Barrons + PR Wordsmart (501-1000) Flashcards
doleful
sad, melancholy/ dismal
domicile
home/ abode, condo
dormant
asleep, inactive
DOUR
stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored
dregs
most worthless part
DROSS
slag, waste or foreign matter, impurity, surface scum
drudgery
unpleasant, dull, or hard work
dubious
doubtful
DUCTILE
capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
DULCET
melodious, harmonious, mellifluous
dulcet
sweet or melodious to the ear
dupe
a person easily tricked
DUPE
one who is deceived
duplicity
cunning, trickery
DURESS
compulsion by threat or force
duress
compulsion, force
DYNAMO
generator; forceful, energetic person
EBULLIENCE
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
ECCENTRIC
departing from norms or conventions
ECLECTIC
composed of elements drawn from various sources
ECUMENICAL
universal, pertaining to all of Christianity
EDACIOUS
voracious, devouring
edifice
a large and usually impressive building (such as a church or government building)
EDIFYING
enlightening, informative
EFFACE
remove completely from recognition or memory
EFFETE
exhausted; self-indulgent; infertile
efficacy
power to produce an effect
EFFICACY
the ability to produce an intended result
effigy
a likeness (usually of a hated person)
EFFLUENCE
the process of flowing out
EFFLUVIUM
slight or invisible vapor, esp. one that is noxious
effontery
boldness
EFFRONTERY
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
EFFUSION
a pouring out; an uncontrolled display of emotion
EFFUSIVE
gushing; excessively demonstrative
egotist
a vain, conceited person
EGREGIOUS
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
egregious
remarkably bad (not flagrant)
EGRESS
the act of coming (or going) out
elapse
to slip by, lapse
ELEEMOSYNARY
charitable
ELEGY
a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead; any mournful writing or piece of music
elicit
to draw forth
ELOCUTION
an expert manner of speaking involving control of voice and gesture
ELOQUENT
well-spoken; expressive; articulate
elucidate
to make clear
elusive
hard to grasp/ out of reach
emaciated
abnormally thin, wasted away
embellish
adorn, touch up
EMEND
to edit or change a text; correct
eminent
of high reputation, outstanding
emissary
Agent
emit
to give off
EMOLLIENT
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying
EMPIRICAL
based on observation or experiment
emulate
to try to equal or excel
ENCOMIUM
glowing and enthusiastic praise; panegyric, tribute, eulogy
encomium
high praise
encumbrance
Burden, handicap, load
ENDEMIC
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people; restricted to or peculiar to that region; indigenous
ENERVATE
to weaken; to reduce in vitality
ENGENDER
to cause, produce, give rise to
engrossed
absorbed/ preoccupied, engaged
enhance
intensify, heighten
enigma
riddle
ENIGMATIC
mysterious, obscure, difficult to understand
ennui
boredom, lack of interest and energy
ENNUI
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
ENORMITY
excessive wickedness, evilness
ENSCONCED
settled in
entourage
group of attendants
entreaty
appeal, plea
enunciate
to utter, proclaim
EPHEMERAL
brief; fleeting, short-lived
EPICURE
one devoted to sensual pleasure, particularly in food and drink; gourmand, sybarite
EPISODIC
loosely connected, not flowing logically, occurring at intervals
epithet
descriptive name
EPITHET
disparaging word or phrase
EPITOME
embodiment; quintessence
epitome
person or thing that embodies or represents the best
EQUABLE
level; not able to be easily disturbed
EQUANIMITY
calm, composure, self-possession
equanimity
Calmness; composure
equanimity
evenness of mind, composure
EQUIVOCATE
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
eradicate
to wipe out
ERRANT
traveling, itinerant, peripatetic
ERRATIC
without consistency
ERUDITE
very learned; scholarly
erudite
very learned; scholarly
eruption
bursting out
escalation
an increase, intensification
ESCARPMENT
steep cliff
eschew
avoid
ESCHEW
to shun or avoid
ESOTERIC
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
ESPOUSE
to make one’s own; adopt or embrace, as in a cause
