih-tee)

synonyms: animosity, antagonism, hostility, hatred, bitterness

There was clear enmity between the rivals.

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77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. one with artistic sensibilities

A

aesthete

(es-theet)

synonyms: artist, connoisseur, art lover, creative, visionary

As an aesthete, she appreciated fine art.

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Perfectly
78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. formidable, worthy

A

estimable

(es-tuh-muh-buhl)

synonyms: admirable, honored, commendable, worthy, respectable

Her estimable work earned her many accolades.

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79
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to criticize with harsh or abusive language

A

revile

(ruh-vahyl)

synonyms: scold, criticize, abuse, denounce, vilify, berate

The critics reviled the film for its poor acting.

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80
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. incapable of becoming exhausted; tireless; dogged

A

indefatigable

(in-duh-fat-ih-guh-buhl)

synonyms: untiring, active, persevering, unflagging, relentless, unwearied

Her indefatigable energy amazed everyone.

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81
Q

Define:

ensemble

(on-som-bul)

A

n. a whole group formed by separate parts

The band was an ensemble of classical violinists, guitarists, and a jazz pianist.

82
Q

Define:

effervescent

(eff-er-vess-uhnt)

A

adj. emitting small bubbles

adj. lively, showing high spirits, vivacious

Stacy’s effervescent mind captivated everyone she met.

83
Q

Define:

enthrall

(in-thrawl)

A

v. to captivate

v. to enslave

The singer’s voice enthralled the judges, who immediately awarded her first place in the contest.

84
Q

Define:

entreat

(in-treet)

A

v. to plead

The rejected boy entreated the girl to give him a second chance.

85
Q

Define:

extirpate

(ek-ster-peyt)

A

v. to destroy, annihilate totally

v. to cut out by the roots

Modern thinkers have proposed to extirpate religion from all political discourse.

86
Q

Define:

enumerate

(ih-new-muh-rate)

A

v. to list items individually

Shocked by her decision, I asked her to enumerate her reasons for firing him.

87
Q

Define:

internecine

(in-ter-neh-seen)

A

adj. mutually destructive

adj. characterized by bloodshed and carnage

adj. relating to intra-group struggle

That country’s internecine struggle was only put to rest after many innocent people lost their lives.

88
Q

Define:

ephemeral

(uh-fem-er-ul)

A

adj. lasting only a short while

Our joy at being let out for the weekend was only ephemeral, for we soon realized that we had a lot of studying to do for Monday.

89
Q

Define:

variegated

(vair-ee-uh-gehyt-id)

A

adj. multicolored

adj. varied

The variegated leaves were a sure sign that autumn had arrived.

90
Q

Define:

venerate

(ven-uh-rehyt)

A

v. to respect deeply and honor

The children venerated their grandfather and sought not to disappoint him.

91
Q

Define:

veracity

(vur-rass-ih-tee)

A

n. truthfulness

In order to have her article published, Susan needed to prove the veracity of her claims.

92
Q

Define:

verbiage

(ver-bee-idge)

A

n. an overabundance of words

n. one’s manner of speaking

The elderly speaker’s verbiage tended toward the formal.

93
Q

Define:

vestige

(ves-tidge)

A

n. a small remnant

That abandoned well is a vestige of the manor that once stood here.

94
Q

Define:

vex

(vex)

A

v. to annoy or bother

v. to confound

v. to talk about extensively

It was when they were allowed to horse around the house that the children vexed her the most.

95
Q

Define:

vigilant

(vidge-ih-lunt)

A

adj. watchful

Our new dog is very vigilant when it comes to guarding the house.

96
Q

Define:

vigor

(vig-er)

A

n. energy, vitality

n. strength; forcefulness

After she broke her hip dancing, Kate realized that she had lost the youthful vigor she once had.

97
Q

Define:

virtuoso

(vur-chew-owe-so)

A

n. a highly-skilled artist

Even at a young age, it was clear that Beethoven was a virtuoso in the making.

98
Q

Define:

viscous

(viss-kuss)

A

adj. thick and syrup-like

They slathered a viscous glue over the pieces to make sure they would stick.

