Advanced Vocab Words - Set 7 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:
dissociate
(dih-soh-see-ate)
v. to consider as separate
v. to break away
When news of the company’s fraud broke out, former affiliates tried to dissociate themselves from the partnership.
Define:
dissonant
(diss-ih-nunt)
adj. not in agreement; discordant
adj. unpleasant or harsh sounding
The first song the group performed surprised the audience with its dissonant chords and unusual length.
Define:
distend
(dih-stend)
v. to swell or widen
The children watched in fascination as the frog distended its throat and croaked.
Define:
distill
(dih-still)
v. to make pure
v. to take out from
The essence of the substance was distilled through a complicated process.
Define:
divest
(dahy-vest)
v. to deprive or dispossess
v. to dispose of assets
He was divested of his privileges and title after breaking the club’s most important rule.
Define:
doctrinaire
(dock-truh-nair)
adj. following theory without regard for practical reality
The new president’s doctrinaire attitude towards economics led him to go through with some harmful policies.
Define:
elate
(ee-late)
v. to fill with optimism or excitement
Activists were elated to hear about the passage of the civil rights legislation.
Define:
elegy
(ell-ih-djee)
n. a mournful poem or song
At her father’s funeral, Linda chose to read an elegy by his favorite poet, Keats.
Define:
elucidate
(ih-loo-sih-dehyt)
v. to make easier to understand
The company introduced simplified diagrams on its packaging to elucidate its new environmentally-friendly manufacturing process.
Define:
emaciate
(ih-mehy-shee-ehyt)
v. to make or become thin
He emerged from the prisoner camp emaciated by months of inadequate rations.
Define:
emollient
(ih-mole-yunt)
adj. having the effect of softening
The cream was popular for its moisturizing and emollient properties.
Define:
venal
(veen-l)
adj. capable of being bought or bribed; mercenary; corruptible
Naturally, the case was declared a mistrial when its venal judge was shown to have sought bribes from both the prosecution and the defense.
Define:
doggerel
(daw-ger-uhl)
n. trivial, poorly constructed verse
adj. comic, burlesque; loose and irregular
The doggerel found in some publications is often a result of lazy editing.
Define:
manse
(manss)
n. a clergyman’s house
n. a mansion
The architect just finished the plans for the minister’s new manse.
Define:
nexus
(nek-suhss)
n. a connected series; a tie or link
n. the center or focus
The detective pursued several corrupt police officials and so uncovered the nexus of the city’s violent crime.
Define:
promulgate
(prom-uhl-geyt)
v. to make openly known; to officially announce
The governor promulgated the new building code by special courier to each of the state’s municipalities.
Define:
dross
(drawss)
n. rubbish, waste, or foreign matter; impurity
Fred dismissed the criticisms of his portfolio, pointing out that the gold had far outweighed the dross through his long career.
Define:
demur
(duh-mur)
v. to take exception; to object
n. an objection
Though he was essentially in favor of freedom of speech, he demurred at certain types of hate speech.
Define:
felicitous
(fih-liss-ih-tuss)
adj. appropriate, suitable (as of a comment); well-chosen
Though Zhang and Eric are nothing alike, their complementary strengths made for a felicitous pairing as lab partners.
Define:
veritable
(ver-ih-tuh-buhl)
adj. authentic, real, true
In such a moderate district, winning more than 60 percent of the vote is a veritable landslide.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to consider as separate
v. to break away
dissociate
(dih-soh-see-ate)
synonyms: separate, detach, disjoin, disconnect, disengage
It’s important to dissociate your personal feelings from your professional decisions.
After the argument, she chose to dissociate herself from the group.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not in agreement; discordant
adj. unpleasant or harsh sounding
dissonant
(diss-ih-nunt)
synonyms: discordant, clashing, jarring, cacophonous, conflicting
The dissonant chords in the song created an unsettling atmosphere.
Their opinions were so dissonant that it was difficult to reach a consensus.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to swell or widen
distend
(dih-stend)
synonyms: bulge, swell, bloat, expand, inflate
The balloon began to distend as more air was pumped into it.
After the big meal, my stomach started to distend, making me uncomfortable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make pure
v. to take out from
distill
(dih-still)
synonyms: boil down, condense, extract, purify, refine
The process to distill the alcohol took several hours to ensure purity.
He tried to distill the essence of the argument into a single sentence.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to deprive or dispossess
v. to dispose of assets
divest
(dahy-vest)
synonyms: release, give up possession, rid, disencumber, unload
The company decided to divest its non-core business units to focus on its main operations.
She felt it was time to divest herself of unnecessary possessions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. following theory without regard for practical reality
doctrinaire
(dock-truh-nair)
synonyms: dogmatic, unrealistic, ideological, rigid, purist
His doctrinaire approach to politics often led to conflicts with more pragmatic colleagues.
