Barrons + PR Wordsmart (1001 - 1500) Flashcards
levity
a lack of seriousness
libel
degradation by writing or publishing
LIBERTINE
someone unrestrained by morality or convention or leading a dissolute life
LIEN
legal claim until a debt on it is repaid
LIMN
to draw, outline in detail
LIMPID
transparent, serene, clear and simple in style, untroubled
LIONIZE
treat as a famous person
liquidation
disposal of, killing
LISSOME
flexible, lithe; supple
LIST
to tilt or lean to one side
lithe
graceful, flexible, supple
livid
pale, lead-colored, grayish blue
loath
unwilling, reluctant
loathe
to hate
longevity
long duration of life
LOQUACIOUS
extremely talkative
LUBRICIOUS
lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery
LUCID
intelligible, sound, clear
lucrative
profitable
lugubrious
full of sadness or sorrow : very sad especially in an exaggerated or insincere way
LUGUBRIOUS
overly mournful
LUMBER
to move heavily and clumsily or with a rumbling sound
LUMINOUS
characterized by brightness and the emission of light, enlightened, clear
lurid
sensational/ melodramatic
lush
luxurious, elaborate
MACERATE
to separate into parts by steeping in liquid
machiavellian
governed by opportunity, not principled
MAGNANIMITY
the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving
magnanimous
noble, generous
MAGNILOQUENT
lofty in expression; pompous
maim
v. to cripple. disable, or injure someone
malady
disease
MALAISE
physical discomfort (as mild sickness or depression)
malajusted
poorly adjusted, disturbed
MALAPROPISM
the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
MALCONTENT
a person who is discontented or disgusted
MALEVOLENT
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
malevolent
ill-disposed, ill-intentioned
MALFEASANCE
wrongful conduct by a public official
malign
abuse, slander
malignant
likely to cause death
MALINGER
to feign illness so as to avoid work
malleable
capable of being shaped
MALLEABLE
capable of being shaped or formed, easily influenced
malnutrition
faulty or inadequate diet
mammoth
huge
mandate
an authoritative order or command
manifest
evident; visible; obvious
manifold
complex, many
MARTIAL
associated with war and the armed forces
MARTINET
a rigid disciplinarian
martinet
strict disciplinarian
masticate
to chew up
mastiff
large dog
materialism
attention to worldly things and neglect of spiritual needs
MATRICULATE
someone who has been admitted to a college or university
matron
an older married woman
MAUDLIN
overly sentimental
maudlin
showing or expressing too much emotion especially in a foolish or annoying way
MAUNDER
to talk or move aimlessly, mutter
MAVEN
expert
MAVERICK
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
megalomania
abnormal desire for wealth and power
MELANCHOLY
tending toward sadness
MELLIFLUOUS
sweetly flowing, usually used to describe words or sounds
MELLIFLUOUS
sweetly or smoothly flowing
mendacious
lying, untrue
MENDACITY
the condition of being untruthful, dishonesty
MENDICANT
a beggar, supplicant
menial
humble, degrading
mentor
Counselor, coach, tutor
mercenary
motivated solely by a desire for money or material gain
MERCURIAL
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
MERETRICIOUS
tawdry, pretentious, attractive but false, showy, having to do with prostitution
metamorphosis
change of shape
meticulous
careful, accurate/ perfectionist, picky
METICULOUS
characterized by extreme care and precision, attentive to detail
METTLESOME
courageous, high-spirited
MIASMA
a noxious atmosphere or influence
MICROTOME
scientific instrument that cuts thin slices of something for microscopic examination
mien
bearing, appearance
milieu
environment; setting
MILIEU
the social, cultural surroundings
MILITATE
to have weight or bearing on, to argue (against)
MILK
to exploit, to squeeze every last ounce of
MINATORY
menacing, threatening
MINCE
pronounce or speak affectedly or too carefully, euphemize, take tiny steps, tiptoe
MISANTHROPE
one who hates humankind
MISOGYNIST
one who hates women
MITIGATE
to make or become less severe or intense, moderate
modify
to change
MOLLIFY
to calm or soothe, reduce in emotional intensity
mollify
vb. To pacify, soothe, or appease; to make less severe or violent
MONOLITHIC
characterized by massiveness and rigidity and total uniformity
monolithic
massively solid
MONOTONY
tedious lack of variety or change
moribund
(adj) dying, on the way out
MOROSE
sad, sullen, melancholy
mortality
death
mortify
embarrass; shame; humiliate
motivate
inspire, stimulate, provoke
MULTIFACETED
having many aspects
MULTIFARIOUS
varied, motley, greatly diversified
MUNDANE
of the world, typical of or concerned with the ordinary
mundane
worldly
MUNIFICENT
extremely generous, lavish
munificent
generous
murky
dark, obscure
myriad
countless number
NADIR
low point, perigee
nadir
lowest point
naive
unsophisticated; inexperienced
nascent
beginning to exist or develop
NASCENT
coming into being; in early developmental stages
NATTY
trimly neat and tidy, dapper
nebulous
not clear : difficult to see, understand, describe, etc.
