Advanced Vocab Words - Set 4 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:
aseptic
(uh-sep-tik)
adj. free of pathogens or germs
adj. with little or no emotion
Doctors are always careful to use aseptic surgical equipment to prevent infection.
Define:
prolix
(proh-liks)
adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length
The prolix manuscript took days to read.
Define:
foolhardy
(fool-hahr-dee)
adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash
It was a foolhardy attempt to climb the Sears Tower that went very wrong.
Define:
picaresque
(pik-uh-resk)
adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure
Huck Finn is a picaresque hero.
Define:
raucous
(raw-kuhs)
adj. rough sounding, harsh
adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly
The raucous laughter went on long into the night.
Define:
providential
(prov-ih-den-shuhl)
adj. to occur as if from divine intervention or great time
His providential recovery, when it seemed that he would surely succumb, brought hope to many.
Define:
antipodal
(an-tip-uh-dl)
adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite
adj. on the opposite side of the earth
The couple had totally antipodal personalities, but they enjoyed each other’s company.
Define:
pillory
(pill-uh-ree)
v. to punish; to hold up for public scorning
n. a wooden framework with holes for head and hands, in which criminal offenders are held
Dan was pilloried in class for his inability to spell “potato”.
Define:
infelicitous
(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)
adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate
In Thailand, it is considered infelicitous to touch someone’s head.
Define:
dilatory
(dil-uh-tawr-ee)
adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate
adj. intended to slow progress
Courtney employed dilatory tactics in the debate in order to collect her thoughts, but the judges noticed and she was docked a point.
Define:
overweening
(oh-ver-wee-ning)
adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited; overconfident, overbearing
Ian made the overweening assumption that people would rush to help him.
Define:
neologism
(nee-awl-uh-djiz-uhm)
n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words
“Technophile” is a neologism, just as “UFO” once was.
Define:
lassitude
(lass-ih-tood)
n. a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body
The extreme heat led to a general lassitude that settled on the village from May to October.
Define:
locution
(loh-kyoo-shuhn)
n. a particular word, phrase, or style used by a person or group
n. style of speaking, phraseology
The newcomers were fascinated by the Aussie’s locution.
Define:
jocose
(joh-kohss)
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
The jocose innkeeper could always be counted on for a bit of levity.
Define:
rend
(rend)
v. to forcibly take
v. to tear apart
The three-year-old decided she wants to play with the teddy bear, so she rended it from her infant sister’s hands.
Define:
stanch
(stawnch)
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
The doctor’s attempt to stanch the flow of blood eventually succeeded, and the patient’s blood pressure stabilized.
Define:
solder
(sod-er)
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
Harry soldered the bits of scrap metal together to make a pet door.
Define:
demure
(duh-myoor)
adj. modest, shy
Lindsay was demure and had a tough time opening up to new people.
Define:
insensible
(in-sen-suh-buhl)
adj. unconscious, unresponsive
The boxer lay insensible on the floor of the ring.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. free of pathogens or germs
adj. with little or no emotion
aseptic
(uh-sep-tik)
synonyms: barren, clean; withdrawn, introverted, sterile, unemotional
The hospital room was kept aseptic to prevent infections.
His aseptic demeanor made it hard to read his feelings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length
prolix
(proh-liks)
synonyms: lengthy, rambling, verbose, long-winded, tedious
The professor’s prolix lecture caused several students to lose focus.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash
foolhardy
(fool-hahr-dee)
synonyms: daredevil, venturous, risky, audacious, imprudent
His foolhardy decision to drive through the storm led to disaster.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure
picaresque
(pik-uh-resk)
synonyms: roguish, satirical, adventurous, playful, whimsical
The novel’s picaresque hero was always getting into mischief.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rough sounding, harsh
adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly
raucous
(raw-kuhs)
synonyms: noisy, chaotic, loud, clamorous, disorderly
The raucous laughter filled the noisy bar.
The raucous crowd disrupted the concert.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. to occur as if from divine intervention
providential
(prov-ih-den-shuhl)
synonyms: accidental, convenient, fortunate, serendipitous, timely
Their providential meeting led to a lifelong friendship.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite
adj. on the opposite side of the earth
antipodal
(an-tip-uh-dl)
synonyms: opposed, contrary, counter, opposite, divergent
Their views on politics were antipodal.