ESSAY
to test or try; attempt, experiment
ESTIMABLE
worthy, formidable
ethics
code of principles
ETIOLOGY
the study of causation
EULOGY
a speech honoring the dead
euphemism
a less offensive term
evaluate
appraise, find the value of
evanescent
momentary, ephemeral, fleeting
EVANESCENT
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing
eventuate
to result finally
evince
show plainly, exhibit
EVINCE
to show clearly, to indicate
exacerbate
to irritate, make worse
EXACERBATE
to make worse or more severe
EXACT
to demand, call for, require, take
excoriate
criticize severely
EXCORIATE
to censure scathingly, to upbraid
excruciating
agonizing, torturing
EXCULPATE
exonerate; to clear of blame
EXEMPLAR
typical or standard specimen; paradigm, model
EXHORT
to incite, to make urgent appeals
exhort
to urge strongly, advise earnestly
EXIGENT
urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
exonerate
to free from guilt
EXONERATE
to remove blame
EXPATIATE
discuss or write about at length; to range freely
expatriate
an exile
expedient
advisable, fit
expedite
carry out promptly
EXPIATE
to atone or make amends for
exploit
utilize, profit by
EXPOSITION
a systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topic
expunge
erase
EXPUNGE
remove by erasing or crossing out
expurgate
to remove objectionable parts or passages
EXPURGATE
to remove obscenity, purify, censor
EXTANT
existing, not destroyed or lost
extant
still existing; not destroyed or lost
EXTEMPORANEOUS
improvised; done without preparation
EXTEMPORANEOUS
with little or no preparation or forethought
EXTENUATING
partially excusing or justifying, to represent as less serious
extinct
no longer existing
EXTIRPATE
to destroy, exterminate, cut out, pull out by the roots
extol
to praise highly
extortion
getting money by threats
extraneous
Foreign, not belonging
extrinsic
foreign, coming from outside
exult
rejoice greatly
exultation
triumphant joy
fabricate
to lie, concoct
fabricate
to lie, construct
facade
face, front; mask, superficial appearance
facet
one side or view of person or situation
facetious
comical, humorous, witty
FACETIOUS
playful; humorous; not serious
FACILE
acting, working, or proceeding with ease; fluent
facile
easily accomplished or attained
factitious
artificial; sham
fallacious
misleading
FALLACY
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
FALLOW
untilled, inactive, dormant
falter
stumble, hesitate, waver
FANATICAL
zealous; single-mindedly obsessed with one thing
fastidious
choosy, particular
fatal
deadly, disastrous
fatuous
silly, foolish
FATUOUS
silly, inanely foolish
FAWN
to flatter or praise excessively
feasible
possible
FECKLESS
ineffectual; irresponsible
feint
pretense, sham, a false attack
FELICITOUS
apt, suitable for the occasion
FELICITOUS
apt; suitably expressed, well chosen, apropos; delightful
felicitous
Happy or delightful
FELL
a barren or stony hill; an animal’s hide
felon
a person guilty of a major crime
ferment
uproar, agitation, turmoil
FERVENT
greatly emotional or zealous
fervid
passionate, intense, zealous
FETID
stinking, having a heavy bad smell
fetish
an object that is thought to have magic powers
fetter
to hamper
FETTER
to shackle, put in chains, restrain
fiasco
complete failure
fiat
an official order, a decree
FIDUCIARY
a person who holds assets in trust for a beneficiary
FILIBUSTER
intentional obstruction, usually using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
FILIGREE
an ornamental work, especially of delicate lacelike patterns; resembling such a pattern
FINAGLE
to trick, swindle or cheat
flabbergasted
Astounded
FLAG
to sag or droop, to become spiritless, to decline
flagrant
outrageous, glaringly bad (not egregious)
flamboyant
showy, colorful/ extravagant
flay
strip off skin, scold harshly
fledgling
Little known, newly developed
FLIP
sarcastic, impertinent
FLORID
flushed with color, ruddy, ornate
FLOTSAM
wreckage of a ship floating in water
flout
show contempt, scoff
FLOUT
to demonstrate contempt for
fluctuate
alternate, shift
foist
pass off slyly, pass as genuine
foment
stir up; instigate
