Advanced Vocab Words - Set 8 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:
nonchalant
(non-shuh-lont)
adj. casually unconcerned
Lauren was nonchalant about being chosen as valedictorian; she simply didn’t think it was a big deal.
Define:
oscillate
(oss-ih-lehyt)
v. to move or swing from side to side
v. to waver between conflicting positions
Her feelings towards her cynical commanding officer oscillated between admiration and disgust.
Define:
ostentatious
(oss-ten-tay-shuss)
adj. intended to impress
adj. characterized by pretension
She loves to show off that ostentatious ring her rich husband got for her.
Define:
overwrought
(oh-vur-rawt)
adj. deeply agitated or anxious
Everyone in the family was overwrought with the thought that the children might be in danger .
Define:
pacific
(puh-sif-ick)
adj. of a peaceful nature
adj. promoting peace and conflict resolution
The government decided to pursue a pacific policy and call back its troops on the border.
Define:
palatable
(pal-ih-tuh-bull)
adj. acceptable to one’s taste or mind
Though clearly necessary to balance the budget, unpopular tax increases are not palatable to any political party.
Define:
perennial
(puh-ren-ee-ul)
adj. endless
adj. recurring over and over
Not being able to pay rent on time was a perennial problem for him.
Define:
perfidy
(per-fih-dee)
n. a betrayal of trust
The soldier was known for his loyalty, so his act of perfidy was particularly shocking to his superior officers.
Define:
perfunctory
(per-funk-tuh-ree)
adj. done as a formality, without attention to detail
Her apology was clearly only a perfunctory gesture and not truly heartfelt.
Define:
pernicious
(per-nish-us)
adj. harmful; hurtful, especially in a slow or subtle way
The pernicious effects of money in politics are hardly unique to this country.
Define:
perspicacity
(per-spih-kass-ih-tee)
n. sharp powers of observation
The writer’s perspicacity made it easy for her to understand and write about human nature.
Define:
perturb
(purr-turb)
v. to disturb or cause disorder, esp. in one’s mental state
Even her sleep was perturbed by her obsession over her credit card debt.
Define:
placate
(play-kate)
v. to ease another’s anger
Lewis attempted to placate the angry woman whose car had been hit, but she continued screaming and pacing back and forth.
Define:
placid
(plass-id)
adj. free from disturbance
There currently reigns a placid atmosphere at City Hall, but don’t expect it to last much longer.
Define:
pivotal
(piv-uh-tul)
adj. of crucial importance
The audience was enraged when the film reel broke during a pivotal scene in the movie.
Define:
pragmatic
(prag-mat-ick)
adj. guided by practical experience and observation
Her pragmatic attitude often put her at odds with her idealistic peers, whom she called unrealistic and naive.
Define:
predilection
(pred-ih-leck-shun)
n. preference; a strong liking for
He had a predilection for expensive cars that was hard on his wallet.
Define:
preside
(prih-zahyd)
v. to be in a position of authority over a group
The newly-elected president presided over the first meeting of the council in September.
Define:
prevaricate
(pruh-vair-ih-kate)
v. to be deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth; to lie
The guest chose to prevaricate by answering the host’s questions with unrelated anecdotes.
Define:
probity
(pro-bih-tee)
n. honesty and decency
The group chose Eduardo to represent them, not only because he was the eldest, but because he had shown the most probity during their discussions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. casually unconcerned
nonchalant
(non-shuh-lont)
synonyms: easygoing, careless, indifferent, unconcerned
The student remained nonchalant despite the looming exam.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to move or swing from side to side
v. to waver between conflicting positions
oscillate
(oss-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: dangle, sway; change, alternate, fluctuate, vacillate
The pendulum began to oscillate steadily after being released.
She continued to oscillate between two job offers without making a decision.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. intended to impress
adj. characterized by pretension
ostentatious
(oss-ten-tay-shuss)
synonyms: showy, flashy, pretentious, flamboyant, extravagant
His ostentatious display of wealth drew unwanted attention.
She wore an ostentatious gown that outshone everyone at the party.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deeply agitated or anxious
overwrought
(oh-vur-rawt)
synonyms: frantic, wound up, nervous, agitated, anxious
She felt overwrought after hearing the unsettling news.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of a peaceful nature
adj. promoting peace and conflict resolution
pacific
(puh-sif-ick)
synonyms: soothing, peaceful, conciliatory, calm, tranquil
The pacific tone of the speaker calmed the restless crowd.