NEBULOUS
vague, cloudy, lacking clearly defined form
nefarious
villainous, vicious
NEFARIOUS
wicked
negligible
trifling, inconsiderable
NEOLOGISM
a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
NEOPHYTE
a recent convert; a beginner; novice; tyro
nepotism
favoritism toward relatives
NESCIENT
lacking general education or knowledge
nettle
irritate
neurotic
suffering from a nervous disorder
neutralize
to counteract
NEXUS
a connection, tie, or link; center or focus
NICE
exacting, extremely or even excessively precise; done with delicacy or skill
nirvana
freedom from care and pain, Buddhist heaven
noisome
Foul-smelling; unwholesome
NOISOME
offensive, especially to one’s sense of smell, fetid
nomadic
wandering
nominal
slight/ insignificant, inconsiderable
nondescript
Hard to describe because of a lack of distinctive qualities or features.
nonentity
one of no importance
NONPLUSSED
baffled, in a quandary, at a loss for what to say, do or think
nostalgia
yearning for the past
NOSTRUM
cure-all, placebo, questionable remedy
NOXIOUS
harmful; injurious
nuance
slight variation in meaning, tone, etc.
NUGATORY
of no real value, trifling, worthless
nullify
cancel, abolish
nurture
to nourish, support
nutritive
Having nutritious properties.
OBDURATE
unyielding, hardhearted, inflexible
OBEISANCE
gesture that expresses deference, such as a bow or curtsy
obese
very fat
OBFUSCATE
to deliberately obscure, to make confusing
OBLIQUE
slanting, indirect, evasive, devious, misleading
obliterate
erase, wipe out
obloquy
dishonor, disgrace, shame
obscure
unknown, lowly, unclear
OBSEQUIOUS
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness; subservient
obsequious
seeking favor, fawning
obsess
to haunt, preoccupy/ engross
obsolescence
process of wearing out
OBSOLESCENT
becoming obsolete
OBSTINATE
stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
OBSTREPEROUS
boisterously and noisily aggressive
OBSTREPEROUS
noisy, loudly stubborn, boisterous
OBTAIN
to be established, accepted, or customary, prevail
OBTRUDE
thrust oneself in as if by force
OBTUSE
lacking sharpness of intellect, not clear or precise in thought or expression
obviate
do away with, eliminate/ make unnecessary
OBVIATE
to anticipate and make unnecessary
OCCLUDE
to obstruct or block
OCCULT
hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension
occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural
octogenarian
person in his or her eighties
ODIOUS
hateful; arousing strong feelings of dislike
OFFICIOUS
meddlesome, pushy in offering one’s services where they are unwanted
ominous
threatening
omnipotent
almighty, having unlimited power or authority
omnivorous
eating both plant and animals
ONEROUS
troubling, burdensome
ONTOLOGY
the study of the nature of existence
OPAQUE
impermeable by light; dense in mind
OPPROBRIUM
disgrace, contempt, scorn
opprobrium
scorn, insult
opulence
luxury; wealth; riches
originate
begin, arise
OROTUND
having a round, resonant quality; inflated speech
OSCILLATION
the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
OSSIFIED
changed into bone; made rigidly conventional and unreceptive to change
ostensible
outward, pretended, seeming
OSTENSIBLE
seeming, appearing as such, professed
OSTENTATIOUS
characterized by or given to pretentiousness
ostentatious
showy/ splashy, pretentious
oust
to drive out, eject
overt
open
OVERWEENING
presumptuously arrogant, overbearing, immoderate
PAEAN
a song or expression of praise and thanksgiving
PALADIN
hero
PALAVER
idle talk
pall
cease to please, become dull
palliate
alleviate, relieve without curing
PALLIATE
to make something appear less serious, gloss over, mitigate
paltry
trifling; petty; worthless
panacea
cure-all
PANDEMIC
an epidemic that is geographically widespread
PANDEMIC
widespread; occurring over a large area or affecting an unusually large percentage of the population
pandemonium
disorder, uproar
PANEGYRIC
formal expression of praise
parable
a moralistic story
PARADIGM
something that serves as a model, example, or pattern; the framework of assumptions and understandings shared by a group or discipline that shapes its worldview
PARADOX
a contradiction; a seemingly self-contradictory statement that seems true nonetheless
paradox
a statement that at first seems to be absurd or self-contradictory but which may in fact turn out to be true
paragon
model of excellence
PARAGON