The doctrinaire adherence to the rules stifled creativity in the project.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to fill with optimism or excitement
elate
(ee-late)
synonyms: uplift, exalt, to make very proud or happy, inspire, thrill, elevate
The news of her promotion will surely elate her family.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a mournful poem or song
elegy
(ell-ih-djee)
synonyms: death song, lament, a mournful composition, requiem, dirge
The poet wrote an elegy to honor the fallen soldiers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make easier to understand
elucidate
(ih-loo-sih-dehyt)
synonyms: clarify, simplify, expose, explain, illuminate
The professor used diagrams to elucidate complex theories.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make or become thin
emaciate
(ih-mehy-shee-ehyt)
synonyms: decrease, starve, weaken, wither, shrink
The prolonged illness caused him to emaciate rapidly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having the effect of softening
emollient
(ih-mole-yunt)
synonyms: relaxing, relieving, soothing, calming, pacifying
The emollient cream helped soothe her dry skin.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. capable of being bought or bribed; mercenary
venal
(veen-l)
synonyms: dishonest, corruptible, bribable, unethical, greedy
The politician’s venal actions raised concerns about his integrity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. trivial, poorly constructed verse
doggerel
(daw-ger-uhl)
synonyms: awkward, droll, simplistic, crude, trivial
His poem was more doggerel than art, lacking depth and meaning.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a clergyman’s house
n. a mansion
manse
(manss)
synonyms: dwelling, house, residence, rectory, abode
The manse hosted the church’s community events.
The manse was adorned with elegant furnishings and vast gardens.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a connected series; a tie or link
n. the center or focus
nexus
(nek-suhss)
synonyms: web, union; core, connection, focal point
The nexus between the two research teams led to groundbreaking discoveries.
The conference served as the nexus for industry leaders to discuss innovative strategies.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make openly known; to officially announce
promulgate
(prom-uhl-geyt)
synonyms: advertise, broadcast, declare, proclaim, announce
The organization will promulgate the new policy at the upcoming meeting.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. slag, waste, or foreign matter; impurity
dross
(drawss)
synonyms: dregs, scum, waste, refuse, residue
The factory removed the dross from the metal to ensure its purity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to take exception; to object
n. an objection
demur
(duh-mur)
synonyms: disagree, challenge, oppose, protest, resist
She decided to demur when asked to sign the controversial petition.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. appropriate, suitable (as of a comment); well-chosen
felicitous
(fih-liss-ih-tuss)
synonyms: apt, fitting, favorable, timely, relevant
His felicitous remarks during the ceremony made everyone feel welcomed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. authentic, real, true
veritable
(ver-ih-tuh-buhl)
synonyms: bona fide, genuine, legitimate, actual, undisputed
The veritable evidence presented in court changed the case’s outcome.
Define:
impassive
(im-pass-iv)
adj. showing no emotion; stoic; unmoved
Who could remain impassive after such a heart-wrenching story?
Define:
hermetic
(hur-met-ik)
adj. airtight, impervious to outside influence; isolated
The tomb’s hermetic seal had never been opened.
Define:
fracas
(frey-kuhs)
n. a noisy fight or quarrel
In the middle of the day, a fracas between two cab drivers erupted in the street.
Define:
eminence
(em-ih-nunce)
n. a place of high rank
Late in her career, Aida was finally recognized for achieving eminence in filmmaking.
Define:
epigram
(ep-ih-gram)
n. a witty saying
The comedian became famous for his instantly recognizable epigrams and one-liners.
Define:
epitome
(uh-pit-uh-mee)
n. a particularly worthy example of a class or type
The salon’s customers praised his work as the epitome of high-class hairstyling.
Define:
equanimity
(ek-wuh-nim-ih-tee)
n. steadiness of mind
A good leader maintains her equanimity even during a crisis.
Define:
equivocal
(uh-kwiv-uh-kul)
adj. uncertain or open to interpretation
The doctor’s conclusion was rather equivocal, so I asked for a second opinion.
Define:
erudite
(air-ya-dahyt)
adj. having profound knowledge or wisdom
The erudite professor was extremely knowledgeable but difficult to understand in lectures.
Define:
espouse
(uh-spouz)
v. to give or take in matrimony
v. to take up or adopt (e.g., a cause)
Although she claims to be nonconformist, Becky merely espouses the same beliefs she has read about in various books and websites.
Define:
eradicate
(ih-rad-ih-kehyt)
v. to eliminate completely
The poison succeeded in eradicating all of the insects that had invaded the house.
Define:
estrange
(ih-strange)
v. to arouse hostility in
v. to remove from a group or relationship
A particularly mean-spirited remark from her stepmother finally estranged Maggie from her family, and she has not been home since.
Define:
evanescent
(ev-ih-ness-unt)
adj. tending to vanish
The evanescent beauty of cherry blossoms may have inspired the respect for short-lived pleasures evident in the Japanese psyche.