Her pacific approach to conflict resolution was admirable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. acceptable to one’s taste or mind
palatable
(pal-ih-tuh-bull)
synonyms: delicious, agreeable, acceptable, tasty, enjoyable
The dish was surprisingly palatable, even for the picky eater.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. endless
adj. recurring over and over
perennial
(puh-ren-ee-ul)
synonyms: enduring, perpetual, ceaseless, everlasting, constant
The garden was filled with perennial flowers that bloomed each spring.
Her perennial optimism inspired those around her.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a betrayal of trust
perfidy
(per-fih-dee)
synonyms: treachery, betrayal, corruption, disloyalty, faithlessness
His perfidy shattered the friendship they had built over the years.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. done as a formality, without attention to detail
perfunctory
(per-funk-tuh-ree)
synonyms: automatic, habitual, careless, routine, mechanical
She gave a perfunctory nod, barely listening to the conversation.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. harmful; hurtful
pernicious
(per-nish-us)
synonyms: damaging, devastating, harmful, malignant, destructive
The pernicious effects of the pollution were evident in the dying trees.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. acute perception
perspicacity
(per-spih-kass-ih-tee)
synonyms: insight, astuteness, discernment, perception, sharpness
Her perspicacity allowed her to see through the deception.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to disturb or cause disorder, esp. in one’s mental state
perturb
(purr-turb)
synonyms: unsettle, alarm, disturb, agitate, trouble
The unexpected news began to perturb her usual calm demeanor.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to ease another’s anger
placate
(play-kate)
synonyms: soothe, pacify, appease, calm, assuage
She tried to placate her friend after their heated argument.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. free from disturbance
placid
(plass-id)
synonyms: composed, calm, tranquil, serene, peaceful
The lake was placid, reflecting the clear blue sky.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of crucial importance
pivotal
(piv-uh-tul)
synonyms: critical, crucial, essential, key, significant
His research proved to be pivotal in the development of new treatments.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. guided by practical experience and observation
pragmatic
(prag-mat-ick)
synonyms: businesslike, efficient, practical, realistic, sensible
The committee took a pragmatic approach to solving the issue.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. preference; a strong liking for
predilection
(pred-ih-leck-shun)
synonyms: inclination, love, fondness, preference, tendency
She has a predilection for classic literature over modern novels.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be in a position of authority over a group
preside
(prih-zahyd)
synonyms: administer, conduct, direct, oversee, manage
The judge will preside over the case next week.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth; to lie
prevaricate
(pruh-vair-ih-kate)
synonyms: deceive, garble, misrepresent, equivocate, lie
When questioned, he tended to prevaricate rather than give a straight answer.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. honesty and decency
probity
(pro-bih-tee)
synonyms: goodness, honor, integrity, virtue, morality
Her probity in all dealings earned her the trust of her colleagues.
Define:
proclivity
(pro-kliv-ih-tee)
n. a natural inclination
Her proclivity for laziness is going to be a problem when we begin the new project.
Define:
prodigal
(prod-ih-guhl)
adj. lavishly wasteful
adj. being generous or giving abundantly
n. one who spends recklessly
The woman ended up regretting her prodigal lifestyle when she went bankrupt after a few years.
Define:
pugnacious
(pug-nehy-shuss)
adj. combative in nature
The pugnacious young man was eventually suspended for constantly fighting with other students.
Define:
quandary
(kwon-duh-ree)
n. a state of uncertainty, a dilemma
After receiving several great offers, I was in a quandary as to which I should accept.
Define:
quash
(kwash)
v. to forcibly suppress
v. to extinguish
The prosecution’s star witness quashed any chance the defense had of winning the trial.
Define:
quibble
(kwib-ul)
v. to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial objections
n. a trivial objection
The argument grew even more aggravating when my opponent began to quibble with me over semantics.
Define:
quiescent
(kwee-ess-unt)
adj. being quiet or still
The outlying region, usually a quiescent outpost of the empire, was the unlikely origin of the rebellion that would unseat the emperor.
Define:
rancor
(rang-kur)
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger
Once the game ended there was no rancor between the opponents, despite the intensity of their match.
Define:
recalcitrant
(rih-kal-sih-trunt)
adj. stubborn and defiant of authority
Instead of obeying the police’s instructions, the protesters became recalcitrant and refused to move.