something regarded as a model of excellence or perfection in some way
PARALEGAL
a person with specialized training who assists lawyers
PARAMILITARY
noting or pertaining to an organization operating as, in place of, or as a supplement to a regular military force
paramount
supreme, foremost
PARAPSYCHOLOGY
phenomena that appear to contradict physical laws and suggest the possibility of causation by mental processes
PARIAH
an outcast, a rejected and despised person
pariah
social outcast
PARITY
equality, as in amount, status, or value
PAROCHIAL
narrow-minded
PARODY
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, especially in literature and art, also something so bad as to be potentially mistaken for an intentional mockery
paroxysm
a fit, sudden outburst
PARRY
to block, evade or ward off, as a blow
PARSIMONIOUS
cheap, miserly
parsimonious
miserly
PARTISAN
one-sided, committed to a party, biased or prejudiced
passe
old fashioned; out-of-style
PASTICHE
artistic piece which consists of many different styles
PATERNALISM
the attitude (of a person or a government) that subordinates should be controlled in a fatherly way for their own good
pathetic
sad, pitiful, distressing
PATRICIAN
belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
paucity
scarcity
PAUCITY
scarcity, a lacking of
PECCADILLO
a slight offense, literally, a minor sin
PECULATE
steal, embezzle
pecuniary
financial
pedagogue
a teacher
PEDAGOGY
the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
PEDANTIC
ostentatious display of learning, excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules, unimaginative
PEDESTRIAN
commonplace, trite, unremarkable
PELLUCID
transparent, easy to understand
penance
atonement for sin
PENCHANT
strong inclination, a liking
penchant
strong leaning; fondness; liking
penitent
regretful, confessing guilt
pensive
thoughtful, reflective
PENULTIMATE
second to last
PENURIOUS
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
penury
Poverty
perceive
to understand, know, become aware of
PERCIPIENT
characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving
peregrination
travel
peremptory
Absolute, compulsory, binding
PEREMPTORY
admitting of no contradiction, putting an end to further debate, haughty, imperious
PEREMPTORY
not allowing contradiction or refusal
PERENNIAL
recurrent through the year or many years, happening repeatedly
perfidious
false, treacherous
PERFIDY
intentional breach of faith, treachery
PERFUNCTORY
cursory, done without care or interest
perfunctory
done without care, superficial
PERIPATETIC
itinerant, traveling, nomadic
permeate
to spread through/ penetrate, seep in
PERMUTATION
act of changing the lineal order of objects in a group
PERNICIOUS
extremely harmful, potentially causing death
pernicious
harmful, causing injury
PERORATE
to conclude a long discourse
perpetrate
commit
perpetuate
to cause to continue indefinitely
PERQUISITE
a privilege that goes along with a job ; a perk
persevere
persist
PERSONABLE
pleasing in appearance, attractive
PERSPICACIOUS
acutely perceptive, having keen discernment
perspicacious
acutely perceptive, shrewd
PERTINACIOUS
resolute, stubbornly unyielding
pertinent
to the point/ related
PERUSE
to examine with great care
peruse
to read carefully
PERVADE
to permeate throughout
perverse
contrary, persisting in error
pesky
making someone annoyed or irritated
PETROUS
like a rock, hard, stony
PETULANT
impatient, irritable
PETULANT
peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
phenomenon
unusual occurrence
PHILANDER
to engage in love affairs frivolously or casually
PHILANTHROPIC
humanitarian; benevolent
PHILATELIST
a collector and student of postage stamps
PHILISTINE
a crass individual guided by material rather than intellectual or artistic values
PHILOLOGY
the humanistic study of language and literature
phlegmatic
calm, hard to rouse to action/ unemotional, callous, apathetic
PHLEGMATIC
calm, sluggish, unemotional, stoic
phobia
strong dislike, persistent fear
PICARESQUE
involving clever rogues or adventurers
PIED
multi-colored, usually in botches
PILLORY
to punish, hold up to public scorn
PINE
to yearn intensely, to languish, to lose vigor
pinnacle
peak, summit
PIOUS
extremely reverent or devout
PIQUANT
agreeably pungent, spicy, stimulating
pique
fit of resentment
PIQUE
resentment, feeling of irritation due to hurt pride
PIRATE
to use or reproduce illegally
PITH