Australia and Argentina are antipodal regions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to punish; to hold up for public scorning
n. a wooden framework with holes for head and hands, in which criminal offenders are held
pillory
(pill-uh-ree)
synonyms: ridicule, abuse, condemn, chastise
He was pilloried in the press for his controversial remarks.
In medieval times, criminals were placed in the pillory as punishment.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate
infelicitous
(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)
synonyms: improper, ill-suited, inopportune, unsuitable
His infelicitous comment ruined the otherwise pleasant dinner.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate
adj. intended to slow progress
dilatory
(dil-uh-tawr-ee)
synonyms: dallying, sluggish, tardy, procrastinating, lagging
Her dilatory approach to her work caused deadlines to be missed.
The dilatory tactics during the meeting frustrated the team.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited, overconfident, overbearing
overweening
(oh-ver-wee-ning)
synonyms: brash, conceited, pompous, hubristic, egotistical
His overweening arrogance made him unpopular among his colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words
neologism
(nee-awl-uh-djiz-uhm)
synonyms: synthetic word, new phrase, coinage, innovation
The tech industry is full of neologisms that are hard to keep up with.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body
lassitude
(lass-ih-tood)
synonyms: lethargy, weariness, fatigue, listlessness, apathy
After the long hike, she was overcome with lassitude.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a particular word, phrase, or style used by a person or group
n. style of speaking, phraseology
locution
(loh-kyoo-shuhn)
synonyms: phrasing, expression, lingo, vernacular, terminology
His locution was filled with regional slang that made him hard to understand.
The speaker’s locution was elegant and engaging.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
jocose
(joh-kohss)
synonyms: facetious, humorous, funny, playful, lighthearted
His jocose personality made him the life of the party.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly take
v. to tear apart
rend
(rend)
synonyms: break, divide, rip, tear, split
He tried to rend the book from her hands.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
stanch
(stawnch)
synonyms: halt, stop, quench, check
The nurse quickly stanched the bleeding.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
solder
(sod-er)
synonyms: fasten, braze, fuse, bind
He carefully soldered the broken circuit board back together.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. modest, shy
demure
(duh-myoor)
synonyms: reserved, bashful, coy, retiring, unassuming
She gave a demure smile when complimented.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unconscious, unresponsive
insensible
(in-sen-suh-buhl)
synonyms: cold, numb, inanimate, unfeeling, unaware
He was insensible after being hit on the head.
Define:
rail
(reyl)
v. to complain bitterly
The citizens railed against the injustice of the federal land grab in tersely-worded editorials and letters to the editor.
Define:
noisome
(noy-suhm)
adj. unpleasant (smell) or harmful
The noisome odor of the garbage nauseated Audrey.
Define:
mellifluous
(muh-lif-loo-uhs)
adj. sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds)
Lucy’s mellifluous voice was noted by her interviewer.
Define:
inveterate
(in-vet-er-it)
adj. established, habitual, deep-rooted
It was Tony’s inveterate preference to drink orange juice every morning.
Define:
coterie
(koh-tuh-ree)
n. a small or exclusive group of people with common interests
The coterie of musicians began to meet on Tuesday nights and eventually established a weekly concert series.
Define:
impugn
(im-pyoon)
v. to challenge or attack one’s beliefs or motives as false
The candidate went too far when he began to impugn the character of his opponent’s husband.
Define:
voluble
(vol-yuh-buhl)
adj. able to speak easily and in quantity, glib, talkative
The voluble speaker talked late into the night.
Define:
misogynist
(mih-sodj-uh-nist)
n. one who hates women
The song contained several lyrics that were so offensive to women that the singer was immediately labeled a misogynist.
Define:
pedagogy
(ped-uh-goh-djee)
n. the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
Training in pedagogy can’t prepare you for manic third graders.
Define:
ambient
(am-bee-uhnt)
adj. relating to the immediate surroundings; surrounding environment
The low ambient lighting made for a romantic dinner setting.
Define:
inquest
(in-kwest)
n. a judicial inquiry of some matter held before a jury
n. an investigation, inquiry
The police opened an inquest into the cause of death.
Define:
preen
(preen)
v. to primp, to dress up
v. to clean fur or feathers of an animal
The bird preened its feathers with its beak for a few moments before taking flight.
