Advanced Vocab Words - Set 6 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:
pedant
(ped-ant)
n. someone who shows off knowledge
n. someone who pays undue attention to rules
Dominic is a pedant who annoys everyone in the class with his long-winded questions and unnecessary quotes from the textbook.
Define:
penchant
(pen-chunt)
n. a strong preference for something
Kate had a penchant for interior decorating, so she took over the role of set designer for the play.
Define:
penury
(pen-yuh-ree)
n. extreme poverty or destitution
Having lived in penury their whole lives, the townspeople were very grateful for the donations sent by the charitable organization.
Define:
tangent
(tan-djunt)
n. a different topic
adj. touching
Halfway into her speech on global warming, she went on a tangent about materialism in modern society.
Define:
technocracy
(teck-knock-ruh-see)
n. rule by scientists
In the movie, the future is a technocracy where programmers rule the entire world.
Define:
tedium
(tee-dee-um)
n. dullness
n. the feeling of being bored
The tedium of a fixed routine made John reconsider his plans to become a teacher.
Define:
tenacious
(tuh-nay-shuss)
adj. sticking strongly to something
adj. having greater than average longevity
adj. stubborn
Despite the sudden thunderstorm, the tenacious runners continued to move towards the finish line.
Define:
timorous
(tim-er-us)
adj. easy to frighten
The timorous young man jumped at even the slightest sound.
Define:
tirade
(tahy-raid)
n. a long, angry rant
One student asked a simple question about the death penalty, causing the teacher to launch into a tirade about the topic.
Define:
torpid
(tore-pid)
adj. lacking physical or mental energy
The student was torpid and generally uninvolved in discussions, so the teacher had to speak with him about his participation.
Define:
torpor
(tore-per)
n. a state of low physical or mental energy
The doctors discovered that her torpor was a symptom of a severe illness.
Define:
torrid
(tore-id)
adj. extremely hot
adj. having intense emotion or passion
The president was accused of carrying on a secret and torrid love affair with his aide.
Define:
totalitarianism
(toe-tal-ih-tare-ee-un-izm)
n. absolute, dictatorial control by the government
After years of civil war, one party emerged triumphant and dominated the country in a return to totalitarianism.
Define:
tractable
(track-tuh-bul)
adj. easy to handle or control
adj. easily shaped
After some training, the dog became tractable enough to be sold as a pet.
Define:
anomalous
(uh-nom-ih-luss)
adj. different from the norm; aberrant
The new shampoo was a success, although there were a few anomalous cases in which it actually damaged consumers’ hair.
Define:
antipathy
(an-tip-uh-thee)
n. aversion; loathing
The couple tried to hide their antipathy toward the new neighbors so as not to seem unwelcoming.
Define:
approbate
(ap-ruh-behyt)
v. to approve
The judge approbated her right to keep the house.
Define:
appropriate
(uh-pro-pree-ehyt)
v. to take by force
v. to assign for a certain purpose
During the chaos following the president’s death, his wife appropriated the role of head of the organization.
Define:
arbiter
(are-bih-ter)
n. a person chosen to solve a dispute
One of her duties as babysitter was to act as arbiter when the children got into arguments.
Define:
archetype
(are-kih-tahyp)
n. a typical example of something
n. the original on which something else is modeled
Dante’s Divine Comedy was the archetype upon which many derivative works were based.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. someone who shows off knowledge
n. someone who pays undue attention to rules
pedant
(ped-ant)
synonyms: sophist, doctrinaire, know-it-all, stickler, nitpicker, formalist
His friends often described him as a pedant, constantly correcting their grammar.
The teacher was a pedant who enforced every rule strictly, leaving little room for creativity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a strong preference for something
penchant
(pen-chunt)
synonyms: fondness, inclination, predilection, affinity, taste
She has a penchant for classic literature, often choosing to read novels from the 19th century.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. extreme poverty or destitution
penury
(pen-yuh-ree)
synonyms: squalor, deprivation, destitution, impoverishment, hardship
The charity aims to alleviate the penury faced by many families in the community.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a different topic
tangent
(tan-djunt)
synonyms: digression, departure, diversion, aside, deviation
During the meeting, he went off on a tangent about his vacation plans, losing track of the main agenda.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. rule by scientists
technocracy
(teck-knock-ruh-see)
synonyms: scientific rule, technological governance, expert management
In a technocracy, decisions are made based on scientific data and expertise rather than politics.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. dullness
n. the feeling of being bored
tedium
(tee-dee-um)
synonyms: monotony, boredom, routine, dullness, sameness, ennui
The tedium of the repetitive tasks made him dread going to work each day.