Define:
recess
(ree-sess)
v. to suspend proceedings
n. a break from class or business
n. an indented or hollowed-out space
The legislative body will recess next week.
Define:
redoubtable
(rih-dow-tuh-bull)
adj. fearsome or awe-inspiring
I knew Mauricio would be a redoubtable opponent after hearing my own coach sing his praises.
Define:
sagacious
(suh-gehy-shuss)
adj. very insightful or shrewd
My best friend is quite sagacious, so I know I can always turn to her for wise advice.
Define:
salubrious
(suh-loo-bree-uss)
adj. healthy or health-promoting
My new exercise routine has had a salubrious impact on my life.
Define:
salutary
(sal-yuh-tare-ee)
adj. beneficial, esp. relating to health
Anti-pollution laws have salutary effects for humans and animals.
Define:
satiate
(sehy-she-ehyt)
v. to fill to satisfaction
Sasha knew that the small portions served in the cafeteria would not satiate him.
Define:
scruple
(skrew-pull)
n. an ethical or moral concern
v. to hesitate on moral grounds
The man scrupled to tell a blatant lie, but eventually realized that he had no choice.
Define:
sedentary
(sed-en-tair-ee)
adj. sitting or seated
adj. tending to stay in the same place
Ming wanted to quit his sedentary job at the library and become a police officer.
Define:
sediment
(sed-ih-munt)
n. matter deposited by some natural process
n. settled matter at the bottom of a liquid
Kate refused to drink the water from the well when she noticed the sediment at the bottom of the bucket.
Define:
sordid
(sore-did)
adj. dirty or rundown
adj. immoral or unethical
During the divorce trial, the husband was asked to reveal the sordid details of his affair.
Define:
specious
(spee-shuss)
adj. plausible but false
adj. deceptively pleasing
After doing some research of my own, I realized that his argument was specious at best.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a natural inclination
proclivity
(pro-kliv-ih-tee)
synonyms: tendency, disposition, leaning, inclination, propensity
His proclivity for music was evident from a young age.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lavishly wasteful
adj. being generous or giving abundantly
adj. one who spends recklessly
prodigal
(prod-ih-guhl)
synonyms: excessive, luxurious, copious, wasteful, extravagant
His prodigal spending habits led to financial trouble.
The prodigal soon realized the importance of saving.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. combative in nature
pugnacious
(pug-nehy-shuss)
synonyms: hostile, belligerent, combative, aggressive, quarrelsome
The pugnacious dog barked at every passerby.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of uncertainty, a dilemma
quandary
(kwon-duh-ree)
synonyms: dilemma, predicament, uncertainty, confusion, stalemate
She found herself in a quandary about which job offer to accept.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly suppress
v. to extinguish
quash
(kwash)
synonyms: defeat, destroy, squash, suppress, extinguish
The court decided to quash the earlier ruling.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial objections
n. a trivial objection
quibble
(kwib-ul)
synonyms: split hairs, trifle, detail, nitpick, cavil
Don’t quibble over small details; focus on the big picture.
His quibble about the terms was unnecessary.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. being quiet or still
quiescent
(kwee-ess-unt)
synonyms: inactive, motionless, inert, dormant, still
The quiescent village was a stark contrast to the bustling city.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger
rancor
(rang-kur)
synonyms: antagonism, hatred, bitterness, resentment, spite
There was no rancor between the players after the game.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. stubborn and defiant of authority
recalcitrant
(rih-kal-sih-trunt)
synonyms: disobedient, resistant, rebellious, obstinate, uncooperative
The recalcitrant student refused to follow the school rules.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to suspend proceedings
n. a break from class or business
n. an indented or hollowed-out space
recess
(ree-sess)
synonyms: halt, breather, nook, break, pause
The committee will recess for lunch before continuing the discussion.
During the recess, the students chatted happily.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. fearsome or awe-inspiring
redoubtable
(rih-dow-tuh-bull)
synonyms: dreadful, admirable, worthy, formidable, fearsome
He was a redoubtable opponent on the chessboard.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. very insightful or shrewd
sagacious
(suh-gehy-shuss)
synonyms: smart, acute, sensible, insightful, shrewd
Her sagacious advice always proved valuable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. healthy or health-promoting
salubrious
(suh-loo-bree-uss)
synonyms: beneficial, good, hygienic, healthful, wholesome
The salubrious climate attracted many retirees.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beneficial, esp. relating to health
salutary
(sal-yuh-tare-ee)
synonyms: aiding, restorative, beneficial, advantageous, helpful
The salutary effects of exercise are well-documented.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to fill to satisfaction
satiate
(sehy-she-ehyt)
synonyms: satisfy, stuff, gratify, fulfill, quench
She hoped the meal would satiate her hunger.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an ethical or moral concern
v. to hesitate on moral grounds
scruple
(skrew-pull)
synonyms: conscience, qualm, hesitation, misgiving, doubt; to balk at
He had a scruple about lying to his friend.