Define:
parry
(pear-ee)
v. to block, evade, or ward off
The politician parried the reporter’s questions with a few of her own.
Define:
guy
(gahy)
n. rope or cord attached to something as a brace
I was nervous that the guy for the pulley would snap.
Define:
sallow
(sal-oh)
adj. of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion
There was a large number of sallow-looking patients in the doctor’s office.
Define:
plangent
(plan-djuhnt)
adj. pounding, thundering, resounding
The plangent honking of geese flying overhead jolted me awake.
Define:
peripatetic
(per-uh-puh-tet-ik)
adj. itinerant, nomadic
A peripatetic existence can take its toll on your relationships with the ones you love.
Define:
rue
(roo)
v. to regret; to feel or experience remorse
I rued the day I ever let her go.
Define:
macerate
(mass-uh-reyt)
v. to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose
v. to emaciate; to starve
Now, we will macerate the rest of the melon in hot water so we can use it to flavor the cream.
Define:
callow
(kal-oh)
adj. lacking maturity or experience
A callow young man was tormenting the elderly in the park.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to complain bitterly
rail
(reyl)
synonyms: berate, abuse, complain, rant, criticize
She railed against the unfair treatment she received.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. offensive or harmful
noisome
(noy-suhm)
synonyms: repulsive, dangerous, foul, malodorous
The noisome fumes made it difficult to breathe.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds)
mellifluous
(muh-lif-loo-uhs)
synonyms: euphonic, harmonic, mellow, pleasing, smooth, soothing
Her mellifluous voice captivated the audience.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. established, habitual, deep-rooted
inveterate
(in-vet-er-it)
synonyms: chronic, habitual, ingrained, persistent, entrenched
He was an inveterate smoker despite numerous attempts to quit.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a small or exclusive group of people with common interests
coterie
(koh-tuh-ree)
synonyms: clique, crowd, collective, group, association
She belonged to an elite coterie of art collectors.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to challenge or attack ones beliefs or motives as false
impugn
(im-pyoon)
synonyms: criticize, challenge, dispute, question
He impugned her integrity during the heated debate.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. able to speak easily and in quantity, glib, talkative
voluble
(vol-yuh-buhl)
synonyms: articulate, chatty, conversational, talkative, garrulous
The voluble speaker entertained the crowd for hours.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one who hates women
misogynist
(mih-sodj-uh-nist)
synonyms: sexist, chauvinist, woman-hater, male chauvinist
The misogynist was known for his discriminatory views.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
pedagogy
(ped-uh-goh-djee)
synonyms: education, apprenticeship, discipline, instruction, teaching
She excelled in pedagogy, making complex subjects accessible to students.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. relating to the immediate surroundings; surrounding environment
ambient
(am-bee-uhnt)
synonyms: environment, atmosphere, surrounding, environmental
The ambient noise of the city made it hard to concentrate.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a judicial inquiry of some matter held before a jury.
n. an investigation, inquiry
inquest
(in-kwest)
synonyms: a judicial inquiry, an official review before a panel, investigation, examination
The court held an inquest into the cause of the accident.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to primp, to dress up
v. to clean fur or feathers of an animal
preen
(preen)
synonyms: beautify, groom, brush, doll up, tidy, arrange
She spent hours preening before the big event.
The bird preened its feathers in the sunlight.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to block, evade, or ward off
parry
(pear-ee)
synonyms: block, dodge, circumvent, deflect, counter
He skillfully parried his opponent’s attack.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. rope or cord attached to something as a brace
guy
(gahy)
synonyms: cable, wire, rope, support, line
The tent was secured with a guy to withstand the wind.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion
sallow
(sal-oh)
synonyms: pale, unhealthy-looking, jaundiced, sickly, wan
Her sallow complexion was a sign of her illness.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pounding, thundering, resounding
plangent
(plan-djuhnt)
synonyms: booming, loud, roaring, mournful, melancholy
The plangent roar of the waves echoed through the cliffs.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. itinerant, nomadic
peripatetic
(per-uh-puh-tet-ik)
synonyms: migrant, vagrant, wandering, traveling, roving
His peripatetic lifestyle took him all over the world.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to regret; to feel or experience remorse
rue
(roo)
synonyms: feel remorse, grieve for, lament, repent
He rued the day he made that fateful decision.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose
v. to emaciate; to starve
macerate
(mass-uh-reyt)
synonyms: soak, dissolve, break down, soften
The fruit was left to macerate in the wine overnight.