FOMENT
to stir up, incite, rouse
FOOLHARDY
recklessly or thoughtlessly bold
FORAY
raid
FORBEARANCE
patience, willingness to wait
FORD
to wade across the shallow part of a river or stream
FORESTALL
to act in a way to hinder, exclude or prevent an action; to circumvent or thwart
FORSWEAR
to renounce, disallow, repudiate
forthwith
immediately
fortuitous
accidental
FORTUITOUS
happening by fortunate accident or chance
FOUNDER
to fail ; to collapse ; to sink
FRACAS
noisy fight or quarrel, brawl
fracas
noisy fight, brawl
FRACTIOUS
quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, cranky
fractious
quarrelsome/ cross, captious
frail
weak or delicate
fraught
filled
fray
a fight (not skirmish)
frenetic
frantic; frenzied
frenzy
wild fit, frantic outburst
fretful
worrisome, irritable
FROWARD
intractable, not willing to yield or comply, stubbornly disobedient
frugal
thrifty
fruitless
useless
frustrate
counteract, foil, thwart
FUGACIOUS
fleeting; transitory
FULMINATE
to attack loudly or denounce
fulsome
excessive, insincere
FURLOUGH
to lay off from work, usually temporarily
FURTIVE
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
furtive
secret, stealthy
futility
uselessness
GAINSAY
to deny, dispute, contradict, oppose
galvanize
Excite or arouse to activity
GALVANIZE
to stimulate, to startle into sudden action
GAMBOL
to skip about playfully, frolic
gamut
range
garbled
confused, mixed up/ belied
GARNER
to gather and save, store up, acquire
garrulous
loquacious; wordy; talkative
GARRULOUS
pointlessly talkative, talking too much
GASTRONOMY
the art and practice of choosing and preparing and eating good food
GAUCHE
crude, awkward, tasteless
gaudy
flashy; showy
gaunt
haggard, thin
genocide
planned destruction of an entire people
genre
a kind of type of literature (poetry, drama, fiction, etc.)
GENUFLECT
bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
GERMANE
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
germane
relevant, appropriate
gesticulate
move the arms energetically
gist
essence; main point; substance
glean
gather, collect
GLIB
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
glib
smooth of speech
GOSSAMER
delicate, insubstantial or tenuous; insincere
GRANDILOQUENCE
pompous speech or expression
GRATUITOUS
freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted
gratuity
tip
gregarious
sociable
GREGARIOUS
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
grimace
facial expression of disgust
grotesque
strange, ugly, bizarre
GROUSE
to complain or grumble
GUILE
trickery, duplicity, cunning
guise
mien, appearance, manner
gullible
easily cheated or fooled
gusto
enthusiasm, enjoyment, zest
habitat
natural environment
HACKNEYED
rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
HALCYON
calm and peaceful, prosperous
halcyon
calm; peaceful
HALLOW
to set apart as holy
hapless
unfortunate
HARANGUE
to deliver a loud, pompous speech or tirade
harass
to trouble, torment
harbinger
a forerunner, advance notice
HARROW
to distress, create stress or torment
haven
place of safety/ refuge, sanctuary
havoc
ruin
HEDONISM
devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses
HEGEMONY
the consistent dominance or influence of one group, state, or ideology over others
heinous
hatefully or shockingly evil
heresy
unbelief, dissent, lack of faith
HERETICAL
violating accepted dogma or convention, unorthodox
HERMETIC
airtight, impervious to outside influence
HETERODOX
characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards
HETERODOX
unorthodox, heretical, iconoclastic
heterogenous
dissimilar
HINTERLAND
the wilderness
hirsute
hairy
HIRSUTE
hairy, shaggy
histrionics
display of emotions/ theatrics
hoard
hide, store, accumulate
hoax
deception
HOMILY
a sermon or morally instructive lecture, a platitude
HOMOGENOUS
same throughout
homogenous
uniform, same
hostile
antagonistic, angry
HUBRIS
arrogant presumption or pride
humility
humbleness, modesty, meekness
HYPERBOLE
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
hyperbole
exaggerated figure of speech
iconoclast
image-breaker, attacker of beliefs
ICONOCLAST
