April 23rd

Question 1

Opprobrium

Answer 1

Disgrace and disapproval that result from outrageously shameless actions.

If you go against or oppose what’s good, you might earn opprobrium — the opposite of getting attention for something good. Bad behavior leads to opprobrium. If you throw a soft drink off the theater balcony, the opprobrium might keep you from getting dates to the movies.

Question 2

Insensible

Answer 2

Incapable of feeling. Unaware.

The adjective insensible is used to describe someone who is unconscious. If you keep your bowling ball on the top shelf of the closet and it rolls out and conks you on the head, you will be probably rendered insensible.

Question 3

Edify

Answer 3

Uplift, enlighten.

Question 4

Perfidy / Perfidious

Apostate

Recreant

Answer 4

Person who abandons a party, cause, religion etc.

Question 5

Insolent

Effrontery

Answer 5

Shameless boldness

Question 6

Dyspeptic

Answer 6

Dyspeptic is an old-fashioned word not often used anymore. It describes someone who is irritable due to depression or indigestion.

Pessimistic, grumpy, irritable

Question 7

Wizened

Hoary

Grizzled

Antediluvian

Answer 7

Withered, shrivelled, very old.

Question 8

Malinger

Answer 8

Pretend to be sick to get out of work

Question 9

Doctrinaire

Dogmatic

Answer 9

Stubbornly devoted to a theory without practical considerations.

Question 10

Beguile

Inveigle

Answer 10

Seduce, Entice, lure.

When you tell your boyfriend he’s not just the best boyfriend ever but also the world’s best driver, and this makes him offer to drive the whole way on your upcoming road trip, then congratulations. You know how to inveigle, or use charm to coax someone into doing something.

Question 11

Trenchant

Answer 11

Forceful or vigorous

If you’re trenchant, it means you think or say smart, sharply worded things that cut right to the heart of the matter. A trenchant observation is one that makes people scratch their chins thoughtfully, or wince with embarrassment for whomever you’re talking about, or both.

Question 12

Militate

Answer 12

Have great effect. (often as militate against)

Question 13

Missive

Answer 13

Letter, written message

Question 14

Pare

Answer 14

Peel off, cut off the outer layer.

Question 15

Penumbra

Answer 15

Periphery

Question 16

Demur

Answer 16

Show reluctance especially for moral reasons.

Question 17

Sophomoric

Jejune

Peurile

Answer 17

Childish, Juvenile, immature

Question 18

Exigent

Answer 18

Requiring immediate attention

Question 19

Investiture

Answer 19

Investing, formally giving someone a right or a title.

Question 20

Manacle

Stymie or Stymy

Fetter

Trammel

Answer 20

Hinder or block.

Question 21

Imprecation

Malediction

Execration

Answer 21

Curse

If you really don’t like someone you can shout out an imprecation at them. More than simply the use of bad language (although that can be involved, too), an imprecation is a damning curse wishing them nothing but ill.