The harsh conditions caused the prisoners to macerate.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lacking maturity or experience
callow
(kal-oh)
synonyms: immature, foolish, green, inexperienced
The callow youth made many naive mistakes.
Define:
wistful
(wist-fuhl)
adj. yearning, longing, or melancholy
The child stared wistfully out the window for days, waiting for her dog to return.
Define:
corroborate
(kuh-rob-uh-rehyt)
v. to confirm or validate
The mailman corroborated the alleged thief’s story, confirming that he had merely been passing by when the robbery occurred.
Define:
couch
(couch)
v. to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way
Her criticism was couched in flattering terms so that her coworker wouldn’t take offense.
Define:
innervate
(ih-nur-veyt)
v. to give nervous energy to; to supply with nerves
The team was innervated by the coach’s pep talk and approached the second half with renewed energy.
Define:
impecunious
(im-puh-kyoo-nee-us)
adj. poor; without any money
A graduate student generally leads an impecunious existence.
Define:
grovel
(gruhv-uhl)
v. to behave in a servile manner to receive forgiveness or a favor
v. to kneel with one’s head down
The servants groveled at the king’s throne.
Define:
epicurean
(ep-ih-kyoo-ree-uhn)
adj. characterized by luxury (esp. in terms of food and drink) or by a propensity for indulging in luxury
The cruise was marketed as an epicurean adventure through the cuisines of four Caribbean nations.
Define:
hirsute
(hur-soot)
adj. hairy, shaggy
A hirsute sheepdog won the Dog Showing Contest.
Define:
countenance
(koun-tuh-nunce)
n. appearance of a person’s face
v. to permit, to allow
Many people thought she was friendly because of her kindly countenance.
Define:
scurvy
(skur-vee)
adj. not admirable, despicable
The scurvy pirate secured his escape by throwing gun powder into the eyes of his pursuers.
Define:
covert
(koe-vert)
adj. hidden; secret
The government’s covert operations were laid bare by the shocking article.
Define:
craven
(kray-vun)
adj. cowardly
The craven man ran away at the first sign of danger.
Define:
eugenics
(yoo-djen-iks)
n. the study of heredity improvements by genetic control
Nazi Germany is known to have carried out many eugenics experiments that provoked outrage once they came to light.
Define:
credence
(creed-enss)
n. belief that something is true
n. plausibility
She gave credence to the rumors when she failed to deny them.
Define:
execrate
(ek-si-kreyt)
v. to declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce
v. to loathe
v. to curse
The rival teams appeared on the news to execrate one another.
Define:
sempiternal
(sem-pih-tur-nl)
adj. eternal, infinite
Nothing in life is sempiternal, alas.
Define:
credulous
(kredj-uh-luss)
adj. easily convinced that something is true
His lies were so ridiculous that only the most credulous child would have believed them.
Define:
plumb
(pluhm)
v. to measure the depth
v. to examine critically
I think she is the only architect working today who has the courage to truly plumb the possibilities of recycled construction materials.
Define:
culpable
(kull-puh-bull)
adj. deserving of blame or punishment
He confessed that he was culpable for the crime and faced the consequences.
Define:
debase
(dih-base)
v. to corrupt or lower the value of
Many argue that modern society has been debased by materialism.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. yearning, longing, or melancholy
wistful
(wist-fuhl)
synonyms: forlorn, reflective, pensive, melancholic
She gave a wistful glance at the old photographs, remembering better times.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to confirm or validate
corroborate
(kuh-rob-uh-rehyt)
synonyms: affirm, validate, give further supporting evidence, verify, support
The witness’s testimony corroborated the alibi of the defendant.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way
couch
(couch)
synonyms: formulate, phrase, surround, present, articulate
She couched her criticism in more diplomatic language to avoid offense.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give nervous energy to; to supply with nerves
innervate
(ih-nur-veyt)
synonyms: invigorate, evoke, energize, stimulate
The motivational speech innervated the team before the big game.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. poor; without any money
impecunious
(im-puh-kyoo-nee-us)
synonyms: destitute, impoverished, broke, needy
He was impecunious after years of struggling to find steady work.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to behave in a servile manner
v. to indulge in unworthy pursuits
grovel
(gruhv-uhl)
synonyms: beg, serve, fawn, abase
He had to grovel for forgiveness after making a serious mistake.