She scrupled at the idea of cheating.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sitting or seated
adj. tending to stay in the same place
sedentary
(sed-en-tair-ee)
synonyms: desk-bound, motionless, stationary, inactive, immobile
His sedentary lifestyle contributed to his weight gain.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. matter deposited by some natural process
n. settled matter at the bottom of a liquid
sediment
(sed-ih-munt)
synonyms: debris, deposit, residue, precipitate, dregs
The sediment at the bottom of the lake was thick and dark.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. dirty or rundown
adj. immoral or unethical
sordid
(sore-did)
synonyms: nasty, vile, corrupt, filthy, disreputable
The sordid details of the affair were shocking.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. plausible but false
adj. deceptively pleasing
specious
(spee-shuss)
synonyms: misleading, deceptive, apparent, fallacious, specious
Her specious argument failed to convince the jury.
Define:
sporadic
(spuh-rad-ik)
adj. occurring occasionally and without pattern
Our vacation plans were ruined by sporadic rain that seemed to start every time we headed towards the beach.
Define:
spurious
(spure-ee-us)
adj. intending to deceive
adj. not valid or genuine
The tabloid writers made up spurious accusations against the young actor.
Define:
squalor
(skwol-er)
n. filth; poverty
The town’s poorest inhabitants live in squalor due to their inability to access clean water.
Define:
stark
(stark)
adj. complete or extreme
adj. very simple
adj. bare or blunt
The expensive car that he parked outside stood in stark contrast to the impoverished neighborhood surrounding it.
Define:
stoic
(stow-ick)
adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain
n. one who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
The defendant remained stoic throughout the trial despite the harshness of the prosecution’s questions.
Define:
stratum
(strat-um)
n. a horizontal layer of material
n. a level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status
Friction between two social strata can often lead to political upheaval.
Define:
stria
(strahy-uh)
n. a linear mark, ridge, or groove, esp. one of a number of similar parallel features
We examined the striae on the rocks to see if they were really from the same underground cave.
Define:
strident
(strahyd-unt)
adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh
Her strident voice made me dread our weekly phone conversations.
Define:
stringent
(strin-djunt)
adj. strictly controlled or enforced
Since accidents on roller coasters can often be fatal, amusement parks must undergo stringent testing before being opened to the public.
Define:
stymie
(stahy-mee)
n. a situation that defies progress or resolution
v. to prevent or hinder the progress of something
The guard dogs managed to stymie the thief as he tried to break into the house.
Define:
succinct
(suck-singkt)
adj. brief
Since there were only a few minutes left in the meeting, the final speaker had to keep his comments succinct and to the point.
Define:
transient
(tran-zee-uhnt)
adj. not permanent
adj. moving from place to place
n. one who moves from place to place
The transient relied on the kindness of strangers whenever he arrived in a new town.
Define:
trepidation
(trep-ih-dehy-shun)
n. a feeling of fear or agitation
Janice had to face her trepidation about flying in order to make the trip to California.
Define:
turbid
(tur-bid)
adj. clouded due to sediment
adj. confused
I dropped my phone in the lake and couldn’t find it in the turbid water.
Define:
ubiquitous
(you-bick-wih-tuss)
adj. present everywhere
In her neighborhood, Starbucks shops had become ubiquitous; she couldn’t walk two blocks without passing one.
Define:
unfeigned
(un-feynd)
adj. sincerely felt or expressed
Although it seemed a ridiculous concern to us, Joyce’s preoccupation with her little sister’s sprained ankle was unfeigned.
Define:
unimpeachable
(un-im-pee-chuh-bull)
adj. beyond doubt or suspicion
To win the case, the defense would need an unimpeachable witness to prove their client’s virtuous character.
Define:
untenable
(un-ten-ih-bull)
adj. impossible to maintain or defend, as of an opinion
Kate is argumentative enough to support even the most untenable positions.