99
Q

Define:

vituperate

(vahy-too-puh-rehyt)

A

v. to scold

The old man vituperated the neighborhood boys who were trespassing on his lawn.

100
Q

Define:

vivacious

(vih-vey-shuss)

A

adj. energetic; full of life

At ninety years old, Melinda was known for being particularly vivacious for her age.

101
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a whole group formed by separate parts

A

ensemble

(on-som-bull)

synonyms: band, collection, organization, group, assembly, team

The ensemble performed flawlessly, each musician contributing to the harmonious piece.

102
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. emitting small bubbles

adj. lively, showing high spirits, vivacious

A

effervescent

(eff-er-vess-uhnt)

synonyms: airy, foaming; spirited, bubbly, fizzy, vivacious, exuberant

Her effervescent personality lit up the room.

103
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to captivate

v. to enslave

A

enthrall

(in-thrawl)

synonyms: absorb, enrapture, beckon, beguile, charm, fascinate, grip

The magician’s tricks enthralled the audience.

104
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to plead

A

entreat

(in-treet)

synonyms: beg, request, implore, beseech, appeal

She entreated him to stay for the evening.

105
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to destroy, annihilate totally

v. to cut out by the roots

A

extirpate

(ek-ster-peyt)

synonyms: destroy, annihilate; remove, uproot, eradicate, eliminate, abolish

They worked to extirpate the invasive species.

106
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to list items individually

A

enumerate

(ih-new-muh-rate)

synonyms: count, list to review, itemize, catalog, specify

She enumerated the reasons for her decision.

107
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. mutually destructive

adj. characterized by bloodshed and carnage

adj. relating to intra-group struggle

A

internecine

(in-ter-neh-seen)

synonyms: civil, fratricidal, deadly, bloody, catastrophic, self-destructive, destructive

The internecine conflict devastated the entire region.

108
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. lasting a very short time

A

ephemeral

(uh-fem-er-ul)

synonyms: momentary, passing, fleeting, transient, brief

The sunset’s beauty was ephemeral but unforgettable.

109
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. appearing to have different colors

adj. varied

A

variegated

(vair-ee-uh-gehyt-id)

synonyms: diverse, kaleidoscopic, multicolored, assorted, mixed

The artist used a variegated palette for the mural.

110
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to respect deeply and honor

A

venerate

(ven-uh-rehyt)

synonyms: admire, esteem, revere, honor, regard

They venerate their elders with great ceremony.

111
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. truthfulness

A

veracity

(vur-rass-ih-tee)

synonyms: certainty, truth, fact, accuracy, honesty, integrity

His veracity was never in question.

112
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an overabundance of words

n. one’s manner of speaking

A

verbiage

(ver-bee-idge)

synonyms: wordiness, verbosity; delivery, excessive language, phrasing

The report was filled with unnecessary verbiage.

113
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a small remnant

A

vestige

(ves-tidge)

synonyms: remainder, hint, trace, fragment, relic

Only a vestige of the ancient building remained.

114
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to annoy or bother

v. to confound

v. to talk about extensively

A

vex

(vex)

synonyms: distress, agitate; confuse, irritate, bother, perplex

His constant questions began to vex her.

115
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. watchful

A

vigilant

(vidge-ih-lunt)

synonyms: attentive, aware, on the lookout, alert, observant, cautious

The security guard remained vigilant throughout the night.

116
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. energy, vitality

n. strength; forcefulness

A

vigor

(vig-er)

synonyms: power, intensity, strength, vitality, robustness

She tackled the project with great vigor.

117
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a highly-skilled artist

A

virtuoso

(vur-chew-owe-so)

synonyms: ace, artist, professional, maestro, genius, expert

The pianist was a virtuoso, admired worldwide.

118
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. thick and syrup-like

A

viscous

(viss-kuss)

synonyms: slow-flowing, syrupy, thick, glutinous, sticky

The viscous honey slowly dripped from the spoon.

119
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to scold

A

vituperate

(vahy-too-puh-rehyt)

synonyms: abuse, berate, yell at, criticize, reprimand, condemn

The coach began to vituperate the team for their poor performance.