Define:
extrinsic
(ik-strin-zik)
adj. originating from the outside
The parents’ cheers were useful for extrinsic motivation, but the coach told the team that the drive to win must come from inside themselves.
Define:
exult
(ig-zult)
v. to express joy or elation
The winning candidate’s campaign team began to exult the moment they heard the news.
Define:
facetious
(fuh-see-shuss)
adj. humorous with a sarcastic tone
The student’s facetious comments were seen as disrespectful by his professor.
Define:
facile
(fass-ul)
adj. done with ease
adj. shallow, uncomplicated
Though facile references to cooperation may inspire some workers, others remain unconvinced until their higher-ups go into specifics.
Define:
rectitude
(rek-tih-tood)
n. moral righteousness
n. the quality of being right
The priest praised him for his rectitude in the face of temptation.
Define:
crucible
(kroo-suh-buhl)
n. a metal container made of heat resistant material
n. a severe test
n. a place or time characterized by powerful forces
He was cast into the crucible of depression by his daughter’s diagnosis.
Define:
ingenue
(an-je-noo)
n. a naive, innocent young woman
Do you take me for an ingenue who has never been to the city?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. showing no emotion; stoic; unmoved
impassive
(im-pass-iv)
synonyms: apathetic, unfeeling, expressionless, emotionless, cold
Despite the chaos around him, he remained impassive.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. airtight, impervious to outside influence; isolated
hermetic
(hur-met-ik)
synonyms: impervious, shut, sealed, airtight, secure
The hermetic seal ensured that no air entered the container.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a noisy fight or quarrel
fracas
(frey-kuhs)
synonyms: disturbance, fight, brawl, uproar, altercation
The fracas in the street drew the attention of nearby residents.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a place of high rank
eminence
(em-ih-nunce)
synonyms: importance, authority, prestige, prominence, distinction
His eminence in the field of science earned him numerous awards.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a witty saying
epigram
(ep-ih-gram)
synonyms: quirk, joke, adage, wisecrack
His witty epigram perfectly captured the absurdity of the situation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a particularly worthy example of a class or type
epitome
(uh-pit-uh-mee)
synonyms: ideal, model, paragon, embodiment
She is the epitome of professionalism in her field.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. steadiness of mind
equanimity
(ek-wuh-nim-ih-tee)
synonyms: composure, poise, calmness, serenity
He handled the crisis with remarkable equanimity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. uncertain or open to interpretation
equivocal
(uh-kwiv-uh-kul)
synonyms: doubtful, questionable, ambiguous, unclear
The CEO’s equivocal response left many questions unanswered.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having profound knowledge or wisdom
erudite
(air-ya-dahyt)
synonyms: educated, cultured, savvy, knowledgeable
The erudite professor was a favorite among students for his deep insights.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give or take in matrimony
v. to take up or adopt (e.g., a cause)
espouse
(uh-spouz)
synonyms: marry, engage; support, defend, adopt, promote
They decided to espouse their commitment to environmental sustainability by starting a community garden.
The organization chose to espouse the cause of social justice and actively work towards equality.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to eliminate completely
eradicate
(ih-rad-ih-kehyt)
synonyms: destroy, annihilate, eliminate, exterminate
The organization aims to eradicate poverty in the community.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to arouse hostility in
v. to remove oneself from a group or relationship
estrange
(ih-strange)
synonyms: antagonize, disaffect; separate, disconnect, alienate, isolate
His harsh comments served to estrange him from his closest friends.
After the disagreement, she felt it was best to estrange herself from the toxic relationship.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tending to vanish
evanescent
(ev-ih-ness-unt)
synonyms: transient, disappearing, vanishing, fleeting, momentary
The evanescent beauty of the sunset left everyone in awe.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. originating from the outside
extrinsic
(ik-strin-zik)
synonyms: foreign, acquired, alien, outward, external, outside, extraneous
The extrinsic factors influencing the market include global events and trends.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to express joy or elation
exult
(ig-zult)
synonyms: delight, jubilate, rejoice, celebrate
The team began to exult after their hard-fought victory in the championship game.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. humorous with a sarcastic tone
facetious
(fuh-see-shuss)
synonyms: ironic, not serious, flippant, glib
His facetious remarks during the meeting lightened the mood but also annoyed some colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. done with ease
adj. shallow, uncomplicated
facile
(fass-ul)
synonyms: effortless, simplistic, easy, superficial
The athlete’s facile performance made it look effortless.
His facile analysis failed to address the deeper issues at hand.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. moral righteousness
n. the quality of being right
rectitude
(rek-tih-tood)
synonyms: decency, integrity; correctness, righteousness, morality
His rectitude was evident in his unwavering commitment to justice.
The rectitude of her decision was recognized by everyone in the community.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a metal container made of heat resistant material
n. a severe test
n. a place or time characterized by powerful forces
crucible
(kroo-suh-buhl)
synonyms: vessel; calamity, trial, test, challenge, ordeal
The blacksmith used a crucible to melt the metal for his new creation.