She could hardly mask her tedium during the lengthy lecture.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sticking strongly to something
adj. having greater than average longevity
adj. stubborn
tenacious
(tuh-nay-shuss)
synonyms: adamant, persistent, determined, resolute, unyielding
The tenacious grip of the adhesive ensured that the tiles stayed firmly in place.
His tenacious attitude made it difficult for him to accept any form of criticism.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. easy to frighten
timorous
(tim-er-us)
synonyms: fearful, nervous, rattled, apprehensive, shy, trepidatious
Her timorous nature made her hesitant to speak in public.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a long, angry rant
tirade
(tahy-raid)
synonyms: abuse, outburst, berating, diatribe, rant, harangue
His tirade against the new policy left everyone in the room stunned.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lacking physical or mental energy
torpid
(tore-pid)
synonyms: dormant, drained, motionless, lethargic, sluggish, inert
After the long meeting, he felt torpid and needed a break.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of low physical or mental energy
torpor
(tore-per)
synonyms: dormancy, apathy, stagnation, lethargy, indifference
During the heat of summer, many people experience a sense of torpor.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. extremely hot
adj. having intense emotion or passion
torrid
(tore-id)
synonyms: arid, blazing, impassioned, scorching, fervent, heated
The torrid sun beat down on the desert, making it unbearable to walk outside.
Her torrid love letters revealed the depth of her feelings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. absolute, dictatorial control by the government
totalitarianism
(toe-tal-ih-tare-ee-un-izm)
synonyms: dictatorship, tyranny, authoritarianism, oppression, despotism, regime
In a totalitarianism, the state exerts complete control over all aspects of public and private life.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. easy to handle or control
adj. easily shaped
tractable
(track-tuh-bul)
synonyms: manageable, compliant, adjustable, docile, obedient, pliable
The dog was surprisingly tractable, following commands without hesitation.
The tractable material allowed the artist to create intricate designs.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. different from the norm; aberrant
anomalous
(uh-nom-ih-luss)
synonyms: unusual, abnormal, strange, atypical, irregular, aberrant
The anomalous results of the experiment prompted further investigation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. aversion; loathing
antipathy
(an-tip-uh-thee)
synonyms: disgust, abhorrence, hostility, animosity, enmity
His antipathy toward injustice drove him to become an activist.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to approve
approbate
(ap-ruh-behyt)
synonyms: affirm, accept, endorse, sanction, ratify
The committee will approbate the new policy after reviewing its implications.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to take by force
v. to assign for a certain purpose
appropriate
(uh-pro-pree-ehyt)
synonyms: steal, embezzle; allocate, assign, misappropriate, pilfer, confiscate
The conquerors sought to appropriate the land for their own use.
The funds were appropriated for educational programs.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a person chosen to solve a dispute
arbiter
(are-bih-ter)
synonyms: mediator, negotiator, referee, judge, authority, adjudicator
The arbiter was respected for his fair judgment in complex cases.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a typical example of something
n. the original on which something else is modeled
archetype
(are-kih-tahyp)
synonyms: prototype, paradigm, model, standard, exemplar
She is considered the archetype of a successful entrepreneur.
The classic novel serves as an archetype for many modern stories.
Define:
ardor
(are-der)
n. feeling of great warmth or intensity
His sense of justice manifests itself in the ardor with which he throws himself into his legal work.
Define:
arduous
(ar-djew-us)
adj. requiring mental or physical strain
adj. demanding
The beach was practically empty, as reaching it entailed an arduous journey through a bramble thicket.
Define:
aria
(are-ee-uh)
n. a solo vocal piece in an opera
During her aria, the opera singer expressed her character’s sorrow to the audience with great skill.
Define:
arid
(air-id)
adj. extremely dry
adj. lacking spirit or vitality
The arid climate of the desert is ideal for plants that do not require much water, such as cacti.
Define:
sundry
(suhn-dree)
adj. various, miscellaneous, separate
The sundry items at the garage sale ranged from antique to almost brand new.
Define:
reprise
(ruh-preez)
n. a repetition of an action
v. to repeat or resume
The reprise of the song had the audience dancing in the aisles.
Define:
harrow
(hair-oh)
v. to distress, torment
Any talk of layoffs would always leave the entire division harrowed and unable to focus on their work.
Define:
sardonic
(sahr-don-ik)
adj. cynical, mocking
The class clown’s sardonic remark landed him in detention.
Define:
subterfuge
(suhb-ter-fyoodj)
n. a deliberate deception to avoid a consequence
Policemen who stop drunk drivers can see right through the subterfuge of hastily chewing a piece of gum.