120
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. energetic; full of life

A

vivacious

(vih-vey-shuss)

synonyms: lively, spirited, animated, exuberant, effervescent

Her vivacious spirit made her the life of the party.

121
Q

Define:

meticulous

(muh-tick-yuh-luss)

A

adj. paying great attention to detail

He was a meticulous sculptor, sometimes spending hours perfecting a single fingernail on one of his figures.

122
Q

Define:

mimicry

(mim-ih-kree)

A

n. a close imitation of something else

Mimicry is common in the animal kingdom, such as when harmless species assume the aspect of poisonous ones to avoid being eaten.

123
Q

Define:

minuet

(min-you-et)

A

n. a slow, stately, pattern dance in 3/4 time

n. the music to accompany the dance of the same name

A minuet is always danced with three beats per measure.

124
Q

Define:

minute

(my-newt)

A

adj. tiny

adj. attentive to the smallest details

The chances of such a slow horse actually winning the race are minute.

125
Q

Define:

mirth

(murth)

A

n. glee; joy

The house was always full of happy laughter and other signs of mirth.

126
Q

Define:

dissipated

(dis-uh-pey-tid)

A

adj. indulging in excessive devotion to pleasure; debauched, dissolute; wasted, squandered; to cause to disappear, disperse

His life quickly became dissipated and unstructured after he won the lottery.

127
Q

Define:

misanthrope

(miss-un-throwp)

A

n. hater of humanity

The old man was a notorious misanthrope who loathed even his own children.

128
Q

Define:

invidious

(in-vid-ee-uhs)

A

adj. offensive, provoking resentment or ill-will

The teacher’s invidious practice of playing favorites led to several parent conferences.

129
Q

Define:

misconstrue

(miss-kun-strew)

A

v. to misunderstand

Eva has a habit of misconstruing compliments, reading amorous designs into the most innocent remarks.

130
Q

Define:

remit

(rih-mit)

A

v. to transmit payment

v. to refrain from exacting

v. to pardon

v. to desist, postpone or give up

The transaction was completed after the buyer remitted the money.

131
Q

Define:

mitigate

(mit-ih-gate)

A

v. to make smaller or less problematic

The hurricane’s effect was mitigated by the quick response from the national guard.

132
Q

Define:

opprobrium

(uh-proh-bree-uhm)

A

n. the disgrace felt by someone who has acted in an outrageously shameful manner

Oedipus Rex experienced great opprobrium after learning the true extent of his crimes.

133
Q

Define:

mollify

(mohl-ih-fahy)

A

v. to decrease the strength of, pacify, placate

v. to make softer, less severe

His rage was mollified by his wife’s soothing words.

134
Q

Define:

momentum

(moh-men-tum)

A

n. strength built up by continued movement or development

The protest gained momentum as it passed through the city and gained new supporters.

135
Q

Define:

prodigious

(pruh-didj-us)

A

adj. having great power or size

adj. extreme

The building of the new dam is a prodigious project requiring thousands of men and millions of dollars.

136
Q

Define:

asperity

(uh-sper-ih-tee)

A

n. severity, rigor

n. acrimony, irritability

The asperity of a northern winter can lead to depression.

137
Q

Define:

profligate

(prof-lih-git)

A

adj. immoral

adj. recklessly extravagant

She criticized her spoiled son for his profligate lifestyle.

138
Q

Define

profuse

(pruh-fewss)

A

adj. abundant

adj. freely giving or spending

Horrified by the consequences of her actions, Joyce offered profuse apologies to her friends.

139
Q

Define:

hapless

(hap-liss)

A

adj. unlucky, unfortunate, luckless

The hapless, accident-prone child managed to break his leg for the third time.

140
Q

Define:

prognostic

(prog-noss-tick)

A

n. a prediction

adj. indicating future events

Climate scientists presented a chilling prognostic of what will happen to our planet in the near future.

141
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. paying great attention to detail

A

meticulous

(muh-tick-yuh-luss)

synonyms: perfectionist, painstaking, thorough, precise, careful

She was meticulous in her research, ensuring no errors were made.