Define:
vacillate
(vass-ih-lehyt)
v. to waver between conflicting positions
Both sides made such convincing arguments that the judge vacillated between them for days before coming to a decision.
Define:
vacuous
(vak-yoo-us)
adj. devoid of significance or matter; empty
adj. lacking serious purpose or occupation
I told him pointedly to stop wasting my time with his vacuous comments.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. occurring occasionally and without pattern
sporadic
(spuh-rad-ik)
synonyms: random, scattered, seldom, intermittent, occasional
The sporadic rain made planning difficult.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. intending to deceive
adj. not valid or genuine
spurious
(spure-ee-us)
synonyms: deceitful, false, inaccurate, fraudulent, bogus
The spurious claims were quickly debunked.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. filth; poverty
squalor
(skwol-er)
synonyms: dirtiness, destitution, filth, misery, deprivation
They lived in squalor, struggling to make ends meet.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. complete or extreme
adj. very simple
adj. bare or blunt
stark
(stark)
synonyms: absolute, utter, austere, barren, severe
The stark contrast between rich and poor was evident.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain
n. one who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
stoic
(stow-ick)
synonyms: apathetic, detached, impassive, indifferent, unemotional
The stoic soldier bore his injuries without complaint.
The stoic remained calm during the chaos, showing no signs of distress.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a horizontal layer of material
n. a level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status
stratum
(strat-um)
synonyms: layer, gradation, tier, level, section
Archaeologists studied the stratum to understand past civilizations.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a linear mark, ridge, or groove, esp. one of a number of similar parallel features
stria
(strahy-uh)
synonyms: banding, groove, stripe, line, marking
The striae on the surface revealed the rock’s history.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh
strident
(strahyd-unt)
synonyms: grating, shrill, loud, discordant, jarring
Her strident voice carried over the crowd.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. strictly controlled or enforced
stringent
(strin-djunt)
synonyms: binding, strict, rigorous, severe, exacting
The stringent regulations ensured safety at the event.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a situation that defies progress or resolution
v. to prevent or hinder the progress of something
stymie
(stahy-mee)
synonyms: confound, impede, obstruct, hinder, block
The ongoing conflict created a stymie for negotiations.
They tried to stymie our efforts at reform.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. brief
succinct
(suck-singkt)
synonyms: blunt, compact, brief, concise, terse
Her succinct explanation clarified the complex topic.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not permanent
adj. moving from place to place
n. one who moves from place to place
transient
(tran-zee-uhnt)
synonyms: passing, fleeting, ephemeral, temporary, short-lived
The transient nature of his job meant he frequently relocated.
The city has many transient workers who stay for the summer.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of fear or agitation
trepidation
(trep-ih-dehy-shun)
synonyms: anxiety, worry, apprehension, fear, unease
He approached the stage with trepidation before his performance.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. clouded due to sediment
adj. confused
turbid
(tur-bid)
synonyms: cloudy, muddled, sedimentary, opaque, confused
The turbid waters made it difficult to see the bottom.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. present everywhere
ubiquitous
(you-bick-wih-tuss)
synonyms: everywhere, omnipresent, pervasive, universal, all-over
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sincerely felt or expressed
unfeigned
(un-feynd)
synonyms: genuine, heartfelt, sincere, honest, true
Her unfeigned gratitude was evident in her warm smile.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beyond doubt or suspicion
unimpeachable
(un-im-pee-chuh-bull)
synonyms: blameless, spotless, immaculate, irreproachable, undeniable
The witness’s unimpeachable testimony helped secure the verdict.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. impossible to maintain or defend, as of an opinion
untenable
(un-ten-ih-bull)
synonyms: inexcusable, faulty, indefensible, unsustainable, unmaintainable
Their argument became untenable after the new evidence emerged.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to waver between conflicting positions
vacillate
(vass-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: fluctuate, hesitate, to be unsure, waver, dither
She began to vacillate between two job offers, unsure of which to choose.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. devoid of significance or matter; empty
adj. lacking serious purpose or occupation
vacuous
(vak-yoo-us)
synonyms: lacking, vacant, empty, insipid, purposeless
His vacuous remarks contributed nothing to the discussion.
Define:
vociferous
(voe-siff-er-uss)
adj. loud and insistent, esp. to compel attention
The vociferous mob gathered outside the store and awakened its owner.
Define:
wanderlust
(wawn-der-lust)
n. the desire to travel
A sudden feeling of wanderlust encouraged me to pack my bags and head to Mexico.