They groveled to win favor with the influential leader.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. characterized by luxury (esp. in terms of food and drink) or by a propensity for indulging in luxury
epicurean
(ep-ih-kyoo-ree-uhn)
synonyms: gluttonous, libertine, luxurious, indulgent
The epicurean feast featured the finest wines and gourmet dishes.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. hairy, shaggy
hirsute
(hur-soot)
synonyms: furry, woolly, fuzzy, hairy
The hirsute dog left fur all over the furniture.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. appearance of a person’s face
v. to permit, to allow
countenance
(koun-tuh-nunce)
synonyms: aspect, demeanor, expression; face, approval
His serious countenance made him look older than his years.
The manager countenanced the team’s request for a day off.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not admirable, despicable
scurvy
(skur-vee)
synonyms: abominable, low-down, despicable, contemptible
His scurvy behavior left him with few friends.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. hidden; secret
n. a covered place for hiding
covert
(koe-vert)
synonyms: cloaked, secret, sly, concealed, hidden
The agent’s covert operation was unknown to most of his colleagues.
The fox darted into the covert to avoid the hunters.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. cowardly
craven
(kray-vun)
synonyms: weak, timid, fearful, spineless, cowardly
His craven refusal to stand up for his beliefs cost him his reputation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the study of heredity improvements by genetic control
eugenics
(yoo-djen-iks)
synonyms: genetic enhancement, genetic manipulation, biogenetics
The controversial theory of eugenics has raised ethical concerns over the years.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. belief that something is true
n. plausibility
credence
(creed-enss)
synonyms: credulity, confidence, possibility, faith, trust
The scientist’s findings lent credence to the new theory.
Her story had enough credence to be considered seriously.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce
v. to loathe
v. to curse
execrate
(ek-si-kreyt)
synonyms: accurse, condemn; hate, detest, revile
The dictator was execrated by the people for his brutal regime.
She execrated the idea of injustice.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. eternal, infinite
sempiternal
(sem-pih-tur-nl)
synonyms: ageless, constant, everlasting, timeless
The stars in the sky seem sempiternal, twinkling throughout the ages.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. easily convinced that something is true
credulous
(kredj-uh-luss)
synonyms: gullible, too trusting, naive, unsuspecting
The credulous child believed every story his older brother told him.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to measure the depth
v. to examine critically
plumb
(pluhm)
synonyms: probe, gauge; assess, study, explore
They used a rope to plumb the depths of the ocean.
The professor plumbed the complexities of the argument during the lecture.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deserving of blame or punishment
culpable
(kull-puh-bull)
synonyms: guilty, liable, responsible, accountable
He was found culpable for the accident and faced legal consequences.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. to corrupt or lower the value of
debase
(dih-base)
synonyms: degrade, cheapen, diminish, tarnish
The scandal debased the reputation of the company.
Define:
decadent
(deck-ih-dunt)
adj. in a state of decline
adj. self-indulgent
Louis XIV was known for his decadent displays of wealth and power.
Define:
decorous
(dek-core-us)
adj. conforming to what is acceptable to society
adj. marked by propriety and etiquette
One must always behave in a decorous manner at formal events.
Define:
decry
(dih-cry)
v. to strongly disapprove of
The preacher decried society’s indifference towards the poor.
Define:
artless
(art-liss)
adj. simple and natural
adj. unable to mask true feelings
adj. without artistic merit; crudely made
She had an artless grace about her that endeared her to strangers.
Define:
ascetic
(uh-set-ik)
adj. relating to self-denial
n. a person who practices self-denial
The ascetic monks rejected modern comforts such as electricity.
Define:
ascendant
(uh-sen-dent)
adj. rising
adj. most powerful
n. a position of being dominant or in control
In this game, newcomers are ascendant because of their youth.
Define:
ascribe
(uh-scribe)
v. to attribute or assign to a cause
Her success was ascribed to the hours she had spent studying.
Define:
assiduous
(uh-sidj-oo-us)
adj. making careful and persistent effort
John was an assiduous student who always tried his best.
Define:
assuage
(uh-swaydj)
v. to relieve
Her anger was assuaged by her friend’s soothing words.
Define:
astute
(uh-stewt)
adj. having practical intelligence and good judgment
An astute teacher always checks for plagiarism.