Define:
axiom
(ack-see-um)
n. a generally accepted truth
In math class, we learned about the different axioms we could use to develop geometric proofs.
Define:
controvert
(kon-truh-vurt)
v. to deny the truth of
Recent experiments seem to controvert the predictions of previous theories.
Define:
progeny
(prodj-uh-nee)
n. one born or derived from another; an offspring or descendent
n. a product of creative effort
That family claims to be the progeny of the king of France, but they refuse to submit to a DNA test to prove their bloodline.
Define:
potentate
(poht-n-teyt)
n. one with absolute power to rule; a monarch
While the potentate sipped wine, the peasants toiled in the field.
Define:
cardinal
(kahr-dn-uhl)
adj. of paramount importance
adj. dark red
At the graduation speech, the valedictorian gave them cardinal rules to live by.
Define:
hidebound
(hahyd-bound)
adj. rigid, dry, unmoving
The hidebound rules of organized religion have never appealed to me much.
Define:
chary
(chair-ee)
adj. very cautious; not giving or spending freely
adj. shy
Joe was chary of his praise for his daughters, but when he did congratulate them, they beamed.
Define:
arabesque
(air-uh-besk)
n. a complex, ornate design
The kimono was trimmed with an arabesque of tiny yellow curlicues.
Define:
rapturous
(rap-cher-uhs)
adj. expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm
The presidential decree was greeted with rapturous applause.
Define:
amalgamate
(uh-mal-guh-meyt)
v. to combine several elements into a whole; to blend
Our county will amalgamate with the neighboring county in order to cut administrative costs.
Define:
prattle
(prat-uhl)
v. to babble or speak foolishly
The confused student prattled for a few minutes before sitting back down.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. feeling of great warmth or intensity
ardor
(are-der)
synonyms: admiration, passion, fervor, zeal, enthusiasm
His ardor for the project inspired everyone on the team.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. requiring mental or physical strain
adj. demanding
arduous
(ar-djew-us)
synonyms: burdensome, exhausting, laborious, strenuous, grueling
The hike was arduous, demanding both stamina and determination.
She faced an arduous task in completing the report by the deadline.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a solo vocal piece in an opera
aria
(are-ee-uh)
synonyms: descant, hymn, song, melody, solo, duet
The soprano’s aria captivated the audience with its emotional depth.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. extremely dry
adj. lacking spirit or vitality
arid
(air-id)
synonyms: dry, barren, desiccated, parched, lifeless
The arid landscape made it difficult for plants to survive.
The presentation was so arid that many attendees struggled to stay awake.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. various, miscellaneous, separate
sundry
(suhn-dree)
synonyms: assorted, different, diverse, varied, disparate
The shop sells sundry items, from books to kitchenware.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a repetition of an action
n. to repeat or resume
reprise
(ruh-preez)
synonyms: recurrence, repetition, return, reiteration, revival, comeback
The reprise of the song brought back fond memories for the audience.
The composer decided to include a reprise of the main theme in the final act.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to distress, torment
harrow
(hair-oh)
synonyms: depredate, harass, torment, afflict, trouble
The memories of the event continued to harrow him for years.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. cynical, mocking
sardonic
(sahr-don-ik)
synonyms: derisive, scornful, sarcastic, biting, contemptuous
His sardonic humor often left others feeling uncomfortable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a deliberate deception to avoid a consequence
subterfuge
(suhb-ter-fyoodj)
synonyms: cheating, dishonesty, dissimulation, deceit, trickery, evasion
She used subterfuge to evade the question and shift the conversation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a generally accepted truth
axiom
(ack-see-um)
synonyms: principle, fundamental, maxim, truth, postulate
It is an axiom that hard work leads to success.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to deny the truth of
controvert
(kon-truh-vurt)
synonyms: oppose, argue, deny, dispute, refute, challenge, contradict
Many experts tried to controvert the claim with counter-evidence.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one born or derived from another; an offspring or descendent
n. a product of creative effort
progeny
(prodj-uh-nee)
synonyms: offspring, children, lineage, result, descendant, heir, output
The progeny of the famous scientist continue to make significant contributions to research.
His latest painting was the progeny of years of artistic development.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one with absolute power to rule; a monarch
potentate
(poht-n-teyt)
synonyms: autocrat, chief, leader, sovereign, ruler, despot
The potentate of the small kingdom wielded immense influence over his subjects.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of paramount importance
adj. dark red
cardinal
(kahr-dn-uhl)
synonyms: important, key, crucial, vital, burgundy
Safety is a cardinal rule when operating heavy machinery.
