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Direct Hits Vocabulary > Chapter 10: The Toughest Words I > Flashcards

Chapter 10: The Toughest Words I Flashcards

1
Q

LAMBASTE

A

Denounce; strongly criticize

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2
Q

QUIESCENT

A

Marked by inactivity; in a state of quiet repose

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3
Q

PROVISIONAL

A

Tentative; temporary; for the time being (like a PROVISIONAL

driver’s license)

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4
Q

LURID

A

Sensational; shocking; ghastly

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5
Q

TRUCULENT, PUGNACIOUS, BELLIGERENT

A

Defiantly aggressive; eager to fight

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6
Q

PROPITIATE

A

To appease; to conciliate; to regain the favor or goodwill of

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7
Q

ÉLAN

A

A vigorous spirit; great enthusiasm

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8
Q

PERFUNCTORY

A

Something performed in a spiritless, mechanical, and routine manner

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9
Q

APLOMB

A

Self-assurance; confident composure; admirable poise under pressure

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10
Q

OPAQUE

A

Hard to understand; impenetrably dense and obscure

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11
Q

CRAVEN

A

Cowardly; CONTEMPTIBLY faint-hearted

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12
Q

VENAL

A

Corrupt; dishonest; open to bribery

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13
Q

LICENTIOUS

A

Immoral; DISSOLUTE; debauched

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14
Q

NOXIOUS

A

Harmful; injurious to physical, mental, or moral health

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15
Q

SUPERFLUOUS, EXTRANEOUS

A

Unnecessary; extra

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16
Q

DUPLICITOUS

A

Deliberately deceptive in behavior or speech

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17
Q

PROFLIGATE

A

Wasteful; SQUANDERING time and money by living for the moment

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18
Q

EPIPHANY

A

A sudden realization; an insightful moment

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19
Q

INSIDIOUS

A

Causing harm in a subtle or stealthy manner; devious

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20
Q

VACUOUS, INANE

A

Empty; lacking serious purpose; VAPID

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21
Q

HARBINGER, PORTENT, PRESAGE

A

Indications or omens that something important

or calamitous is about to occur

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22
Q

BELEAGUER

A

To beset; to surround with problems

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23
Q

BURGEON

A

To grow rapidly; to expand

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24
Q

IMPERIOUS

A

Domineering and arrogant; haughty

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25
Q

PETULANT

A

Peevish, irritable

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26
Q

COMPLAISANT

A

Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; AFFABLE;

AMIABLE

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27
Q

FAWN

A

Behaving in a SERVILE, OBSEQUIOUS, or SUBSERVIENT manner

28
Q

OBDURATE, INTRANSIGENT

A

Very stubborn; obstinate; unyieldingly persistent;

inflexible; INTRACTABLE

29
Q

REDOLENT

A

Exuding fragrance; full of a specified smell; suggestive of

30
Q

CHICANERY

A

Deception by subterfuge; deliberate trickery

31
Q

CONUNDRUM

A

A difficult problem; a dilemma with no easy solution

32
Q

SLIGHT

A

To treat in a disparaging manner; to deliberately ignore

33
Q

CAPITULATE

A

To surrender; to comply without protest

34
Q

DISHEARTENING

A

Very discouraging; dismaying; dispiriting

35
Q

APOCRYPHAL

A

Of doubtful authenticity; false; SPURIOUS

36
Q

MAGISTERIAL

A

Learned and authoritative

37
Q

PLASTIC, MALLEABLE, PLIABLE

A

Flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside

influences or forces

38
Q

CHAGRIN

A

The feeling of distress caused by humiliation, failure, or embarrassment

39
Q

OBSTREPEROUS

A

Noisily and stubbornly defiant; unruly; boisterous

40
Q

IDYLLIC

A

Charmingly simple and carefree

41
Q

DILAPIDATED

A

Having fallen into a state of disrepair; broken-down; in deplorable
condition

42
Q

EXTEMPORIZE, IMPROVISE

A

To lecture or speak without notes

43
Q

MYRIAD

A

Many; numerous

44
Q

UNGAINLY

A

Awkward; clumsy; NOT graceful

45
Q

DILATORY

A

Habitually late; tardy

46
Q

VITUPERATIVE

A

Characterized by verbal abuse and bitter criticism

47
Q

DISCORDANT

A

Not in harmony; incompatible; at variance with, as in a

DISCORDANT detail that doesn’t fit a pattern

48
Q

PERFIDIOUS

A

Treacherous; traitorous; deceitful

49
Q

PROLIFERATE

A

To increase rapidly

50
Q

INDOMITABLE, RESOLUTE

A

Very determined; unwavering

51
Q

MORIBUND

A

Approaching death; about to become obsolete

52
Q

NUANCE

A

A SUBTLE shade of meaning or feeling; a slight degree of difference

53
Q

FLIPPANT, FACETIOUS

A

Treating serious matters with lighthearted humor or lack of

respect

54
Q

CREDULOUS

A

Easily convinced; tending to believe too readily; GULLIBLE;

55
Q

INCREDULOUS

A

Disbelieving, SKEPTICAL

56
Q

FLORID

A

Flowery in style; very ORNATE

57
Q

EXCORIATING, SCATHING

A

Expressing strong disapproval; condemning; loudly

DECRYING

58
Q

INTERLOPER

A

An intruder; a gatecrasher

59
Q

CEREBRAL

A

Intellectual rather than emotional;

60
Q

VISCERAL

A

Instinctive rather than

rational

61
Q

NONPLUSSED, CONFOUNDED

A

Utterly PERPLEXED; completely puzzled; totally

bewildered

62
Q

IGNOMINIOUS

A

Humiliating; shameful; disgraceful

63
Q

EUPHONY

A

Soothing or pleasant sounds; harmony;

64
Q

CACOPHONY

A

Harsh, clashing, jarring, grating sounds; disharmony

65
Q

OBSEQUIOUS

A

Promptly obedient, submissive; marked by or exhibiting FAWNING attentiveness

66
Q

TIMOROUS

A

Showing nervousness or fear

Direct Hits Vocabulary (11 decks)

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