the essential or central part
pittance
small amount
placard
poster
PLACATE
to appease, to calm by making concessions
plaintiff
the complaining party, in law
PLAINTIVE
mournful, melancholy, sorrowful
PLANGENT
pounding, thundering, resounding
PLASTIC
moldable, pliable, not rigid
PLATITUDE
a superficial or trite remark, especially one offered as meaningful
platitude
commonplace or trite saying
PLETHORA
an overabundance, a surplus
plethora
excess
plight
predicament, dangerous situation
PLUCK
courage, spunk, fortitude
PLUMB
to measure the depth, to examine critically
PLUMMET
to plunge or drop straight down
PLUTOCRACY
a political system governed by the wealthy people
POIGNANT
distressing, pertinent, touching, stimulating, emotional
poignant
moving, painful to the feelings/ distressing, heartrending, affecting
POLEMICAL
controversial, argumentative
ponder
to consider carefully
potent
powerful, strong, intense
potentate
ruler
potential
Possible
potpourri
medley, mixture
PRAGMATIC
practical rather than idealistic
pragmatic
practical; down-to-earth; based on experience rather than theory
PRATE
chatter, babble
PRATTLE
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
PRECARIOUS
uncertain, risky, dangerous
precedent
custom, model
PRECEPT
rule establishing standards of conduct, a doctrine that is taught
PRECIPITATE
acting with excessive haste or impulse
precipitate
hasten
PRECIPITOUS
very steep
preclude
prevent
precocious
reaching maturity early
PRECURSOR
something that precedes and indicates or announces another
PREDICATE
to proclaim, declare
PREDILECTION
a disposition in favor of something, preference
PREDILECTION
a predisposition in favor of something
PREEMPT
to replace, to supersede, to appropriate
PREEN
to dress up, primp, groom oneself with elaborate care; in animals, to clean fur or feathers
prelude
introduction
premise
ground for a conclusion/ concept, hypothesis, notion
premonition
forewarning
prerogative
an exclusive right or power
PRESAGE
a sign of something about to happen
PRESCIENCE
knowing of events prior to their occurring
PRESENTIMENT
a feeling of evil to come
PRESTIDIGITATION
sleight of hand; legerdemain
prestigious
illustrious/ respected, eminent
PRESUMPTUOUS
overstepping bounds, as of propriety or courtesy; taking liberties
pretext
an excuse
prevalent
prevailing, common, general
PREVARICATE
to deliberately avoid the truth, mislead
prevarication
deviate from the truth; lying
PRISTINE
pure, uncorrupted, clean
privation
lack of necessities
PRIVATION
lack of usual comforts or necessaries of life
PRIZE
to pry, press or force with a lever
PROBITY
adherence to highest principles, uprightness
PROCLIVITY
a natural predisposition or inclination
procrastinate
to delay; to put off
PRODIGAL
recklessly wasteful, extravagant, profuse, lavish
PRODIGIOUS
abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
prodigious
extraordinary; enormous
prodigy
marvel, phenomenon
PROFFER
present for acceptance or rejection
proffer
To offer for acceptance
PROFLIGATE
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
profligate
wasteful
profound
deep, intense
PROFUSE
given or coming forth abundantly, extravagant
profuse
overflowing, abundant
progeny
descendants
PROGNOSIS
a prediction of the course of a disease
prognosticate
to predict or foretell a future event
prohibition
the act of forbidding certain behavior
prolific
producing abundantly
PROLIFIC
producing large volumes or amounts, productive
PROLIX
long-winded, verbose
PROMULGATE
to declare, make known publicly
promulgate
to make known officially, proclaim
propagate
to reproduce, spread abroad
PROPENSITY
a natural inclination
PROPENSITY
a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
propensity
disposition, inclination, bent
propinquity
nearness in place or time
PROPINQUITY
nearness in time or place, affinity of nature, kinship
PROPITIATE
to appease or pacify
PROPITIOUS
auspicious, favorable
propitious
favorable
PROPITIOUS
presenting favorable circumstances
PROPRIETY
appropriateness; conformity with standards of acceptable behavior
propriety
suitability, correctness
PROSAIC
dull, unimaginative
PROSCRIBE
to outlaw or prohibit
PROVIDENT
frugal, looking to the future
proximity
nearness
prudent
wise, careful, cautious
PUERILE
childish, immature
PUGNACIOUS
contentious, quarrelsome, given to fighting, belligerent
pugnacious
quarrelsome, combative
puissant
powerful
PUNCTILIOUS