The team’s performance in the championship was a true crucible of their skills and determination.
The city became a crucible of cultural change during the artistic renaissance.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a naive, innocent young woman
ingenue
(an-zhuh-noo)
synonyms: amateur, learner, novice, debutante
The film featured an ingenue who captured everyone’s hearts with her innocence.
Define:
cadge
(kadj)
v. to beg or ask for; to impose on another’s generosity
The drunk was cadging cigarettes from strangers.
Define:
flout
(flahwt)
v. to demonstrate contempt for; to mock with disdain
v. to disregard, to disobey
She flouted convention with her bizarre style of dress.
Define:
ennui
(ahn-wee)
n. dissatisfaction and restlessness due to boredom or apathy
Go Fish could not cure our rainy-day ennui.
Define:
urbanity
(ur-ban-ih-tee)
n. refinement and elegance of manner; polished courtesy
It was difficult not to be captivated by the palpable urbanity in everything she said.
Define:
vicissitude
(vih-siss-ih-tood)
n. a sudden, unexpected change, as in one’s life
John found inner strength and confronted the vicissitudes of a troubled life admirably.
Define:
hubris
(hyoo-bris)
n. arrogant presumption, excessive pride
The president’s hubris led to the desertion of many of his erstwhile friends who missed the humble and prudent politician they once knew.
Define:
fallow
(fal-owe)
adj. undeveloped (often despite the potential to be used)
In the United States, some farmers are paid to leave parts of their land fallow in order to limit agricultural output.
Define:
fathom
(fath-um)
v. to calculate the depth of
v. to comprehend
I cannot even fathom the idea of giving up my child for adoption.
Define:
fatuous
(fach-oo-us)
adj. inanely foolish
Most of his peers and relations thought his dream of becoming both a doctor and astronaut was fatuous at best.
Define:
ferment
(v. fur-ment; n. fur-ment)
v. to process sugar into alcohol organically
v. to work up
n. a state of excitement or turbulence
The ferment into which Watson and Crick’s discovery of DNA thrust the world of evolutionary biology was slow to die down.
Define:
fervent
(fur-vent)
adj. filled with strong emotion
Her fervent desire to help others led her to start her own charity organization with her inheritance.
Define:
fetter
(fet-er)
n. a restraint
v. to restrict or restrain
The designer felt his creativity was fettered by his client’s demands.
Define:
garrulous
(gair-uh-luss)
adj. overly talkative (esp. about unimportant topics)
The woman’s garrulous nature annoyed most of her coworkers.
Define:
gauche
(goash)
adj. unsophisticated; lacking manners
Linda kept to herself at her boss’s cocktail party, lest she say something gauche and embarrass herself.
Define:
germane
(djer-mehyn)
adj. relevant to the matter at hand
Kevin had a hard time finding materials that were actually germane to his project and not just tangentially related.
Define:
glib
(glihb)
adj. spoken in a smooth, unconcerned manner
adj. informal to the point of being insincere
The politician annoyed many journalists with his glib responses.
Define:
glutton
(glut-un)
n. a person who eats to excess
Johnny got in trouble so often that his professors began asking if he was a “glutton for punishment”.
Define:
grandiloquent
(gran-dill-ih-kwunt)
adj. extravagant and pompous in speech
The grandiloquent speech did not have much substance, leaving the audience confused about its purpose.
Define:
gratuitous
(gruh-too-ih-tuss)
adj. unwarranted or unnecessary
The movie disgusted her due to its gratuitous violence, which served no plot function so far as she could tell.
Define:
gregarious
(grih-gair-ee-us)
adj. outgoing and friendly
adj. tending to live in communities
This gregarious species of bird may be found in flocks of up to one hundred individuals.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to beg or ask for; to impose on another’s generosity
cadge
(kadj)
synonyms: hawk, mooch, scrounge, solicit
The artist would often cadge a meal from friends during tough times.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to demonstrate contempt for; to mock with disdain
flout
(flahwt)
synonyms: deride, mock, ridicule, scorn, disdain
He chose to flout the dress code by wearing jeans to the formal event.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. dissatisfaction and restlessness due to boredom or apathy
ennui
(ahn-wee)
synonyms: tedium, weariness, disinterest, boredom, listlessness
The rainy day brought a sense of ennui that made everyone feel lethargic.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. refinement and elegance of manner; polished courtesy
urbanity
(ur-ban-ih-tee)
synonyms: elegance, charming, sophistication, refinement
Her urbanity was evident in the way she addressed every guest at the party.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a sudden, unexpected change, as in one’s life
vicissitude
(vih-siss-ih-tood)
synonyms: alteration, hardship, adversity, fluctuation, change
The vicissitude of the economy left many families struggling to make ends meet.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. arrogant presumption, excessive pride
hubris
(hyoo-bris)
synonyms: brass, conceitedness, nerve, arrogance, overconfidence
His hubris ultimately led to his downfall, as he ignored the advice of seasoned experts.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. undeveloped (often despite the potential to be used)
fallow
(fal-owe)
synonyms: neglected, inactive, vacant, unused, barren
The fallow land was finally cultivated after years of neglect.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to calculate the depth of
v. to comprehend
fathom
(fath-um)
synonyms: measure; understand; gauge, discern
The diver used a special device to fathom the depth of the ocean at that location.