Define:
suppliant
(suhp-lee-uhnt)
adj. asking humbly, beseeching
n. a person who requests or begs
The boy was peering into the pet store window with the look of a suppliant on his face.
Define:
atrophy
(at-ruh-fee)
n. deterioration (esp. due to inactivity)
v. to deteriorate, to waste away (esp. due to inactivity)
The paralyzed patient began to show signs of atrophy in his leg muscles.
Define:
anosmia
(an-oz-mee-uh)
n. loss of the sense of smell
Melissa has been afflicted with anosmia since birth; she likes to say that sometimes it is a curse, and sometimes a blessing.
Define:
austere
(aw-steer)
adj. severe, strict, or very plain
The austere room was anything but inviting.
Define:
autonomous
(aw-tawn-ih-muss)
adj. independent
The revolutionaries are fighting to make their country autonomous.
Define:
rapacious
(ruh-pey-shuhs)
adj. voracious, greedy, plundering
The Vikings were rapacious warriors.
Define:
avarice
(av-uh-riss)
n. insatiable greed
The rich man’s avarice led him to buy up most of the neighborhood.
Define:
unflappable
(uhn-flap-uh-buhl)
adj. not easily upset or excited (e.g., in a crisis)
The unflappable hero maintained his level-headed mentality during the disaster.
Define:
aver
(uh-vurr)
v. to declare as true
When interviewed, Susan’s friends all averred that she was a trustworthy person.
Define:
emasculate
(uh-mass-kyuh-leyt)
v. to castrate or make effeminate
v. to weaken
Wearing the frilly pink shirt made him feel emasculated.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. in a state of decline
adj. self-indulgent
decadent
(deck-ih-dunt)
synonyms: decaying, hedonistic, luxurious, indulgent
The once-vibrant city now appeared decadent, with crumbling buildings and empty streets.
The decadent lifestyle of the wealthy left them morally bankrupt.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. conforming to what is acceptable to society
adj. marked by propriety and etiquette
decorous
(dek-core-us)
synonyms: acceptable, befitting; civil, courtly, seemly, proper, respectable
Her decorous behavior at the formal event impressed the guests.
The decorous conversation at dinner was a refreshing change from their usual banter.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. to strongly disapprove of
decry
(dih-cry)
synonyms: denounce, deplore, condemn, criticize, vilify
The politician decried the corruption in the system.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. simple and natural
adj. unable to mask true feelings
adj. without artistic merit; crudely made
artless
(art-liss)
synonyms: genuine, pure; naive, straightforward; awkward, amateurish, unpretentious, unrefined
Her artless charm made her instantly likable.
His artless honesty was refreshing, as he spoke from the heart.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. relating to self-denial; and
n. a person who practices self-denial
ascetic
(uh-set-ik)
synonyms: abstinent, restrained, austere, self-disciplined, rigorous
His ascetic lifestyle was characterized by minimal possessions and strict routines.
The ascetic devoted his life to meditation and reflection, seeking enlightenment through simplicity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rising
adj. most powerful
n. a position of being dominant or in control
ascendant
(uh-sen-dent)
synonyms: ruling, superior, dominant, rising, prevailing
The ascendant sun signaled the start of a new day.
The nation enjoyed a period of ascendant power on the global stage.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to attribute or assign to a cause
ascribe
(uh-scribe)
synonyms: assign, appoint, accredit, attribute, impute
He ascribed his success to hard work and determination.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. making careful and persistent effort
assiduous
(uh-sidj-oo-us)
synonyms: hardworking, attentive, diligent, tireless, indefatigable, meticulous
Her assiduous attention to detail ensured the project was flawless.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to relieve
assuage
(uh-swaydj)
synonyms: soothe, alleviate, ease, calm, pacify
He tried to assuage her guilt with comforting words.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having practical intelligence and good judgment
astute
(uh-stewt)
synonyms: adroit, perspicacious, sagacious, shrewd, insightful, perceptive, clever
Her astute observations helped the team solve the problem quickly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. asking humbly, beseeching
n. a person who requests or begs
suppliant
(suhp-lee-uhnt)
synonyms: begging; beggar, seeker, humble, beseeching, pleading, imploring
The suppliant tone of her voice revealed her deep desire for help.