Define:
wheedle
(weed-ul)
v. to coax or persuade
Eventually the ice-cream truck driver was wheedled into giving the sullen child a free scoop.
Define:
volatile
(voll-ih-tull)
adj. likely to change suddenly
adj. liable to lead to violence
adj. evaporating easily
The situation in the war-torn country soon became too volatile for most reporters and travelers to stay there safely.
Define:
zenith
(zee-nith)
n. the highest point or peak
n. the point directly above one’s head
Climbing to the zenith of the mountain will be difficult, but it has been a dream of mine since childhood.
Define:
abjure
(ab-djoor)
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
The monks had to abjure all indulgences.
Define:
condign
(kon-dahyn)
adj. deserved, adequate
Though I believe I am compassionate, I will not hesitate to mete out a condign punishment to wrongdoers.
Define:
debonair
(deb-uh-nair)
adj. suave, urbane, affable, genial, charming,stylish
The ladies were all drawn to the debonair newcomer.
Define:
inveigle
(in-vey-guhl)
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
He inveigled the information from the president’s wife.
Define:
philistine
(fil-uh-steen)
adj. barbaric; lacking culture
n. an individual guided by commonplace, rather than artistic or intellectual, values
Why, the philistine even declared that he hated the theater!
Define:
suffuse
(suh-fyooz)
v. to spread through or over something, as with liquid, color, or light
The sky was suffused with deep colors.
Define:
mettlesome
(met-uhl-sum)
adj. courageous, high-spirited
The mettlesome police officer saved the hostage.
Define:
compunction
(kuhm-punk-shun)
n. hesitation or unease at committing (or having committed) an act
A hardened criminal usually has no compunction about hurting bystanders in order to evade the police.
Define:
contravene
(kon-truh-veen)
v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle
Until recently, Americans could not visit that country without contravening federal law.
Define:
limn
(lim)
v. to draw; to describe; to depict
Here, the philosopher limns a basic theory of just governance.
Define:
obloquy
(ob-luh-kwee)
n. abusive language; damage to one’s reputation; disgrace
The president earned obloquy for his tax hikes.
Define:
abate
(uh-behyt)
v. to decrease in intensity
The ferocity of the fighting has started to abate, though the civilian population is still in great danger.
Define:
abdicate
(ab-dih-kate)
v. to willingly let go of; to relinquish
The king abdicated the throne rather than expose his nation to a potentially crippling civil war.
Define:
aberrant
(ab-buh-runt)
adj. abnormal, deviating from the norm
The aberrant accounting numbers led officials to conclude that a crime had been committed.
Define:
abrade
(uh-brehyd)
v. to erode or rub away
The statue’s hand was abraded from all of the tourists rubbing it for luck.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. loud and insistent, esp. to compel attention
vociferous
(voe-siff-er-uss)
synonyms: clamorous, noisy, distracting, boisterous, uproarious
The vociferous crowd demanded answers from the officials.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the desire to travel
wanderlust
(wawn-der-lust)
synonyms: journey, wayfaring, excursion, travel desire, exploration
Her wanderlust led her to explore new countries every year.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to coax or persuade
wheedle
(weed-ul)
synonyms: to influence through flattery, to entice, coax, persuade
He tried to wheedle his way into getting a free meal.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. likely to change suddenly
adj. liable to lead to violence
adj. evaporating easily
volatile
(voll-ih-tull)
synonyms: explosive, changeable, inconsistent; vaporizable, unpredictable, unstable
The political climate became increasingly volatile as tensions rose between the opposing factions.
The volatile chemicals in the lab required careful handling to prevent harmful fumes from escaping.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the highest point or peak
n. the point directly above one’s head
zenith
(zee-nith)
synonyms: acme, summit, pinnacle, peak, apex
Reaching the zenith of her career, she was celebrated worldwide.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
abjure
(ab-joor)
synonyms: forswear, abandon, renounce, reject
He chose to abjure his previous beliefs in favor of a new philosophy.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deserved, adequate
condign
(kon-dahyn)
synonyms: appropriate, proper, fair, deserved, fitting
The judge handed down a condign sentence that matched the severity of the crime.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. suave, urbane, affable, genial, charming
debonair
(deb-uh-nair)
synonyms: refined, well-bred, sophisticated, charming, suave
The debonair host made everyone feel at ease at the party.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
inveigle
(in-vey-guhl)
synonyms: manipulate, cajole, ensnare, entice, lure
He managed to inveigle the secret from his friend by feigning interest.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. barbaric; lacking culture
n. an individual guided by commonplace, rather than artistic or intellectual, values
philistine
(fil-uh-steen)
synonyms: coarse, crass, barbarian, boor, unrefined
His philistine attitude was evident when he dismissed the importance of classical music.