The cardinal dress added a vibrant touch to the festive decorations.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rigid, dry, unmoving
hidebound
(hahyd-bound)
synonyms: fixed, immovable, strict, inflexible, unyielding, conservative
The hidebound policies of the organization stifled innovation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. very cautious; not giving or spending freely
adj. shy
chary
(chair-ee)
synonyms: stingy, cautious; abashed, modest, hesitant, wary
She was chary about lending money to friends after a bad experience.
His chary demeanor made it difficult for him to join in on group discussions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a complex, ornate design
arabesque
(air-uh-besk)
synonyms: design, frill, adornment, flourish, ornamentation, embellishment, motif
The arabesque patterns on the wall added elegance to the room.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm
rapturous
(rap-cher-uhs)
synonyms: delighted, happy, ecstatic, euphoric, exuberant
The audience gave a rapturous applause at the end of the performance.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to combine several elements into a whole; to blend
amalgamate
(uh-mal-guh-meyt)
synonyms: integrate, combine, merge, fuse, consolidate
The two companies decided to amalgamate their resources to improve efficiency.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to babble or speak foolishly
prattle
(prat-uhl)
synonyms: chatter, gab, gush, babble, jabber, blather
The children prattled on about their day, oblivious to the time.
Define:
simian
(sim-ee-uhn)
adj. relating to apes
Humans have many simian characteristics.
Define:
precipice
(press-uh-piss)
n. a steep rock or cliff face
The climber faced the largest precipice of his career.
Define:
augury
(aw-gyuh-ree)
n. divination
n. an omen, portent
Augury is often performed by observing a crystal ball.
Define:
picayune
(pik-ee-yoon)
adj. of little value, paltry, petty
n. something of little value
His craftsmanship wasn’t worth a picayune.
Define:
anthropomorphic
(an-thruh-puh-mawr-fik)
adj. having human characteristics
Many people believe that aliens will be anthropomorphic, but there is no evidence to support that.
Define:
ramify
(ram-uh-fahy)
v. to be divided, to branch out
The dispute ramified as more factions got involved.
Define:
upbraid
(uhp-breyd)
v. to scold sharply, reprimand, or blame
Mom upbraided me for not doing the dishes last night.
Define:
banality
(buh-nal-ih-tee)
n. triviality
n. something overused and trite
The once-funny joke had become a banality in the camp.
Define:
base
(behyss)
adj. immoral
adj. made of low quality materials
The young man was criticized by his parents for his base, degrading lifestyle.
Define:
sodden
(sod-n)
adj. thoroughly soaked, saturated
My clothes were sodden from the rainstorm.
Define:
stolid
(stawl-id)
adj. stoic, emotionless
People in old-time photographs tend to have stolid expressions.
Define:
phthisis
(thigh-sis)
n. a disease characterized by body-part atrophy (especially of the lungs)
His phthisis was interfering with work more every day.
Define:
vintner
(vint-ner)
n. one who makes or sells wine
In Italy there are a great number of vintners.
Define:
salient
(sehy-lee-uhnt)
adj. prominent or conspicuous
The cover of the study guide listed its salient features, such as diagnostic and practice exams.
Define:
haughty
(haw-tee)
adj. arrogant, snobbish
I prefer the company of one or two good friends to a party full of haughty, self-absorbed socialites.
Define:
blanch
(blanch)
v. to whiten or turn pale
During the biology dissection, Jennifer blanched and ran out of the room.
Define:
inimitable
(in-im-ih-tuh-buhl)
adj. incapable of being imitated or duplicated
The Broadway debut was a spellbinding performance thanks mainly to the inimitable stamina of the female lead.
Define:
accretion
(uh-kree-shuhn)
n. growth; increase by successive or gradual addition
The accretion of dirt has changed the floor’s color.
Define:
trenchant
(tren-chuhnt)
adj. forceful and effective
adj. extremely perceptive
The experienced CEO offered trenchant criticisms of the young company.
Define:
turgid
(tur-djid)
adj. swollen or distended
adj. excessively ornate; grandiloquent
Marcy’s turgid leg was enough to concern her parents.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. relating to apes
simian
(sim-ee-uhn)
synonyms: ape-like, primate, anthropoid
The simian characteristics of the monkey were evident in its agile movements.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a steep rock or cliff face
precipice
(press-uh-piss)
synonyms: crag, bluff, cliff, ledge, escarpment
The climbers stood at the edge of the precipice, gazing down at the valley below.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. divination
n. an omen, portent
augury
(aw-gyuh-ree)
synonyms: fortunetelling, forewarning, omen, prophecy
The ancient practice of augury involved interpreting the flight patterns of birds.