As a suppliant, he approached the council for assistance in his plight.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. deterioration (esp. due to inactivity)
v. to deteriorate, to waste away (esp. due to inactivity)
atrophy
(at-ruh-fee)
synonyms: disintegration; to disintegrate, decline, degeneration, waste, diminish
Muscle atrophy can occur when a person is bedridden for an extended period.
If not exercised regularly, the muscles will begin to atrophy.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. loss of the sense of smell
anosmia
(an-oz-mee-uh)
synonyms: without smell, smell loss, olfactory loss
She was diagnosed with anosmia after a severe illness.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. severe, strict, or very plain
austere
(aw-steer)
synonyms: bare, stark, simple, stern, harsh, unadorned
The austere decor of the room matched her minimalist lifestyle.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. independent
autonomous
(aw-tawn-ih-muss)
synonyms: self-determining, independent, self-governing, sovereign, free, self-sufficient
The island nation remained autonomous despite political pressures.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. voracious, greedy, plundering
rapacious
(ruh-pey-shuhs)
synonyms: marauding, ravenous, avaricious, greedy, insatiable
The rapacious invaders took everything of value from the village.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. insatiable greed
avarice
(av-uh-riss)
synonyms: selfishness, ambition, greed, covetousness, insatiability, materialism
His avarice led him to exploit his employees without remorse.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not easily upset or excited (e.g., in a crisis)
unflappable
(uhn-flap-uh-buhl)
synonyms: calm, collected, composed, steady, imperturbable
Even in the face of disaster, he remained unflappable and calm.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to declare as true
aver
(uh-vurr)
synonyms: affirm, assert, declare, state
She averred her innocence during the trial.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to castrate or make effeminate
v. to weaken
emasculate
(uh-mass-kyuh-leyt)
synonyms: desexualize, neuter; devitalize, weaken, undermine, debilitate, enfeeble
The harsh criticism seemed to emasculate his confidence in the project.
Excessive regulations can emasculate the effectiveness of a program.
Define:
dormant
(door-munt)
adj. inactive for a period of time
The dormant volcano erupted unexpectedly, injuring many.
Define:
recumbent
(rih-kuhm-buhnt)
adj. leaning, lying down
He sat recumbent on the picnic blanket.
Define:
dote
(dote)
v. to show excessive affection
Her parents were strict but her grandparents always doted on her and showered her with gifts.
Define:
frangible
(fran-djuh-buhl)
adj. fragile; easily broken
The frangible statue was accidently pushed over and shattered.
Define:
dupe
(dewp)
n. a person who is easily tricked
v. to deceive
The lying politician made those who had voted for him seem like dupes.
Define:
magnanimous
(mag-nan-uh-muhss)
adj. noble in spirit, generous in forgiving others
Susan’s magnanimous personality made her many life-long friends.
Define:
ebb
(eb)
v. to decrease or recede
n. a decline
n. the outward flow of the tide
Her affection for him began to ebb a few days after the hasty wedding.
Define:
wizen
(wiz-uhn)
adj. shriveled, wrinkled, or withered, as of with old age
A wizened old man was walking through the park.
Define:
countermand
(koun-ter-mand)
v. to annul, cancel, make a contrary order
The general countermanded his previous order to retreat, telling the men to march straight into battle.
Define:
ebullient
(ih-buhl-yunt)
adj. very excited; joyously enthusiastic
Linda was ebullient when she made it into the semifinals.
Define::
apogee
(ap-uh-djee)
n. the highest point, zenith
The apogee of the roller coaster terrified even the most seasoned riders.
Define:
ecclesiastical
(ih-klee-zee-ass-tih-kuhl)
adj. relating to the church
Mary decided to take up her ecclesiastical concerns with the local priest.
Define:
eclectic
(ih-klek-tik)
adj. composed of parts from many different sources
The girl’s fashion sense was an eclectic mix of conservative Victorian and colorful modern styles.
Define:
edify
(ed-ih-fahy)
v. to educate, instruct, or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift
John attempted to edify the impolite young man.
Define:
efficacious
(eff-ih-kay-shuss)
adj. producing or able to produce a desired result
The woman insisted that her herbal medicines would be the most efficacious remedy for the young patient.
Define:
puerile
(pyoo-er-ill)
adj. childish, immature
The comedian had a puerile sense of humor, invoking the bathroom in practically every joke.
