C Flashcards
Cabal
A secret group seeking to overturn something
Synonyms: camp, circle, clan, clique, coterie
Cache
A hiding place, stockpile
Synonyms: hoard, reserve
Cacophony
A jarring (shocking), unpleasant noise
Synonyms: clatter, racket
Cadence
Rhythmic flow of poetry, marching beat
Synonyms: inflection, rhythm
Cajole
To flatter, coax, persuade
Synonyms: blandish, wheedle
Calamity
Disaster, catastrophe
Synonyms: mishap, misfortune, tragedy
Calculating
Shrewd, crafty
Synonyms: manipulative, devious, conniving
Callow
Immature, lacking sophistication
Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, naive
Calumny
A false and malicious accusation, misrepresentation
Synonyms: libel, defamation, slander
Camaraderie
Trust, sociability amongst friends
Synonyms: amity, companionship
Canard
A lie
Synonyms: falsehood, falsity, fib
Candid
Impartial and honest in speech
Synonyms: direct, forthright, frank, honest, open
Cantankerous
Having a difficult, uncooperative, or stubborn disposition
Synonyms: contentious, ornery
Capacious
Large, roomy, extensive
Synonyms: ample, commodious
Capitulate
To submit completely, surrender
Synonyms: acquiesce, succumb, yield
Capricious
Impulsive, whimsical, without much thought
Synonyms: erratic, fickle, flighty, inconstant, wayward
Captious
Marked by the tendency to point out trivial faults, intended to confuse in an argument
Synonyms: critical, censorious
Carnivorous
Meat-eating
Carouse
To partake in drunken amusement, drink excessively
Synonyms: get drunk, party
Cartographer
Someone who makes maps
Cartography
Science or art of making maps
Synonyms: charting, surveying, topography
Castigate
To punish, chastise, criticize severely
Synonyms: discipline, lambaste
Cataclysmic
Severely destructive
Synonyms: catastrophic, tragic
Catalyst
Something that provokes or speeds up significant change, especially without being affected by the consequences
Synonyms: accelerator
Catastrophic
Of, or relating to, a terrible event or complete failure
Synonyms: disastrous, shattering, tragic
Catharsis
Purification, cleansing
Synonyms: purgation, release
Catholic
Universal, broad and comprehensive
Synonyms: extensive, general
Caucus
A closed committee within a political party, a private committee meeting
Synonyms: assembly, convention
Caustic
Biting, sarcastic
Synonyms: sardonic (mocking or cynical), incisive
Cavalier
Carefree, happy, with lordly disdain
Synonyms: disdainful
Cede
To surrender possession of something
Synonyms: resign, yield, relinquish
Celerity
Speed, haste
Synonyms: swiftness, briskness
Censor
To examine and suppress information
Synonyms: edit, cut, expurgate
Censorious
Critical, tending to blame and condemn
Synonyms: fault-finding
Censure
To find fault with and condemn as wrong, blame
Synonyms: Criticize, scorn, show disapproval
Centripetal
Directed or moving toward the center
Synonyms: centralizing
Cerebral
Intellectual
Synonyms: brainy, clever, logical
Certitude
Assurance, freedom from doubt
Synonyms: certainty, conviction
Cessation
A temporary or complete halt
Synonyms: arrest, termination
Chagrin
Shame, embarrassment, humiliation
Synonyms: discomfiture, mortification
Challenge
Take exception to, call into question
Synonyms: confront, defy, face
Chaos
Great disorder or confused situation
Synonyms: clutter, confusion
Chapped
Reddened by cold or exposure
Synonyms: rough, cracked
Charlatan
Quack, fake
Synonyms: fraud, humbug, imposter
Chary
Watchful, cautious, extremely shy
Synonyms: wary, careful
Chauvinist
Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
Synonyms: biased, colored, one-sided, partial, partisan
Cherish
To remember fondly, treat with affection
Synonyms: treasure, value, prize
Chicanery
Trickery, fraud, deception
Synonyms: deceit, dishonesty, duplicity
Chimerical
Fanciful, imaginary, impossible
Synonyms: illusory, unreal
Choleric
Easily angered, short-tempered
Synonyms: irate, irritable, surly, wrathful
Chromosome
A threadlike body that carries genes in an organism
Circuitous
Indirect, roundabout
Synonyms: lengthy, devious
Circumlocution
Roundabout, lengthy way of saying something
Synonyms: evasion, wordiness
Circumscribe
To encircle, set limits on, confine
Synonyms: limit, surround
Circumspect
Cautious, wary
Synonyms: careful, chary, prudent
Circumvent
To go around, avoid
Synonyms: evade, sidestep
Civility
Courtesy, politeness
Synonyms: respect, graciousness, consideration
Clairvoyant
Exceptionally insightful, able to foresee the future
Synonyms: psychic, mind reader, medium
Clamp
Establish by authority
Synonyms: impose
Clandestine
Secretive, concealed for a darker purpose
Synonyms: covert, underground
Clarity
Clearness, clear understanding
Synonyms: lucidity, precision, simplicity
Clemency
Merciful leniency
Synonyms: indulgence, pardon
Cliche
Overused expression or idea
Synonyms: unoriginal
Clientele
Body of customers or patrons
Synonyms: clients, regulars, consumers
Clique
Small exclusive group
Synonyms: circle, gang, elite
Cloying
Sickly sweet, excessive
Synonyms: excessive, fulsome
Coagulate
To clot, to cause to thicken
Synonyms: jell, congeal
Coalesce
To grow together or cause to unite as one
Synonyms: combine, merge
Coffer
Strongbox, large chest for money
Synonyms: treasury, chest, exchequer, war chest
Cogent
Logically forceful, compelling, convincing
Synonyms: persuasive, winning
Cognizant
Fully informed, conscious
Synonyms: aware, mindful
Coherent
Intelligible, lucid, understandable
Synonyms: logical, rational, consistent
Cohesion
Act or state of sticking together, close union
Synonyms: unity, organization, structure
Collaborator
Someone who helps on a task
Synonyms: coworker, colleague, partner
Collage
Assemblage of diverse elements
Synonyms: patchwork, random collection, clutter
Collateral
Accompanying
Synonyms: ancillary
Colloquial
Characteristic of informal speech
Synonyms: conversational, idiomatic
Colloquy
Dialogue or conversation, conference
Synonyms: discussion
Collusion
Collaboration, complicity, conspiracy
Synonyms: connivance, intrigue, machination
Colossal
Immense, enormous
Synonyms: huge massive, oversize
Combative
Eager to fight
Synonyms: aggressive, belligerent, confrontational
Combustion
The process of burning
Synonyms: fire, ignition, incineration
Comeliness
Physical grace and beauty
Synonyms: attractiveness, seemliness