Seeing a black cat was considered an augury of bad luck.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of little value, paltry, petty
n. something of little value
picayune
(pik-ee-yoon)
synonyms: diminutive, frivolous; a trifle, insignificant, trivial
His picayune complaints about the weather were tiresome.
She dismissed the picayune details, focusing instead on the bigger picture.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having human characteristics
anthropomorphic
(an-thruh-puh-mawr-fik)
synonyms: humanlike, personified, anthropoidal
The anthropomorphic characters in the cartoon made the story more relatable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be divided, to branch out
ramify
(ram-uh-fahy)
synonyms: diverge, diversify, fork, split, extend
The organization began to ramify into various departments to better serve its members.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to scold sharply, reprimand or blame
upbraid
(uhp-breyd)
synonyms: berate, criticize, reprimand, reproach, chastise
The manager did not hesitate to upbraid the team for missing the deadline.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. triviality
n. something overused and trite
banality
(buh-nal-ih-tee)
synonyms: cliché, quotidian, sameness, monotony
The film suffered from banality, offering nothing new to the genre.
The speech was filled with banality that failed to inspire the audience.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. immoral
adj. made of low quality materials
base
(behyss)
synonyms: vulgar, low; shoddy, cheap, inferior, contemptible
His base actions shocked everyone who knew him as a moral person.
The furniture was so base that it fell apart after just a few months.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. thoroughly soaked, saturated
sodden
(sod-n)
synonyms: soaked, soggy, wet, drenched, saturated
The sodden ground made it difficult to walk without slipping.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. stoic, emotionless
stolid
(stawl-id)
synonyms: apathetic, indifferent, impassive, unemotional, phlegmatic
His stolid demeanor made it hard for others to read his feelings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a disease characterized by body-part atrophy (especially of the lungs)
phthisis
(thigh-sis)
synonyms: infection, decay, tuberculosis, wasting disease
Phthisis was once a common cause of death before the advent of antibiotics.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one who makes or sells wine
vintner
(vint-ner)
synonyms: winemaker, wine merchant, brewer, oenologist
The vintner proudly showcased his finest bottles at the annual wine festival.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. prominent or conspicuous
salient
(sehy-lee-uhnt)
synonyms: noticeable, important, pertinent, obtrusive, striking, remarkable
Her salient features made her stand out in the crowd.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. arrogant, insolent
haughty
(haw-tee)
synonyms: egotistic, conceited, snobbish, disdainful, supercilious
His haughty attitude alienated many of his colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to whiten or turn pale
blanch
(blanch)
synonyms: discolor, fade, wash out, lighten, pale, whiten
She began to blanch at the thought of giving a speech in front of the audience.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. incapable of being imitated or duplicated
inimitable
(in-im-ih-tuh-buhl)
synonyms: unique, matchless, peerless, singular, distinctive, incomparable
Her inimitable style made her a fashion icon.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. growth; increase by successive or gradual addition
accretion
(uh-kree-shuhn)
synonyms: increase, build-up, growth, accumulation, expansion
The accretion of knowledge over the years has made him an expert in his field.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. forceful and effective
adj. extremely perceptive
trenchant
(tren-chuhnt)
synonyms: sharp, observant, incisive, keen, astute
His trenchant remarks during the debate swayed many opinions.
She had a trenchant understanding of the complex issues at hand.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. swollen or distended
adj. excessively ornate; grandiloquent
turgid
(tur-djid)
synonyms: bloated, enlarged, grandiose, pompous, verbose, inflated
The turgid river overflowed its banks after the heavy rainfall.
His turgid prose made the otherwise simple story difficult to read.
Define:
belabor
(buh-lehy-burr)
v. to speak or worry about something at length
v. to attack
She was known to belabor the point when it came to environmentalism, so we tried not to bring it up.
Define:
belie
(buh-lahy)
v. to give a false impression
v. to reveal as untrue
She greeted us with a smile, but the redness of her eyes belied her cheerful attitude.
Define:
benign
(buh-nahyn)
adj. pleasant
adj. not harmful, especially to health
The doctor’s benign manner endeared him to patients.
Define:
bent
(bent)
n. a natural talent
n. an inclination or interest
Lisa had a true bent for working with animals, so people often told her to consider a career as a veterinarian.
Define:
berate
(bih-rate)
v. to scold or criticize angrily
Jane’s boss was so mean that he berated her for even the smallest mistakes.
Define:
blithe
(blahyth)
adj. carefree and happy
When he lost his job, John struggled to maintain his blithe and optimistic attitude toward life.
Define:
capacious
(kuh-pay-shuss)
adj. having a lot of room
The capacious living room often impressed their guests.