It took her a moment to fathom the complexity of the scientific theory presented in the lecture.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. inanely foolish
fatuous
(fach-oo-us)
synonyms: silly, frivolous, absurd, witless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to process sugar into alcohol organically
v. to work up
n. a state of excitement or turbulence
ferment
(v. fur-ment, n. fur-ment)
synonyms: disturb, agitate; agitation, uprising, excitement; turmoil, unrest
The winemaker used natural fermentation to ferment the grapes into wine.
As the project progressed, the team began to ferment new ideas and strategies.
The political rally created a ferment of emotions among the attendees.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. filled with strong emotion
fervent
(fur-vent)
synonyms: ardent, zealous, impassioned; passionate, intense
Her fervent desire to help others led her to start her own charity organization.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a restraint
v. to restrict or restrain
fetter
(fet-er)
synonyms: tie up, bind; shackle, constrain
The judge imposed a fetter to ensure the defendant did not leave the country.
The rules were put in place to fetter any attempts at cheating during the exam.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. overly talkative (esp. about unimportant topics)
garrulous
(gair-uh-luss)
synonyms: babbling, chatty, verbose; loquacious, talkative
The woman’s garrulous nature annoyed most of her coworkers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unsophisticated; lacking manners
gauche
(goash)
synonyms: tactless, crude, awkward, unrefined
Her gauche remarks at the dinner party made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. relevant to the matter at hand
germane
(djer-mehyn)
synonyms: appropriate, applicable, befitting, pertinent, related
The professor emphasized that only germane questions would be addressed during the discussion.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. spoken in a smooth, unconcerned manner
adj. informal to the point of being insincere
glib
(glihb)
synonyms: nonchalant, fluent, thoughtless, superficial, insincere
His glib remarks during the meeting failed to address the real issues at hand.
The salesperson’s glib assurances about the product’s quality raised suspicions among the customers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a person who eats to excess
glutton
(glut-un)
synonyms: gorger, hog, overeater, devourer
The glutton at the buffet piled his plate high, showing no signs of stopping.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. extravagant and pompous in speech
grandiloquent
(gran-dill-ih-kwunt)
synonyms: self-important, lofty, verbose, pretentious
The politician’s grandiloquent speech was filled with flowery language but lacked substance.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unwarranted or unnecessary
gratuitous
(gruh-too-ih-tuss)
synonyms: unneeded, wanton, excessive, redundant
The film’s gratuitous violence overshadowed its otherwise compelling storyline.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. outgoing and friendly
adj. tending to live in communities
gregarious
(grih-gair-ee-us)
synonyms: affable, cordial, sociable, extroverted, social, communal
Her gregarious nature made it easy for her to make friends wherever she went.
The gregarious species of bird often congregates in large flocks during migration.
Define:
guile
(gahyl)
n. trickery or duplicity
His offer was free of guile and meant only to be helpful.
Define:
hyperbole
(hahy-pur-buh-lee)
n. exaggeration
The statement that “I’m so hungry, I could eat a cow,” is hyperbole and not meant to be taken literally.
Define:
iconoclast
(eye-con-uh-klast)
n. one who challenges generally accepted beliefs and traditions
The iconoclasts who upended Britain’s post-war consensus took a much harder line against unions than had been the norm.
Define:
idiosyncrasy
(id-ee-owe-sing-kruh-see)
n. a peculiar way of behaving or thinking
His obsession with removing his shoes the moment they got wet was one of his many idiosyncrasies.
Define:
idyll
(ahyd-ul)
n. a scene of simple and tranquil nature
n. a short poem about such a scene
Her favorite poems are idylls about the joys of life in the country.
Define:
immutable
(ih-mew-tuh-bull)
adj. not susceptible to change
The actors knew that once the director made a decision about a scene, it was immutable and not open to debate.
Define:
imperious
(im-peer-ee-us)
adj. proud and arrogant
The actress replied to her manager’s concerns with an imperious wave of her hand.
Define:
impetuous
(im-pech-oo-us)
adj. hasty and lacking in thought
His impetuous and eager nature led him to take on more projects than he could realistically complete.
Define:
impetus
(im-pih-tuss)
n. a force that encourages or pushes forward a certain activity
n. a force that moves an object
The sudden publicity around the violence in India gave impetus to the campaign to end the conflict through international mediation.