142
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a close imitation of something else

A

mimicry

(mim-ih-kree)

synonyms: mime, imitation, replication, impersonation, echo

The actor’s mimicry of famous politicians was spot on.

143
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a slow, stately, pattern dance in 3/4 time

n. the music to accompany the dance of the same name

A

minuet

(min-you-et)

synonyms: dance, waltz; music, piece, suite, melody, rhythm

They danced a graceful minuet at the formal ball.

The orchestra played a classical minuet to set the mood.

144
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. tiny

adj. attentive to the smallest details

A

minute

(my-newt)

synonyms: very small, miniature; exact, precise, diminutive, tiny, minuscule

The minute details in the painting were barely visible.

Her minute observations caught every flaw in the design.

145
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. glee; joy

A

mirth

(murth)

synonyms: cheer, amusement, happiness, delight, joyfulness

The party was filled with mirth and laughter.

146
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; hedonistic

A

dissipated

(dis-uh-pey-tid)

synonyms: self-indulgent, spoiled, debauched, luxurious, extravagant, libertine

His dissipated lifestyle left him broke and alone.

147
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. hater of humanity

A

misanthrope

(miss-un-throwp)

synonyms: cynic, curmudgeon, recluse, hermit, introvert

The old misanthrope avoided social interactions at all costs.

148
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. offensive, provoke resentment or ill-will

A

invidious

(in-vid-ee-uhs)

synonyms: abominable, repugnant, resentful, hateful, envious

Her invidious comments stirred up anger among her colleagues.

149
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to misunderstand

A

misconstrue

(miss-kun-strew)

synonyms: distort, mistake, misread, misinterpret, misconceive, confuse

He misconstrued her friendly gesture as romantic interest.

150
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to transmit payment

v. to refrain from exacting

v. to pardon

v. to desist, postpone or give up

A

remit

(rih-mit)

synonyms: transfer; stop, postpone; alleviate, pardon, send, deliver, forgive

He remitted the funds to the company by wire transfer.

The court decided to remit her sentence.

151
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make smaller or less problematic

A

mitigate

(mit-ih-gate)

synonyms: diminish, lighten, alleviate, reduce, lessen

The government tried to mitigate the impact of the economic downturn.

152
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the disgrace felt by someone who has acted in an outrageously shameful manner, contempt

A

opprobrium

(uh-proh-bree-uhm)

synonyms: dishonor, infamy, humiliation, disgrace, shame, scorn

The public opprobrium over his misconduct led to his resignation.

153
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to decrease the strength of

v. to make softer

A

mollify

(mohl-ih-fahy)

synonyms: disarm, smooth over, soften, calm, appease, soothe

She tried to mollify his anger with a sincere apology.

The doctor mollified the patient’s concerns with comforting words.

154
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. strength built up by continued movement or development

A

momentum

(moh-men-tum)

synonyms: drive, energy, propulsion, force, impetus, power

The project gained momentum after the initial success.

155
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. having great power or size

adj. extreme

A

prodigious

(pruh-didj-us)

synonyms: massive, colossal, monumental, extraordinary, enormous, immense, vast

The prodigious mountain loomed over the valley.

Her prodigious talent earned her widespread recognition.

156
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. severity, rigor

n. acrimony, irritability

A

asperity

(uh-sper-ih-tee)

synonyms: harshness, bad temper, bitterness, severity, sharpness

The asperity of his tone made everyone uneasy.

His asperity during meetings was hard to tolerate.

157
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. immoral

adj. recklessly extravagant

A

profligate

(prof-lih-git)

synonyms: corrupt, degenerate; immoderate, lavish, wasteful, extravagant, dissipated

His profligate behavior led to his downfall.

She lived a profligate lifestyle, spending money on luxury items.

158
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. abundant

adj. freely giving or spending

A

profuse

(pruh-fewss)

synonyms: excessive, extravagant, plentiful, copious, lavish, abundant

She expressed profuse gratitude to everyone who helped.

The garden was profuse with blooming flowers.

159
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unlucky, unfortunate, luckless

A

hapless

(hap-liss)

synonyms: luckless, jinxed, unfortunate, ill-fated, doomed

The hapless traveler missed his flight and lost his luggage.