Define:
capitulate
(kuh-pitch-ih-lehyt)
v. to surrender; to give in
The mother capitulated after hours of tantrums and finally bought her son the toy.
Define:
caprice
(kuh-prees)
n. a sudden desire
Her decision to come along on the trip was a mere caprice; she had never expressed a desire to come before then.
Define:
carp
(karp)
v. to raise trivial objections
n. a type of fish
She hated when her coworkers carped about the minimal work they had to do.
Define:
cascade
(kass-kehyd)
n. a waterfall
n. something that falls or progresses like a waterfall
I knew the wire was badly damaged when a cascade of sparks fell the moment I touched it.
Define:
castigate
(kast-ih-gehyt)
v. to give harsh criticism
v. to punish harshly
His parents castigated him for his bad grades by taking away his car keys.
Define:
caustic
(kaw-stick)
adj. capable of corroding
adj. harsh or sarcastic in tone
The comedian was known for his caustic jokes about political scandals.
Define:
censure
(sen-shur)
n. strong disapproval, esp. official disapproval
v. to condemn
The professor was censured by the administration for his controversial and politically incorrect lectures.
Define:
chauvinism
(show-vuh-niz-um)
n. fanatical patriotism
n. prejudiced support of one’s own group, sex, or cause
My father’s chauvinism was characterized by a rather dim view of other races.
Define:
chimera
(kahy-mere-uh)
n. a creature possessing the body parts of different animals
n. a fanciful mental illusion
The ability to make easy money is a chimera; it only works until the next economic downturn.
Define:
collusion
(kuh-loo-zhun)
n. a conspiracy or secret plot
Acting in collusion with several high officials, the rebels completed the government takeover successfully.
Define:
complacent
(kum-plehy-sunt)
adj. satisfied and thus not wanting to improve
Kate became complacent after years of success as a model and so was unprepared when younger women challenged her position at the top.
Define:
complaisant
(kum-plehy-sunt)
adj. eager to please
Although usually argumentative, Paul is surprisingly complaisant with his girlfriend.
Define:
concise
(kun-sayhs)
adj. brief; able to express a lot in few words
Before the show, the director gave a concise introduction that explained his reasons for getting involved in the production.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to speak or worry about something at length
v. to attack
belabor
(buh-lehy-burr)
synonyms: dwell on, repeat; invade, assail, harp on, reiterate, bombard
He tends to belabor his point, making discussions unnecessarily long.
The critic did not hesitate to belabor the flaws in the new film.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give a false impression
v. to reveal as untrue
belie
(buh-lahy)
synonyms: falsify, garble, distort; disprove, contradict, refute
Her smile seemed to belie her true feelings of sadness.
The evidence will belie the claims made during the trial.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pleasant
adj. not harmful, especially to health
benign
(buh-nahyn)
synonyms: amiable, friendly, gentle; harmless, innocuous
The benign atmosphere of the garden made it a perfect spot for relaxation.
The doctor assured her that the tumor was benign.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a natural talent
n. an inclination or interest
bent
(bent)
synonyms: ability, gift; propensity, intent, talent, inclination
She has a bent for music, playing multiple instruments with ease.
His bent toward science led him to pursue a career in biology.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to scold or criticize angrily
berate
(bih-rate)
synonyms: abuse, discipline, rebuke, reprimand, chastise
The coach berated the players for their lack of effort during the game.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. carefree and happy
blithe
(blahyth)
synonyms: animated, buoyant, cheerful, lighthearted, carefree, jovial
Her blithe spirit brought joy to everyone around her.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having a lot of room
capacious
(kuh-pay-shuss)
synonyms: spacious, roomy, expansive, ample, extensive, vast
The capacious trunk of the car easily accommodated all the luggage.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to surrender; to give in
capitulate
(kuh-pitch-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: bow, concede, succumb, yield, relent, surrender
After weeks of negotiations, the company decided to capitulate to the union’s demands.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a sudden desire
caprice
(kuh-prees)
synonyms: fancy, impulse, whim, inclination, whimsy
His decision to travel was a caprice, inspired by a spontaneous thought.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to raise trivial objections
n. a kind of fish
carp
(karp)
synonyms: nag, bother, complain, criticize, quibble
She began to carp about the details of the plan, which frustrated the team.
The carp swam gracefully in the pond.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a waterfall
n. something that falls or progresses like a waterfall
cascade
(kass-kehyd)
synonyms: chute, downpour, flood, fall, rush, waterfall
The cascade of water tumbled down the rocky cliff, creating a beautiful sight.
The project had a cascade of delays that pushed the deadline further back.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give harsh criticism to
v. to punish harshly
castigate
(kast-ih-gehyt)
synonyms: criticize, berate; punish, batter, scold, reprimand, chastise
The teacher did not hesitate to castigate the student for his poor behavior.