Define:
implacable
(im-plack-ih-bull)
adj. impossible to calm or satisfy
According to my mother, I was an implacable baby who often kept her up through the night.
Define:
inert
(in-urt)
adj. not able to move
adj. having no energy or interest
adj. chemically inactive
After hours at the gym, Luke could only lie about the house, inert and exhausted.
Define:
infallible
(in-fal-ih-bull)
adj. incapable of error
Many of the actor’s fans considered him infallible, so it was shocking when his latest film was widely panned.
Define:
ingenuous
(in-djehn-you-us)
adj. unable to mask feelings
adj. lacking worldliness; innocent and unsuspecting
Kate was too ingenuous to realize that accepting a ride from a stranger might be a bad idea.
Define:
iniquitous
(ih-nick-wih-tuss)
adj. wicked or unjust
The villain’s iniquitous plan was fortunately foiled again by the hero.
Define:
innocuous
(ih-nock-you-us)
adj. not likely to injure or harm
adj. not controversial
adj. uninspiring or uninteresting
This insect looks dangerous and frightening but is actually innocuous.
Define:
inoculate
(ih-nock-yuh-late)
v. to vaccinate; to introduce an idea/attitude into the mind of
In most states, children must be inoculated against common diseases before they enter public school.
Define:
insolence
(in-suh-lunce)
n. rudeness; a lack of respect
When she could no longer stand the child’s insolence, the babysitter called his parents to complain.
Define:
insular
(in-suh-lurr)
adj. limited in outlook
adj. physically or emotionally removed from others
Having grown up in a small, insular town her whole life, Linda longed to move to a big city.
Define:
intractable
(in-track-tuh-bull)
adj. not easily managed or governed
adj. not easily manipulated or molded
adj. not easily treated
The horse was too intractable to be used in the race.
Define:
laconic
(luh-con-ik)
adj. brief and direct, often to the point of seeming rude
Kevin’s laconic response was unfortunately perceived as a rebuff and he was not invited to any more gatherings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. trickery or duplicity
guile
(gahyl)
synonyms: slyness, deceit, cunning, trickery, deception
The con artist used guile to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their savings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. exaggeration
hyperbole
(hahy-pur-buh-lee)
synonyms: exaggeration, embellishment, overstatement, magnification
Her claim that she could run a mile in under four minutes was pure hyperbole.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one who challenges generally accepted beliefs and traditions
iconoclast
(eye-con-uh-klast)
synonyms: detractor, cynic, dissenter, rebel, nonconformist
As an iconoclast, he often questioned the status quo and pushed for innovative ideas.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a peculiar way of behaving or thinking
idiosyncrasy
(id-ee-owe-sing-kruh-see)
synonyms: oddity, quirk, peculiarity, eccentricity, trait
His habit of wearing mismatched socks was just one of his many idiosyncrasies.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a scene of simple and tranquil nature
n. a short poem about such a scene
idyll
(ahyd-ul)
synonyms: ballad, lyric, pastoral, tranquil scene, haven
The garden was an idyll, with blooming flowers and gentle breezes that brought a sense of peace.
The poet composed an idyll celebrating the beauty of a quiet countryside at dawn.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not susceptible to change
immutable
(ih-mew-tuh-bull)
synonyms: unchangeable, constant, eternal, steadfast
The laws of physics are considered immutable, remaining constant regardless of circumstances.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. proud and arrogant
imperious
(im-peer-ee-us)
synonyms: haughty, domineering, overbearing, arrogant.
Her imperious demeanor made it clear that she expected everyone to obey her commands without question.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. hasty and lacking in thought
impetuous
(im-pech-oo-us)
synonyms: hasty, rash, unplanned, impulsive, reckless
His impetuous decision to quit his job without a backup plan left him in a difficult situation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a force that encourages or pushes forward a certain activity
n. a force that moves an object
impetus
(im-pih-tuss)
synonyms: driving force, push, incentive, momentum, stimulus
The grant provided the impetus for the researchers to expand their study.
The wind acted as an impetus, propelling the sailboat swiftly across the water.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. impossible to calm or satisfy
implacable
(im-plack-ih-bull)
synonyms: ruthless, unappeasable, unbending, relentless, merciless
Her implacable anger left no room for negotiation after the betrayal.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not able to move
adj. having no energy or interest
adj. chemically inactive
inert
(in-urt)
synonyms: lifeless, still, inactive, dormant, motionless, sluggish, torpid
The heavy boulder remained inert on the hillside, refusing to budge.
After a long day at work, I felt completely inert and unable to do anything productive.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. incapable of error
infallible
(in-fal-ih-bull)
synonyms: absolute, certain, definite, foolproof, flawless
The scientist believed his method was infallible, but unforeseen variables led to unexpected results.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unable to mask feelings
adj. lacking worldliness; innocent or unsuspecting
ingenuous
(in-djehn-you-us)
synonyms: direct, genuine, naive, straightforward, innocent, candid
His ingenuous expression revealed his true emotions, making it clear how he felt.