precise, paying attention to trivialities, especially in regard to etiquette
PUNCTILIOUS
very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety
PUNDIT
an authority on a subject, one who gives opinions
PUNGENT
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste, penetrating, to the point
pungent
sharply stimulating, biting
PUNITIVE
inflicting punishment
puny
weak, unimportant
PUSILLANIMOUS
cowardly, craven
PUTATIVE
reputed, supposed
PUTREFY
to rot, decay and give off a foul odor, become gangrenous
QUAFF
to drink deeply
QUAIL
to shrink back in fear, lose courage
QUALIFY
to limit
qualm
twinge of conscience
QUALMS
misgivings, reservations, causes for hesitancy
quandary
doubt, dilemma
quarry
something that is hunted
quell
put an end to (not terminate)
QUERIES
questions, inquiries, reservations
QUERULOUS
prone to complaining or grumbling, quarrelsome
QUIESCENCE
stillness, motionlessness, quality of being at rest
quip
joke/ badinage, jest
QUOTIDIAN
occurring or recurring daily, commonplace
rabid
fanatical, furious, mad
raconteur
a skilled storyteller
RAFFISH
low, vulgar, base
rail
scold,use abusive language
RAIL
to complain about bitterly
RAILLERY
good-natured teasing or ridicule
raiment
clothes; garments
RAMIFY
to be divided or subdivided, branch out
rampant
going unchecked, widespread
RANCOROUS
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
RAPACIOUS
voracious, greedy, plundering, subsisting on prey
RAREFY
to make or become thin, less dense, refine
rash
too hasty, reckless/ audacious, impulsive
rationalize
use or give a reason other than the real one
raucous
harsh and shrill
raze
destroy
realm
special field of something or someone, kingdom
REBUFF
a blunt or abrupt rejection
rebuke
reprimand, reproach, criticize
REBUS
riddle, a representation of words by pictures or symbols that sound like words
RECALCITRANT
obstinately defiant of authority or guidance, difficult to manage
RECANT
to retract, especially a previously held belief
recant
withdraw previous statement
RECAPITULATE
to summarize, to repeat concisely
RECIDIVISM
relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior
recoil
draw back/ balk, blench, withdraw
RECONDITE
hidden, concealed, difficult to understand, obscure
recondite
secret, hidden, obscure
RECONNOITER
to engage in reconnaissance, make a preliminary inspection of
RECOURSE
a person or thing turned to for help or advice; the act of seeking help or protection
RECREANT
cowardly or craven
RECRIMINATION
the act of accusing in return; opposing another charge
RECUMBENT
in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
RECUMBENT
leaning, resting, prone
REDOLENT
fragrant, suggestive or evocative
redolent
having strong smell; full of fragrance
REDOUBTABLE
that is to be feared; commanding or evoking respect
redress
to right a wrong, remedy
REFERENDUM
a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate
REFRACTORY
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
REFULGENT
radiant, shiny, brilliant
REFUTE
to disprove, successfully argue against
refute
to prove wrong or false
REGALE
to delight or entertain, feast
REGRESS
returning to a former state
relegate
assign to an inferior position
RELEGATE
to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position
remiss
negligent, careless
REMISSION
an abatement in intensity or degree (as in the manifestations of a disease)
REMONSTRATE
to protest, object
remote
distant, hidden away
remuneration
reward, pay
RENEGE
to fail to honor a commitment, go back on a promise
RENT
torn, split, apart, pierced as by a sound
repent
regret, desire to make amends
repertoire
works that an artist is ready to preform
REPINE
to feel or express dejection or discontent, long for
replenish
to fill again; to resupply; to restore
replete
completely filled or supplied with
repose
a state of resting or not being active
REPOSITORY
a facility where things can be deposited for storage or safekeeping
reprehensible
worthy of blame
repress
to put down/ suppress, oppress, conceal
reprimand
to show sharp disapproval, rebuke formally, censure severely or angrily
reproach
rebuke, reprimand
REPROBATE
a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; to disapprove of, condemn
REPUDIATE
to refuse to have anything to do with, disown
repudiate
to reject, decline
repugnant
distasteful
repulse
drive back
reputed
thought, supposed, believed
requisite
requirement