She felt it was unfair to castigate him for a mistake everyone else had made.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. capable of corroding
adj. harsh or sarcastic in tone
caustic
(kaw-stick)
synonyms: abrasive, erosive; ironic, bitter, scathing, sardonic
The caustic chemical burned through the metal container.
His caustic remarks often left others feeling hurt and offended.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. strong disapproval, esp. official disapproval
v. to condemn
censure
(sen-shur)
synonyms: criticism; blame, chide, incriminate, rebuke, reprimand
The senator faced censure for his inappropriate comments.
The board decided to censure the employee for violating company policies.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. fanatical patriotism; and
n. prejudiced support of one’s own group, sex, or cause
chauvinism
(show-vuh-niz-um)
synonyms: jingoism, ethnocentricity, nationalism, partisanship
His chauvinism was evident in his dismissive attitude toward other cultures.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a creature possessing the body parts of different animals
n. a fanciful mental illusion
chimera
(kahy-mere-uh)
synonyms: dream, fantasy, illusion, mirage, fabrication
The mythological chimera was said to breathe fire and have the body of a lion.
Her dream of becoming a famous artist was a chimera she held onto for years.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a conspiracy or secret plot
collusion
(kuh-loo-zhun)
synonyms: pact, trick, connivance, conspiracy, collaboration, secret agreement
The two companies were accused of collusion to fix prices in the market.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. satisfied and thus not wanting to improve
complacent
(kum-plehy-sunt)
synonyms: self-assured, unconcerned, gratified, content, smug, indifferent
His complacent attitude toward his grades prevented him from striving for better.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. eager to please
complaisant
(kum-plehy-sunt)
synonyms: obliging, compliant, accommodating, agreeable, helpful
The complaisant assistant went out of her way to ensure her boss’s satisfaction.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. brief; able to express a lot in few words
concise
(kun-sahys)
synonyms: short, succinct, terse, to the point, compact
The report was concise, highlighting only the most important information.
Define:
conjecture
(kun-jeck-chur)
n. inference based on inconclusive or incomplete evidence
The scientist’s paper was criticized by his peers for being based purely on conjecture.
Define:
consternation
(kon-stur-nehy-shun)
n. a state of confused terror or apprehension
A feeling of consternation filled the room as the teacher began to hand back papers immediately after the students had handed them in.
Define:
consummate
(v. kon-suh-meyt; adj. kon-suh-muht)
v. to make complete or perfect
adj. perfect in every aspect
The team’s victory was consummated by a spontaneous celebration on the field.
Define:
contention
(kun-ten-shun)
n. a point or argument in a debate
n. a competition
The ceasefire is holding, but a few points of contention must still be resolved before a final peace can be reached.
Define:
contrite
(kun-trahyt)
adj. full of remorse
The letter explained that he was truly contrite and wanted to apologize in person.
Define:
convalesce
(kon-vuh-less)
v. to recover
After the accident, Tom was told to convalesce for at least two weeks.
Define:
deleterious
(dell-uh-teer-ee-us)
adj. causing harm or damage
It is now common knowledge that smoking is deleterious to one’s health.
Define:
demagogue
(dem-uh-gog)
n. a speaker who targets his or her audience’s emotions or prejudices
The candidate’s opponent accused him of being a demagogue and relying upon the public’s fear of change.
Define:
denigrate
(den-ih-grehyt)
v. to attack the reputation of
The columnist denigrated the baseball coach for his string of high-profile losses.
Define:
denote
(dih-noht)
v. to mark or indicate
The red text on her report card denoted which classes she was failing.
Define:
desiccate
(dess-ih-kehyt)
v. to cause to lose moisture
Mary had her wart removed at the doctor’s office by desiccating it.
Define:
despond
(dih-spond)
v. to become dejected
His campaign team desponded when they heard the official results of the election.
Define:
desultory
(dess-uhl-tore-ee)
adj. having no plan or purpose; random
The desultory thoughts running through Mick’s mind prevented him from concentrating on the essay he had to write.
Define:
diatribe
(die-uh-trahyb)
n. a harsh rant or critical review
After hours of waiting with me in the lobby, my mother began her usual diatribe on the various failings of airport management.
Define:
discrete
(diss-kreet)
adj. distinctly separate
The U.S. government has three discrete branches: the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive.
Define:
disparage
(dih-spare-idj)
v. to express a negative opinion of
She disparaged her friend behind his back, yet praised him to his face.
Define:
disparate
(diss-puh-rit)
adj. completely different
The two had such disparate opinions on the topic that it seemed impossible for them to work together effectively.