The ingenuous child believed every word in the fairy tale, unaware of the harsh realities of life.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wicked or unjust
iniquitous
(ih-nick-wih-tuss)
synonyms: immoral, evil, corrupt, sinful, nefarious
The iniquitous practices of the corrupt regime shocked the international community.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not likely to injure or harm
adj. not controversial
adj. uninspiring or uninteresting
innocuous
(ih-nock-you-us)
synonyms: harmless, drab, safe, benign, insipid
The new policy was designed to be innocuous, ensuring that it would not adversely affect any employees.
Her comments were innocuous, sparking no debates or disagreements among the group.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to vaccinate; to introduce an idea/attitude into the mind of
inoculate
(ih-nock-yuh-late)
synonyms: inject, immunize, vaccinate, protect, safeguard
The doctor will inoculate you against the flu this season.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. rudeness; a lack of respect
insolence
(in-suh-lunce)
synonyms: nerve, impudence, rudeness, disrespect, audacity
His insolence towards the teacher resulted in a detention.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. limited in outlook
adj. physically or emotionally removed from others
insular
(in-suh-lurr)
synonyms: narrow-minded, limited; exclusive, unfriendly, secluded, detached
His insular perspective made it difficult for him to understand viewpoints different from his own.
The community was insular, rarely interacting with the outside world or welcoming new ideas.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not easily managed or governed
adj. not easily manipulated or molded
adj. not easily treated
intractable
(in-track-tuh-bull)
synonyms: unresponsive, refractory, stubborn, difficult, obstinate
The intractable patient refused to follow the treatment plan, making it challenging for the doctors to help him.
The intractable problem continued to baffle the researchers, who struggled to find a solution.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. brief and direct, often to the point of seeming rude
laconic
(luh-con-ik)
synonyms: concise, cogent, terse, succinct
His laconic replies made it hard to tell what he was really thinking.
Define:
lampoon
(lam-poon)
n. a sharp satire mocking a person or group through an artistic medium
v. to satirize or attack in such a style
Many modern comedies focus solely on lampooning typical films from a variety of genres.
Define:
latent
(lehy-tent)
adj. present or existing but not currently visible
The doctor explained that she had died of a latent heart condition that was not detected until it was too late to treat.
Define:
lattice
(lat-is)
n. a pattern consisting of, or resembling, an interwoven frame made by crisscrossing strips
The back of the antique mirror was made of a lattice of rich, dark wood.
Define:
laud
(lawd)
v. to praise or glorify
When he returned home, his relatives and friends lauded him for his bravery on the battlefield.
Define:
leaven
(lev-un)
v. to have an enlivening or lightening influence
The few jokes he threw in did nothing to leaven his grim sermon.
Define:
lethargic
(luh-thar-djick)
adj. physically or mentally slow
Although I have gotten over the worst of my illness, I am still too lethargic to do anything but stay in bed.
Define:
levy
(lev-ee)
v. to impose and collect
n. a charge imposed
The government decided that the best way to deal with the problem was to levy a new tax on the ownership of pets.
Define:
mean
(meen)
adj. low in status or quality
n. a point between two extremes
Ali is a moderate, preferring to choose the mean when faced with extreme leftist and rightist arguments.
Define:
meander
(mee-an-dur)
v. to wander in a leisurely manner
I have a tendency to meander about my large garden when I’m bored.
Define:
medley
(med-lee)
n. a mixture of dissimilar things
n. a musical composition of melodies from different songs
The local singing group is renowned for their medley of popular Beatles songs.
Define:
melancholy
(mel-un-kol-ee)
n. a feeling of deep sadness
adj. sad, dejected
After her husband’s departure, she spent months wallowing in melancholy.
Define:
mercurial
(mur-cure-ee-ul)
adj. subject to sudden changes in mood
adj. lively and quick
My mother’s mercurial temperament makes it impossible to predict how she will react to bad news.
Define:
monotonous
(muh-not-ih-nuss)
adj. tedious, repetitive
adj. characterized by a tone of unvarying pitch
My new job consists of putting letters into envelopes, organizing files in alphabetical order, and other monotonous tasks.
Define:
moratorium
(more-uh-tore-ee-um)
n. suspension of activity
Failing to secure the necessary signatures for a referendum, the group tried to secure a moratorium on gay marriages while their challenge was heard by the courts.
Define:
mores
(more-ehyz)
n. the accepted customs of a particular group
She went against the mores of her community when she decided to keep her maiden name.
Define:
morphology
(more-fol-uh-djee)
n. the study of form or structure
Her interest in drawing bushes and flowers logically led her to read up on plant morphology.
Define:
muse
(mewz)
v. to reflect deeply on a subject
The students mused over the message of the teacher’s final lecture well after the class had ended.
