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.