Define:
dispassionate
(diss-pash-ih-nut)
adj. unbiased; objective
A dispassionate judge will favor neither the prosecution nor the defense.
Define:
disposed
(diss-pohzd)
adj. having a tendency or partiality to
Kate was particularly stubborn when she was angry and was not disposed to listen to reason.
Define:
tendentious
(ten-den-chuss)
adj. exhibiting a trend; having an ulterior motive or bias
Wendy’s tendentious assessment of the war mentions only its positive effects, skipping over the negative points.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. inference based on inconclusive or incomplete evidence
conjecture
(kun-jeck-chur)
synonyms: assumption, guess, presumption, hypothesis, speculation, inference
His conjecture about the missing documents turned out to be correct.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of confused terror or apprehension
consternation
(kon-stur-nehy-shun)
synonyms: dismay, distress, panic, alarm, fear, anxiety
The sudden news of the layoffs caused consternation among the employees.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make complete or perfect
adj. perfect in every aspect
consummate
(v. kon-suh-meyt; adj. kon-suh-muht)
synonyms: fulfill, finish, achieve; flawless, complete, ideal, supreme
The artist hoped to consummate his vision with this final piece.
Her performance was consummate, leaving the audience in awe.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a point or argument in a debate
n. a competition
contention
(kun-ten-shun)
synonyms: allegation, claim; altercation, contest, dispute, rivalry
His contention that the policy would benefit the economy was met with skepticism.
The two teams were in contention for the championship title.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. full of remorse
contrite
(kun-trahyt)
synonyms: regretful, atoning, remorseful, penitent, apologetic, repentant
She felt contrite after realizing the hurt she had caused her friend.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to recover
convalesce
(kon-vuh-less)
synonyms: grow strong, rest, recharge physically, recuperate, heal, regain strength
After her surgery, she needed several weeks to convalesce.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. causing harm or damage
deleterious
(dell-uh-teer-ee-us)
synonyms: destructive, injurious, hurtful, harmful, detrimental, dangerous
The chemicals in the product were found to have deleterious effects on health.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a speaker who targets his or her audience’s emotions or prejudices
demagogue
(dem-uh-gog)
synonyms: agitator, rabble-rouser, firebrand, instigator, provocateur
The politician was criticized as a demagogue for exploiting public fears.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to attack the reputation of
denigrate
(den-ih-grehyt)
synonyms: malign, slander, defame, disparage, belittle, vilify
The article aimed to denigrate her achievements and undermine her credibility.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to mark or indicate
denote
(dih-noht)
synonyms: assign, signify, represent, indicate, express
The red color on the map denotes areas of high risk.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cause to lose moisture
desiccate
(dess-ih-kehyt)
synonyms: dehydrate, dry out, evaporate, parch, wither
The hot sun will desiccate the soil if it is not watered regularly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to become dejected
despond
(dih-spond)
synonyms: despair, dishearten, surrender, dismay, lose hope, falter
After hearing the bad news, she began to despond and lost her motivation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having no plan or purpose; random
desultory
(dess-uhl-tore-ee)
synonyms: aimless, erratic, random, haphazard, disconnected
His desultory remarks during the meeting left everyone confused about his position.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a harsh rant or critical review
diatribe
(die-uh-trahyb)
synonyms: criticism, tirade, harangue, invective, polemic
The critic’s diatribe against the film was scathing and left no stone unturned.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. distinctly separate
discrete
(diss-kreet)
synonyms: detached, disconnected, separate, distinct, individual, isolated
The data was divided into discrete categories for easier analysis.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to express a negative opinion of
disparage
(dih-spare-idj)
synonyms: insult, belittle, denigrate, demean, criticize
She felt hurt when her colleague chose to disparage her efforts publicly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. completely different
disparate
(diss-puh-rit)
synonyms: contrary, unlike, various, distinct, diverse, heterogeneous
The two proposals were so disparate that it was hard to compare them.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unbiased; objective
dispassionate
(diss-pash-ih-nut)
synonyms: unbiased, fair, not affected by emotion, impartial, unemotional, level-headed
As a dispassionate observer, he was able to provide fair feedback.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having a tendency or partiality to
disposed
(diss-pohzd)
synonyms: inclined, prone to, willing, apt, susceptible
He seemed disposed to agree with the majority opinion.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. exhibiting a trend
adj. having an ulterior motive or bias
tendentious
(ten-den-chuss)
synonyms: biased, calculated, partisan, slanted, prejudiced
The article had a tendentious slant, clearly favoring one political party.
His tendentious comments during the discussion revealed his hidden agenda.