Define:
nadir
(nehy-dur)
n. the lowest point
Stevenson has said that the weather is generally the “very nadir” of interesting conversational topics.
Define:
nascent
(neyss-unt)
adj. just coming into existence
The nascent after-school program was already attracting the interest of a lot of parents and students.
Define:
nebulous
(neb-yuh-luss)
adj. unclear or vague
Their plans for the new student center were as yet too nebulous to take to the board of directors for approval.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a sharp satire mocking a person or group through an artistic medium
v. to satirize or attack in such a style
lampoon
(lam-poon)
synonyms: parody, satire, spoof, ridicule
The political cartoon was a biting lampoon of the mayor’s controversial policies.
The comedian loved to lampoon celebrities, turning their quirks into hilarious sketches.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. present or existing but not currently visible
latent
(lehy-tent)
synonyms: hidden, invisible, dormant, concealed
The latent talent of the artist only emerged after years of practice.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. a pattern consisting of, or resembling, an interwoven frame made by crisscrossing strips
lattice
(lat-is)
synonyms: mesh, filigree, net, grid, framework, trellis
The garden was adorned with a beautiful lattice covered in climbing roses.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to praise or glorify
laud
(lawd)
synonyms: acclaim, celebrate, flatter, commend, praise, extol
The community gathered to laud the firefighters for their bravery during the rescue.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to have an enlivening or lightening influence
leaven
(lev-un)
synonyms: raise, lighten, stimulate, inspire
Her enthusiasm helped to leaven the atmosphere during the otherwise dull meeting.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. physically or mentally slow
lethargic
(luh-thar-djick)
synonyms: lazy, sluggish, inactive, weary
After staying up late, I felt lethargic and struggled to concentrate on my work.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to impose and collect
n. a charge imposed
levy
(lev-ee)
synonyms: demand, exact, impose; tax, fee, charge, assessment
The city council decided to levy a fine on homeowners who did not comply with the new regulations.
The levy on sugary drinks was implemented to encourage healthier choices among consumers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. low in status or quality
n. a point between two extremes
mean
(meen)
synonyms: base, common, inferior; average, halfway, median, moderate
His mean attitude towards his coworkers made the office environment quite uncomfortable.
The mean of the test scores indicated that the students had a solid understanding of the material.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to wander in a leisurely manner
meander
(mee-an-dur)
synonyms: drift, ramble, traipse, stroll, roam
She liked to meander through the park on sunny afternoons.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a mixture of dissimilar things
n. a musical composition of melodies from different songs
medley
(med-lee)
synonyms: assortment, patchwork, variety, mixture, montage
The buffet featured a medley of international dishes, showcasing flavors from around the world.
The choir performed a medley of classic hits that had the audience singing along.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of deep sadness
adj. sad, dejected
melancholy
(mel-un-kol-ee)
synonyms: dejected, downcast, sad, sorrowful, gloomy
After the breakup, she was overwhelmed by a profound sense of melancholy that lingered for weeks.
He wore a melancholy expression as he reminisced about his childhood.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. subject to sudden changes in mood
adj. lively and quick
mercurial
(mur-cure-ee-ul)
synonyms: flighty, fluctuating; buoyant, volatile, lively
Her mercurial personality made it difficult for her friends to know how she would react to any situation.
The mercurial nature of the conversation kept everyone engaged and entertained.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tedious, repetitive
adj. characterized by a tone of unvarying pitch
monotonous
(muh-not-ih-nuss)
synonyms: droning, unchanging, repetitive, tedious
The monotonous task of sorting through endless paperwork drained her energy.
His monotonous voice made it hard for the audience to stay focused during the lecture.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. suspension of activity
moratorium
(more-uh-tore-ee-um)
synonyms: adjournment, break, delay, pause, interruption
The government placed a moratorium on new housing developments.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the accepted customs of a particular group
mores
(more-aze)
synonyms: codes, ways, etiquette, ritual, customs, practices, norms
Breaking the mores of her community led to widespread disapproval.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the study of form or structure
morphology
(more-fol-uh-djee)
synonyms: study of form, study of structure, anatomy, configuration
Her research focused on the morphology of plant cells.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to reflect deeply on a subject
muse
(mewz)
synonyms: contemplate, ponder, reflect, ruminate
She would often muse over the meaning of life during quiet walks.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the lowest point
nadir
(nehy-dur)
synonyms: bottom, floor, lowest point, depths, rock bottom, base, abyss
The company’s financial struggles reached their nadir when it declared bankruptcy.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. just coming into existence
nascent
(neyss-unt)
synonyms: developing, beginning, emerging, fledgling
The nascent technology showed great promise for the future.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unclear or vague
nebulous
(neb-yuh-luss)
synonyms: obscure, indistinct, hazy, ambiguous
His plans for the future remained nebulous and undefined.