Despite his wealth, he was considered a philistine for his disregard of fine art and literature.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to spread through or over something, as with liquid, color, or light
suffuse
(suh-fyooz)
synonyms: bathe, cover, saturate, permeate, infuse
The sunset suffused the sky with brilliant shades of orange and pink.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. courageous, high-spirited
mettlesome
(met-uhl-sum)
synonyms: plucky, spirited, valiant, courageous, brave
The mettlesome knight charged bravely into battle.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. hesitation or unease at committing (or having committed) an act
compunction
(kuhm-punk-shun)
synonyms: regret, sorrow, qualm, guilt, remorse
She felt a pang of compunction after lying to her friend.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle
contravene
(kon-truh-veen)
synonyms: breach, break, defy, violate, transgress
His actions contravene the company’s code of conduct.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to draw; to describe; to depict
limn
(lim)
synonyms: characterize, chart, depict, illustrate, outline
The artist limns the landscape with delicate strokes.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. abusive language; damage to one’s reputation; disgrace
obloquy
(ob-luh-kwee)
synonyms: defamation, slander, disgrace, reproach, insult
The politician faced obloquy after the scandal was exposed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to decrease in intensity
abate
(uh-behyt)
synonyms: lessen, moderate, diminish, decrease, reduce
The storm began to abate, allowing us to go outside.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to willingly let go of; to relinquish
abdicate
(ab-dih-kate)
synonyms: abandon, leave, relinquish, resign, vacate
The king chose to abdicate rather than face civil unrest.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. abnormal, deviating from the norm
aberrant
(ab-buh-runt)
synonyms: atypical, bizarre, deviant, abnormal, irregular
The aberrant behavior of the dog raised concerns among its owners.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to erode or rub away
abrade
(uh-brehyd)
synonyms: rub, chafe, wear down, erode, scrape
The rough surface began to abrade the paint on the wall.
Define:
abridge
(uh-bridge)
v. to condense; to shorten
The author threw a fit when his editor suggested that he abridge his novel in order to make it more accessible.
Define:
abscond
(ab-skond)
v. to run away secretly and hide
The guilty man absconded during the night and was never heard from again.
Define:
abstruse
(ab-strewss)
adj. difficult to comprehend
That film has been praised as a visionary masterpiece, but I found it more abstruse than enlightening.
Define:
accolade
(ack-uh-lehyd)
n. recognition for an accomplishment
Cindy received accolades in the media for her breathtaking performance.
Define:
acerbic
(uh-sir-bick)
adj. sour or bitter tasting, or of a bitter temperament
My friends’ acerbic reaction to bringing my boyfriend to the game led me to believe that they didn’t care much for him.
Define:
acumen
(ack-cue-men)
n. insightfulness
Kofi was known for his acumen in literary analysis.
Define:
adhesion
(ad-hee-zhun)
n. the state of being physically attached
n. the state of belonging to an organization
Adhesion to the regional economic union became a popular cause among the elites of the recession-weary nation.
Define:
admonish
(ad-mon-ish)
v. to warn, to gently reprimand
The pilot admonished the passengers to remain seated during take off.
Define:
adroit
(ad-royt)
adj. skillful, competent
The boy scout was an adroit survivalist and so managed to cling to life until a rescue team arrived.
Define:
adulate
(adge-uh-lehyt)
v. to give excessive praise
Rather than adulate his superiors, Moncef preferred to show his regard by emulating them.
Define:
affable
(aff-uh-buhl)
adj. gentle, friendly, or of a kind nature
Stacy was an affable acquaintance to many but a real friend to few.
Define:
affluent
(aff-loo-uhnt)
adj. wealthy
Membership in the private club was only open to affluent members of society.
Define:
aggrandize
(uh-gran-dahyz)
v. to exaggerate; to increase the scope of or to make greater
Luke had aggrandized his credentials so much that he was fired on the spot when it was discovered that he was just a novice.
Define:
affront
(uh-front)
n. an offensive act or statement
v. to insult openly
Lucia’s ingratitude was an affront to all of us who had supported her.