Define:
effrontery
(ih-frun-tuh-ree)
n. unjustified arrogance or boldness
Although my sister had not invited me to her party, she had the effrontery to ask me for help setting up.
Define:
effusive
(ih-few-siv)
adj. related to excessive or unchecked emotion; expressing feelings of gratitude
Susan’s effusive praise of Ramon’s new car made him think that perhaps she didn’t really like it.
Define:
tortuous
(tawr-choo-uhs)
adj. winding, excessively complicated
The philosopher made a tortuous argument that not many of his students followed.
Define:
debauchery
(dih-baw-chuh-ree)
n. extreme sensual indulgence
The debauchery in the movie was enough to make me blush.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. inactive for a period of time
dormant
(door-munt)
synonyms: inactive, sleeping, inoperative, latent, idle, resting
The volcano has been dormant for centuries.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. leaning, lying down
recumbent
(rih-kuhm-buhnt)
synonyms: sprawling, reclining, horizontal, prone
He remained recumbent on the couch, watching TV.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to show excessive affection
dote
(dote)
synonyms: favor, cherish, adore, pamper
She couldn’t help but dote on her new puppy.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. fragile; easily broken
frangible
(fran-djuh-buhl)
synonyms: brittle, flimsy, delicate, breakable
The frangible glass shattered upon impact.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a person who is easily tricked
v. to deceive
dupe
(dewp)
synonyms: chump, sucker, victim, fool, gull
He was such a dupe, falling for every scam.
The con artist duped him into giving away his money.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. noble in spirit, generous in forgiving others
magnanimous
(mag-nan-uh-muhss)
synonyms: big-hearted, forgiving, generous, altruistic
Her magnanimous gesture of forgiveness surprised everyone.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to decrease or recede
n. a decline
n. the outward flow of the tide
ebb
(eb)
synonyms: subside; regression, decline, diminution, retreat
As the excitement began to ebb, the crowd slowly dispersed.
The ebb of support left the candidate discouraged.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to shrivel, wrinkle, or wither, as of old age
wizen
(wiz-uhn)
synonyms: sag, crinkle, dry up, fade, shrivel
The once vibrant flowers began to wizen in the heat.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to annul or cancel; to give a contrary order
countermand
(koun-ter-mand)
synonyms: override, recall, revoke, rescind, retract
The general countermanded the earlier attack order.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. very excited; joyously enthusiastic
ebullient
(ih-buhl-yunt)
synonyms: bouncy, chipper, effervescent, exuberant, lively
The ebullient crowd cheered loudly for their team.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the highest point, zenith
apogee
(ap-uh-djee)
synonyms: pinnacle, apex, summit, peak
The astronaut reached the apogee of his career with the moon landing.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. relating to the church
ecclesiastical
(ih-klee-zee-ass-tih-kuhl)
synonyms: clerical, parochial, religious, spiritual
The ecclesiastical leaders gathered for the annual conference.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. composed of parts from many different sources
eclectic
(ih-klek-tik)
synonyms: heterogeneous, multifarious, varied, diverse
Her music taste is quite eclectic, ranging from classical to punk rock.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to educate, instruct, or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift
edify
(ed-ih-fahy)
synonyms: enlighten, teach, uplift, inspire
The speaker’s words were meant to edify the audience.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. producing or able to produce a desired result
efficacious
(eff-ih-kay-shuss)
synonyms: efficient, capable, effective, potent
The treatment was efficacious in curing the disease.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. childish, immature
puerile
(pyoo-er-ill)
synonyms: babyish, callow, infantile, naive, juvenile
His puerile jokes irritated everyone at the meeting.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. unjustified arrogance or boldness
effrontery
(ih-frun-tuh-ree)
synonyms: audacity, impudence, brashness, insolence
He had the effrontery to insult the host at the dinner party.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to excessive or unchecked emotion; expressing feelings of gratitude
effusive
(ih-few-siv)
synonyms: overdone, extravagant, gushing, unrestrained
Her effusive praise made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. winding, excessively complicated
tortuous
(tawr-choo-uhs)
synonyms: ambiguous, convoluted, indirect, circuitous, twisted
The legal contract was so tortuous that no one could understand it.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. extreme sensual indulgence
debauchery
(dih-baw-chuh-ree)
synonyms: depravity, lechery, lewdness, dissipation, excess
The party was known for its debauchery and excess.
