All 500 Flashcards
BILK
to cheat; defraud
NOMINAL
existing in name only; negligible
BLIGHT
to afflict; destroy
BLITHE
joyful; cheerful; or without appropriate thought
NUANCE
a subtle expression of meaning or quality
FERVID
intensely emotional; feverish
SPECIOUS
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
SOLECISM
grammatical mistake; blunder in speech
JETTISON
to discard; get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering
LAMENT
to express sorrow; to grieve
GULLIBLE
easily deceived
FLORID
excessively decorated or embellished
FANATICAL
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme unquestioned devotion
EPHEMERAL
lasting a short time
SEDITION
behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state
GLIB
fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual
ABDICATE
to give up a position; right; or power
IRASCIBLE
easily made angry
FLAG
to decline in vigor; strength; or interest
FETID
foul-smelling; putrid
GLOWER
to glare or stare angrily and intensely
MONASTIC
extremely plain or secluded
PEDANT
someone who shows off learning
PATHOGENIC
causing disease
CHAUVINIST
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he/she belongs
GUILE
deceit; trickery
SOBRIQUET
nickname
NASCENT
starting to develop; coming into existence
BELFRY
bell tower; room in which a bell is hung
BANAL
predictable; cliched; boring
CRESCENDO
steadily increasing in volume or force
FRUGALITY
tending to be thrifty or cheap
CORROBORATE
to support with evidence
AUSTERE
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
LUMINOUS
bright; brilliant; glowing
GROVEL
to humble oneself in a demeaning way
SANGUINE
ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
STRATAGEM
trick designed to deceive an enemy
EMULATE
to copy; to try to equal or excel
HEGEMONY
the domination of one state or group over its allies
EXPURGATE
to censor
PARLEY
discussion; usually b/w enemies
FECUND
fertile; fruitful; productive
DISSEMBLE
to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
SPORTIVE
frolicsome; playful
VERDANT
green with vegetation; inexperienced
INIQUITY
sin; evil act
CONDONE
to overlook; pardon; or disregard
FALLOW
dormant; unused
OROTUND
pompous
DOGMATIC
dictatorial in one’s opinions
TAWDRY
gaudy; cheap; or showy
SULLY
to tarnish; taint
VERNAL
related to spring; fresh
DROLL
amusing in a wry; subtle way
FURTIVE
secret; stealthy
CIRCUMSPECT
cautious; aware of potential consequences
MALINGER
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
ELOQUENT
persuasive and moving; especially in speech
RETICENT
silent; reserved
AUDACIOUS
fearless and daring
DIATRIBE
an abusive; condemnatory speech
SARDONIC
cynical; scornfully mocking
ASSUAGE
to make something unpleasant less severe
DESICCATE
to dry out thoroughly
LAMPOON
to ridicule with satire
SURFEIT
excessive amount
GRIEVOUS
causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing
FRENETIC
frantic; frenzied
INGENUOUS
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
LAPIDARY
relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them
ZEAL
passion; excitement
INEXORABLE
inflexible; unyielding
MISANTHROPE
a person who dislikes others
ABYSS
an extremely deep hole
PRAGMATIC
practical; as opposed to idealistic
MISSIVE
a written note or letter
NETTLE
to irritate
ABSTAIN
to choose not to do something
SYCOPHANT
a self-serving flatterer; yes-man
LACHRYMOSE
tearful
PASTICHE
piece of literature or music imitating other works
FORD
to cross a body of water by wading
CONTRITE
deeply sorrowful or repentant for a wrong
PULCHRITUDE
beauty
ENUMERATE
to count; list; or itemize
NAIVE
lacking sophistication or experience
JUNCTURE
point of time; especially where two things are joined
CANARD
a lie
GREGARIOUS
outgoing; sociable
WINSOME
charming; happily engaging
VACILLATE
to physically sway or be indecisive
ITINERANT
wandering from place to place; unsettled
SACROSANCT
extremely sacred; beyond criticism
DIURNAL
existing during the day
TACITURN
silent; not talkative
ENDEMIC
belonging to a particular area; inherent
TOADY
one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
NEOLOGISM
new word or expression
SUPPLANT
to replace (another) by force; to take the place of
DYSPEPTIC
suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
DOCTRINAIRE
rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic
GESTATION
growth process from conception to birth
EFFICACY
effectiveness
TALON
claw of an animal; especially a bird of prey
TERRESTRIAL
earthly; down-to-earth; commonplace
NEOPHYTE
novice; beginner
ENGENDER
to produce; cause; or bring about
DEFACE
to mar the appearance of; vandalize
OBSTINATE
stubborn; unyielding
LARGESS
generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior
EDIFY
to instruct morally and spiritually
VENERATE
to respect deeply
STENTORIAN
extremely loud
HYPERBOLE
purposeful exaggeration for effect
PLETHORA
excess
OSTENSIBLE
apparent
MALLEABLE
capable of being shaped
OSTENTATION
excessive showiness
WAVER
to fluctuate b/w choices
DIRGE
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
OPAQUE
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
DECORUM
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
PLACATE
to soothe or pacify
PLASTIC
able to be molded; altered; or bent
OSSIFY
to change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern
TIRADE
long; harsh speech or verbal attack
SERAPHIC
angelic; sweet
LANGUID
lacking energy; indifferent; slow
ARBITRATE
to judge a dispute b/w two opposing parties
SCINTILLA
trace amount
MAR
to damage or deface; spoil
VENERABLE
respected because of age
GAMBOL
to dance or skip around playfully
VERACITY
filled with truth and accuracy
VERBOSE
wordy
VEX
to annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuse
CONTUMACIOUS
rebellious
MULTIFARIOUS
diverse
ETHOS
beliefs or character of a group
REPAST
meal or mealtime
REPLETE
abundantly supplied; complete
JARGON
nonsensical talk; specialized language
FATUOUS
stupid; foolishly self-satisfied
KINDLE
to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire
EBULLIENT
exhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits
GARRULOUS
tending to talk a lot
INTREPID
fearless; resolutely courageous
FAWN
to grovel
ZEALOT
someone passionately devoted to a cause
CANDID
impartial and honest in speech
SYBARITE
a person devoted to pleasure and luxury
PRISTINE
fresh and clean; uncorrupted
MOLLIFY
to calm or make less severe
PHILANTHROPY
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
STOLID
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
PECCADILLO
minor sin or offense
VESTIGE
a trace; remnant
FORTUITOUS
happening by chance; fortunate
POTENTATE
monarch or ruler with great power
SYNCOPATION
temporary irregularity in musical rhythm
AUGUST
dignified; grandiose
PARADOX
a contradiction or dilemma
PERMEATE
to penetrate
PERVADE
to be present throughout; to permeate
ECLECTIC
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
CACOPHONY
harsh; jarring noise
KUDOS
fame; glory; or honor
AMALGAMATE
to combine; to mix together
BURNISH
to polish
USURY
the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
DOGMA
a firmly held opinion; especially a religious belief
BIFURCATE
to divide into two parts
CURMUDGEON
cranky person; usually old
EPICURE
person with refined taste in food and wine
SURLY
rude and bad-tempered
TANGENTIAL
digressing; diverting
IGNOBLE
having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean
MIRTH
frivolity; gaiety; laughter
IMPERTURBABLE
not capable of being disturbed
AMELIORATE
to make better; to improve
LAUD
to give praise; to glorify
ANACHRONISM
something out of place in time
SOPORIFIC
causing sleep or lethargy
ANOMALY
deviation from what is normal
DISTEND
to swell; inflate; or bloat
IMPASSE
blocked path; dilemma with no solution
ANTAGONIZE
to annoy or provoke to anger
ESCHEW
to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)
EXIGENT
urgent; requiring immediate action
CATALYST
something that brings about a change in something else
DIVINE
to foretell or know by inspiration
IDIOSYNCRASY
peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity
EXCULPATE
to clear from blame; prove innocent
DUPE
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
CHAOS
great disorder or confused situation
EUPHONY
pleasant; harmonious sound
CONNOISSEUR
a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
LARCENY
theft of property
EUPHEMISM
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one