one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
IDOLATROUS
given to intense or excessive devotion to something
IDYLL
a carefree, light-hearted pastoral or romantic episode or experience; a literary or musical piece describing such
idyllic
simple and pleasant
IGNOMINIOUS
shameful, dishonorable, ignoble, undignified, disgraceful
ignominous
humiliating, disgracing
ilk
kind, sort
ILLICIT
illegal
imbibe
to drink
IMBROGLIO
difficult or embarrassing situation
IMMINENT
about to happen; impending
imminent
likely to happen, threatening/ menacing, approaching, forthcoming
IMMOLATE
to kill as a sacrifice
IMMUTABLE
not capable of change
IMPASSIVE
revealing no emotion or sensibility
impeccable
faultless
IMPECUNIOUS
lacking funds; without money
impede
interfere, block, hinder
imperative
urgent, necessary, compulsory
imperceptible
extremely slight or gradual
IMPERIOUS
commanding, masterful, arrogant, domineering, haughty
imperturbable
calm, steady, serene
IMPERTURBABLE
marked by extreme calm, impassivity and steadiness
IMPETUOUS
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
impetuous
impulsive
impious
lacking respect, irreverent
implacable
cannot be pacified, inexorable
IMPLACABLE
not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
implore
to plead urgently for aid or mercy
importune
ask urgently/ beg
IMPORTUNE
to ask incessantly, beg, nag
impresario
one who presents cultural series, organizer
impromptu
Spur of the moment, offhand
IMPROVIDENT
lacking foresight, not cautious
imprudent
unwise, not careful
IMPUDENT
shamelessly bold; insolent; impertinent
IMPUGN
attack or assail verbally, censure, execrate, deny
IMPUNITY
exemption from punishment or loss
impunity
freedom from punishment
IMPUNITY
immunity from punishment, penalty or harm
IMPUTE
to attribute to a cause or source, ascribe, assign as a characteristic
inadvertent
heedless, not attentive, unintentional
INADVERTENT
unintentional
INALIENABLE
cannot be transferred
INAMORATA
a woman with whom you are in love or have an intimate relationship
inane
foolish
inanimate
lifeless
INCANDESCENT
brilliant; giving off heat or light
incapacitated
disabled, made unfit
inchoate
in an early stage
INCHOATE
in an initial stage, not fully formed
INCIPIENT
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
INCIPIENT
beginning; in an early stage
incipient
just beginning to exist
incisive
acute
INCISIVE
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
inclement
unfavorable/ stormy, bleak, cold
incoherent
disjointed/ unintelligible, discordant
incompatibility
quality of being mismated, lack of harmony
incongruous
inappropriate
incontrovertible
undeniable/ indisputable
incredulous
skeptical/ cynical, doubtful
incumbent
morally required
INCURSION
an attack or raid; the act of entering another’s territory
INDEFATIGABLE
not easily exhaustible, tireless, dogged
INDICT
accuse formally of a crime
indict
to formally decide that someone should be put on trial for a crime
indifference
lack of concern
INDIFFERENT
having no interest or concern, apathetic; showing no bias or prejudice
indigenous
native
INDIGENT
poor enough to need help from others
indigent
poor, needy
indiscriminate
choosing at random without careful selection
INDITE
produce a literary work
indoctrinate
to teach certain principles
INDOLENCE
inactivity resulting from a dislike of work; laziness
indolent
lazy
INDOLENT
lazy, listless, torpid
INDUBITABLE
too obvious to be doubted
inebriated
drunk; intoxicated
INEFFABLE
defying expression or description
ineffectual
not effective
INELUCTABLE
certain, inevitable
INERT
unmoving, lethargic, sluggish, not reactive chemically
inert
without power to move/ languid
inevitable
unavoidable, certain to happen
inexorable
inflexible, unrelenting
INEXORABLE
unchanging, unyielding
infallible
exempt from error, right
infamous
having a bad reputation
infraction
violation
INGENUE
an artless girl; an actress who plays such parts
INGENUOUS
artless, frank and candid, lacking in sophistication
ingratiate
charm, win confidence
inherent
inborn
INHERENT
ingrained within one’s nature, intrinsic, firmly established, essential