160
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a prediction

adj. indicating future events

A

prognostic

(prog-noss-tick)

synonyms: omen, foreboding, warning, prophecy, forecast, prediction, portent

The dark clouds were a prognostic of the upcoming storm.

The patient’s symptoms were prognostic of a more serious condition.

161
Q

Define:

proliferate

(pruh-lif-er-ehyt)

A

v. to grow and spread quickly

Tensions in the area proliferated after the civilian casualties.

162
Q

Define:

puissant

(pyoo-uh-suhnt)

A

adj. powerful, mighty

A puissant leader can secure the success of an entire team.

163
Q

Define:

prone

(prone)

A

adj. lying face or front downward

adj. tending to behave or act a certain way

Lucy was prone to cheat on tests, so the teachers placed her in a separate room.

164
Q

Define:

propitiate

(proh-pish-ee-ehyt)

A

v. to appease

The custom was to propitiate the angry gods with a sacrifice.

165
Q

Define:

ineffable

(in-eff-uh-buhl)

A

adj. incapable of being described in words

After a long day you can find ineffable pleasure in a hot bath.

166
Q

Define:

propitious

(pruh-pish-us)

A

adj. favorable

The rainy weather was not propitious for the picnic they had planned.

167
Q

Define:

propound

(pruh-pound)

A

v. to propose or offer for consideration

To make her point about the dangers of sunburns, Kate _propound_ed various theories about skin cancer and its links to ultraviolet radiation.

168
Q

Define:

propriety

(pruh-pry-ih-tee)

A

n. proper behavior

A model housewife, Mary valued propriety and manners over everything else.

169
Q

Define:

precipitate

(prih-sip-ih-teyt)

A

adj. acting with haste or on impulse

v. to cause or hasten an event

The officer took precipitate action and wound up making the situation even worse.

170
Q

Define:

prosaic

(pro-zay-ik)

A

adj. common; unimaginative

Kate’s realistic paintings of household objects were criticized as being too prosaic.

171
Q

Define:

prudent

(proo-dent)

A

adj. practical; careful

His assistant was particularly prudent when it came to keeping the company’s secrets.

172
Q

Define:

advert

(ad-vurt)

A

v. to call or direct attention towards

As soon as Jim saw the unsafe guardrail, he adverted everyone to the problem.

173
Q

Define:

excoriate

(ik-skawr-ee-eyt)

A

v. to condemn scathingly

After the student’s repetitive acts of bullying, the principal _excoriate_d him.

174
Q

Define:

insipid

(in-sip-id)

A

adj. bland, trite

The film’s insipid plot, like that of hundreds of others, centered on American agents thwarting a Russian spy ring.

175
Q

Define:

sublimate

(suhb-luh-meyt)

A

v. to change state of matter between solid and gaseous form without passing through a liquid stage

v. to modify the expression of an instinctual impulse in a socially acceptable manner

Dry ice sublimates directly from its solid ice form to the gas you see rising off of it.

176
Q

Define:

expatiate

(ik-spey-shee-eyt)

A

v. to discuss or write about at great length

Margie expatiated about her misfortunes until early in the morning.

177
Q

Define:

precipitous

(prih-sip-ih-tuhs)

A

adj. dangerously high or steep

adj. done hastily and without care

The economy suffered a precipitous decline in exports.

178
Q

Define:

necromancy

(nek-ruh-man-see)

A

n. the practice of communicating with the spirits of the dead

n. black magic, black arts, or sorcery

Aunt Pam claimed that necromancy was a way you could speak to your ancestors.

179
Q

Define:

truculent

(truhk-yuh-luhnt)

A

adj. cruel, ferocious, savage, brutal

The truculent dictator did not care about the well-being of his people.

180
Q

Define:

depravity

(dih-prav-ih-tee)

A

n. moral corruption or degradation

The various depravities of modern society include an unhealthy obsession with the lives and deaths of celebrities.

181
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to grow and spread quickly

A

proliferate

(pruh-lif-er-ehyt)

synonyms: expand, develop, increase, multiply, escalate

Rumors about the incident began to proliferate online.

