B Words Flashcards
baleful (adj)
threatening harm or misfortune; having a malign influence
The fortune-teller made baleful predictions of terrible things to come.
balk (v)
stop short, as if faced by an obstacle, and refuse to continue
The chief of police balked at sending his officers into the riot-torn area.
banality (n)
lack of originality
Appalled by its worn-out cliches and trite ideas, the professor awarded the essay a D for banality.
bane (n)
cause of ruin or misery
Skeptical of the benefits of nanotechnology, the columnist inquired whether this new methodology would prove to be a blessing or a bane.
belabor (v)
explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree
The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring his point.
belie (v)
give a false impression
His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his inner sensitivity.
bellicose (adj)
naturally inclined to fight
Paddy’s undoubtedly aggressive behavior served only to further endear him to all who had dealings with him, for they recognized that behind the bellicose facade beat a big, warm, compassionate heart.
beneficent (adj)
doing good, especially through works of charity
The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb her beneficent impulses before she gave away all her money and left herself with nothing.
betoken (v)
be evidence of
The well-equipped docks, tall piles of cargo containers, and numerous vessels being loaded all betoken Oakland’s importance as a port.
blatant (adj)
extremely obvious
Caught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only one regret: he wished that he had lied more subtly.
blithe (adj)
merry in disposition; free of anxieties
Without a care in the world, Beth went her blithe, lighthearted way.
bode (v)
be an omen of
The gloomy skies and the sulfurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area.
bolster (v)
reinforce
The debaters amassed file boxes of evidence to bolster their arguments
bombastic (adj)
pretentious and long-winded
Puffed up with self-importance, the bombastic lecturer attempted to impress the audience with his polysyllabic vocabulary.
bowdlerize (v)
expurgate by omitting portions considered vulgar
After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, cutting out the obscenities, the rating of the film The King’s Speech was changed from “R” to “PG.”