inhibition
restraint/ restriction/ barrier
INIMICAL
damaging, harmful, injurious, hostile, unfriendly
INIMITABLE
one of a kind, peerless
INIQUITY
wickedness, gross injustice
iniquity
wickedness, injustice
initiate
start, set going
innate
natural
INNERVATE
to supply with nerves, energize
innocuous
harmless, mild, innocent
INNOCUOUS
harmless; causing no damage
inordinate
excessive
insatible
cannot be satisfied
INSCRUTABLE
incapable of being discovered or understood, mysterious
INSENSATE
without compunction or human feeling
INSENSIBLE
unconscious, unresponsive, unaware, unaffected, numb
INSIDIOUS
intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous
insidious
sly, treacherous, devious
INSIPID
without taste or flavor, lacking in spirit, dull
INSOUCIANT
unconcerned, carefree, nonchalant
INSULAR
parochial, narrow-minded, like an island
integral
essential/ basic, constituent
INTERDICT
an official prohibition or restraint
INTERDICT
prohibit, forbid, ban, halt
interject
insert, interrupt/ intercalate, interpolate, interpose
INTERLOCUTOR
a person who takes part in a conversation
interloper
an unauthorized person
INTERLOPER
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
interminable
unending
INTERNECINE
characterized by bloodshed and carnage for both sides
internecine
mutually destructive, involving conflict in a group
interrogate
to question
INTIMATE
to imply, suggest or insinuate
intimidate
to overawe, to make afraid
INTRACTABLE
not easily managed or directed, stubborn, obstinate
INTRANSIGENT
refusing to compromise
intrepid
brave
INTREPID
steadfast, courageous
intrinsic
essential, natural, inborn
intrinsic
essential; inherent; built-in
introspective
looking into one’s own feelings
INUNDATE
to cover or overwhelm, to flood
inundate
to flood/ deluge
INURED
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
invalidate
to deprive of legal force, to nullify
invective
insulting or abusive speech
inveigh
attack verbally
INVEIGH
to attack verbally, denounce, deprecate
INVEIGLE
to obtain by deception or flattery
INVETERATE
deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
inveterate
habitual, firmly established
INVIDIOUS
tending to arouse envy or ill will in others
inviolable
safe (from destruction, etc.)
INVOLUTE
complex
IRASCIBLE
easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
irascible
irritable
irate
angry, incensed
IRIDESCENT
varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles; having rainbow-like colors
irrational
unreasonable, absurd
irrelevant
not related to the subject
itinerant
wandering
ITINERATE
to travel from place to place
jaunty
sprightly, gay/ lively
JEJUNE
vapid, uninteresting; childish, immature; lacking nutrition
jeopardize
endanger/ threaten
JETSAM
goods thrown overboard deliberately to lighten the load
jettison
to throw overboard; to discard
JIBE
to agree, to be in accord
JOCOSE
given to joking; humorous
jocose
Humorous, merry
jostle
to shove hard
jubilant
joyful and triumphant
jurisdiction
power, range of authority
juxtapose
to place side by side
KINETIC
having to do with motion; lively; active
LABILE
readily open to change, unstable
labyrinth
arrangement of winding passages
laceration
jagged wound, rough cut
LACHRYMOSE
causing tears, tearful, showing sorrow
LACKIDAISICAL
without interest, vigor, or determination; lazy
lackluster
dull, lacking brilliance or vitality, lacking luster or shine
laconic
expressing much in few words
LACONIC
using few words; terse
lampoon
ridicule
landmark
historic, turning point of a period
largess
gift, gratuity, liberality
lassitude
fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor
lassitude
languor; weariness; listlessness
LASSITUDE
listlessness, languor, weariness
latent
lying hidden
LATITUDE
freedom from narrow restrictions
LAUD
to praise highly
laudable
praiseworthy
LAVISH
extravagant
lax
careless, negligent/ slack, remiss
LEGATEE
someone who receives a legacy
legerdemain
sleight of hand, deceptive adroitness
legion
a large number
lethal
deadly
LETHARGIC
characterized by sluggishness
lethargic
lazy, indifferent