Define:
agrarian
(uh-grair-ee-uhn)
adj. pertaining to farming or land matters
The farmer switched from his habitual agrarian routine to that of a high-powered business CEO in just a few years.
Define:
alacrity
(uh-lack-ruh-tee)
n. enthusiasm; speed
Children approach their homework with more alacrity if they know that a reward awaits them when they finish.
Define:
vug
(vuhg)
n. a small cavity in a rock
She hid her trinkets in the vug for safekeeping.
Define:
petrous
(pet-ruhss)
adj. rock-hard; stony
The skull of the fetus has not yet become petrous; in fact, it is still translucent to x-rays at this stage.
Define:
tautology
(tawt-aw-luh-djee)
n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition
It is no help to anybody when you spout tautologies like “Whatever will be will be”.
Define:
gambol
(gam-buhl)
v. to skip playfully, to frolic
The youngsters went gamboling through the fields.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to condense; to shorten
abridge
(uh-bridge)
synonyms: reduce, refine, abbreviate, shorten, condense
The editor decided to abridge the lengthy manuscript.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to run away secretly and hide
abscond
(ab-skond)
synonyms: depart, escape, flee, run away, vanish
The thief managed to abscond with the jewelry before anyone noticed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. difficult to comprehend
abstruse
(ab-strewss)
synonyms: abstract, enigmatic, incomprehensible, obscure, confusing
The professor’s lecture on quantum physics was incredibly abstruse.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. recognition for an accomplishment
accolade
(ack-uh-leyhd)
synonyms: acclaim, kudos, honor, praise, recognition
She received accolades for her outstanding contributions to science.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sour or bitter tasting or with bitter temperament
acerbic
(uh-sir-bick)
synonyms: acrid, caustic, sharp, biting, sarcastic
His acerbic comments often left others feeling hurt.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. insightfulness
acumen
(ack-cue-men)
synonyms: acuteness, intelligence, insight, discernment, sharpness
Her business acumen helped the company thrive in a competitive market.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the state of being physically attached
n. the state of belonging to an organization
adhesion
(ad-hee-zhun)
synonyms: adherence, membership, attachment, bonding, allegiance
The adhesion of the paint to the wall was remarkable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to warn, to gently reprimand
admonish
(ad-mon-ish)
synonyms: check, counsel, scold, notice, reprimand
The teacher admonished the student for being late.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. skillful, competent
adroit
(ad-royt)
synonyms: adept, apt, expert, skillful, proficient
His adroit handling of the situation impressed everyone.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give excessive praise
adulate
(adge-uh-lehyt)
synonyms: fawn, acclaim, laud, flatter, idolize
The critics adulated the film as a masterpiece.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. gentle, friendly, or of a kind nature
affable
(aff-uh-buhl)
synonyms: cordial, pleasant, friendly, sociable, genial
Her affable personality made her popular among her peers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wealthy
affluent
(aff-loo-uhnt)
synonyms: rich, prosperous, wealthy, opulent, well-to-do
The affluent family hosted a lavish charity gala.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to exaggerate; to increase the scope of
aggrandize
(uh-gran-dahyz)
synonyms: enlarge, glorify, augment, amplify, elevate
She tried to aggrandize her achievements during the interview.”
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an offensive act or statement
v. to insult openly
affront
(uh-front)
synonyms: criticize, antagonize, offend, insult, provoke
His rude comment was seen as an affront to her dignity.
To affront someone in public is considered disrespectful.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pertaining to farming or land matters
agrarian
(uh-grair-ee-un)
synonyms: agricultural, country, rural, farming, pastoral
The agrarian policies aim to support local farmers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. enthusiasm; speed
alacrity
(uh-lack-rih-tee)
synonyms: liveliness, fervor, eagerness, readiness, enthusiasm
She accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a small cavity in a rock
vug
(vuhg)
synonyms: cavity, depression, hole, recess, hollow
The geologist found a vug filled with sparkling crystals.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rock-hard; stony
petrous
(pet-ruhss)
synonyms: rugged, rocky, petrified, stony, hard
The petrous surface of the mountain made climbing challenging.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition
tautology
(tawt-aw-luh-djee)
synonyms: equivalence, redundancy, repetition, circular reasoning, tautological statement
His explanation contained a tautology that added no new information.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to skip playfully, to frolic
gambol
(gam-buhl)
synonyms: cavort, skip, rollick, frolic, play
The children began to gambol in the sunny meadow.