182
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. powerful, mighty

A

puissant

(pyoo-uh-suhnt)

synonyms: strong, formidable, influential, potent, robust

The king was a puissant ruler, feared by his enemies.

183
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. lying face or front downward

adj. tending to behave or act a certain way

A

prone

(prone)

synonyms: face down, flat, horizontal; likely, susceptible, vulnerable, inclined

He lay prone on the grass, staring at the sky.

She is prone to anxiety in stressful situations.

184
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to appease

A

propitiate

(proh-pish-ee-ehyt)

synonyms: assuage, satisfy, pacify, placate, mollify

He tried to propitiate the angry crowd with a public apology.

185
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. incapable of being described in words

A

ineffable

(in-eff-uh-buhl)

synonyms: beyond words, indescribable, unutterable, sublime, inexpressible

The beauty of the sunset was ineffable.

186
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. favorable

A

propitious

(pruh-pish-us)

synonyms: good, beneficial, auspicious, advantageous, timely

The clear skies were a propitious sign for the outdoor event.

187
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to propose or offer for consideration

A

propound

(pruh-pound)

synonyms: counsel, advise, set forth, present, suggest, introduce

She propounded a new solution to the problem.

188
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. proper behavior

A

propriety

(pruh-pry-ih-tee)

synonyms: correctness, accordance, courtesy, decorum, etiquette, appropriateness

He always acted with propriety during formal meetings.

189
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. acting with haste or on impulse

v. to cause or hasten an event

A

precipitate

(prih-sip-ih-teyt)

synonyms: expedite, advance, hasten, provoke, trigger

His precipitate decision led to unforeseen consequences.

The sudden rain precipitated a halt to the outdoor concert.

190
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. common; unimaginative

A

prosaic

(pro-zay-ik)

synonyms: everyday, drab, dull, mundane, ordinary, uninspired

Her speech was filled with prosaic statements, lacking creativity.

191
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. practical; careful

A

prudent

(proo-dent)

synonyms: canny, sagacious, wise, judicious, sensible

It was a prudent decision to save money for emergencies.

192
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to call or direct attention towards

A

advert

(ad-vurt)

synonyms: observe, attend, point to, refer, indicate, highlight

The article adverted to the growing environmental issues.

193
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to condemn scathingly

A

excoriate

(ik-skawr-ee-eyt)

synonyms: berate, scathe, chastise, denounce, revile, attack

The critics excoriated the movie for its poor script.

194
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. bland, trite

A

insipid

(in-sip-id)

synonyms: dull, uninteresting, vapid, flavorless, boring

The insipid conversation bored everyone at the table.

195
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to change state of matter between solid and gaseous form without passing through a liquid stage

v. to modify the expression of an instinctual impulse in a socially acceptable manner

A

sublimate

(suhb-luh-meyt)

synonyms: refine, transfer, redirect, transform, channel, convert

Dry ice sublimates directly into gas.

He sublimated his anger into intense physical exercise.

196
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to discuss or write about at great length

A

expatiate

(ik-spey-shee-eyt)

synonyms: elaborate, expound, discuss, detail, elaborate upon

She loved to expatiate on her travels through Europe.

197
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. dangerously high or steep

adj. done hastily and without care

A

precipitous

(prih-sip-ih-tuhs)

synonyms: steep, arduous, high; impulsive, abrupt, sudden, reckless

The hikers carefully navigated the precipitous cliffs.

His precipitous actions led to unfortunate consequences.

198
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the practice of allegedly communicating with the spirits of the dead

n. black magic, black arts, or sorcery

A

necromancy

(nek-ruh-man-see)

synonyms: sorcery, occultism, wizardry, enchantment, divination

The villagers feared the old woman practiced necromancy.

199
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. cruel, ferocious, savage, brutal

A

truculent

(truhk-yuh-luhnt)

synonyms: abusive, aggressive, hostile, fierce, belligerent, combative

His truculent attitude made him difficult to work with.

200
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. moral corruption or degradation

A

depravity

(dih-prav-ih-tee)

synonyms: immorality, criminality, wickedness, vice, corruption

The dictator’s depravity shocked the entire nation.

GRE Vocab Genius (9 decks)

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