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XX - Magoosh Vocab > Common Words > Flashcards

Common Words Flashcards

1
Q

extant

A

adj. still in existence (usually refers to documents)

Experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.

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2
Q

acrimony

A

n. bitterness and ill will

The acrimonious dispute between Kari and her father caused all to leave the room.

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3
Q

parsimonious

A

adj. extremely frugal
adj. miserly

Mom is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.

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4
Q

frugal

A

adj. not spending much money (but spending wisely)

Her mother was simply frugal.

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5
Q

prodigal

A

adj. rashly or wastefully extravagant

Few professional athletes do not fall prey to prodigality.

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6
Q

involved

A

adj. complicated, and difficult to comprehend

The lecture became so involved that their eyes glazed over.

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7
Q

demur

A

v. to object or show reluctance

He demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps.

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8
Q

harangue

A

n. a long pompous speech; a tirade
v. to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade

Anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy’s father’s harangues.

He was tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness.

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9
Q

enervate

A

v. to sap energy from

The intense sun would always leave him enervated.

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10
Q

qualify

A

v. to be eligible for a role, status, or benefit by meeting specific requirements
v. to make less severe; to limit (a statement)

He wouldn’t have qualified for the low-income scholarship.

Chris qualified his love for San Francisco.

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11
Q

mercurial

A

adj. (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood

Kendra’s moods were as mercurial as the weather.

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12
Q

belie

A

v. to give a false representation to; to misrepresent

The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel.

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13
Q

ingenuous

A

adj. to be naive and innocent

Four-months in South America had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl to a jaded urbanite.

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14
Q

ambiguous

A

adj. open to more than one interpretation

His directions were ambiguous.

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15
Q

disinterested

A

adj. unbiased; neutral

The jury must consist only of disinterested members.

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16
Q

laconic

A

adj. one who says very few words

She always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies.

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17
Q

vindicate

A

v. to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof

Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public.

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18
Q

equivocal

A

adj. confusing or ambiguous

The findings of the study were equivocal.

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19
Q

unbraid

A

v. to reproach; to scold

He had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.

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20
Q

wanting

A

adj. lacking

She did not think her vocabulary was wanting.

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21
Q

ambivalent

A

adj. mixed or conflicting emotions about something

Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam.

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22
Q

innocuous

A

adj. harmless and doesn’t produce any ill effects

Everyone found Nancy’s banter innocuous.

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23
Q

restive

A

adj. restless

The crowd grew restive.

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24
Q

commensurate

A

adj. to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount

The convicted felon’s life sentence was commensurate to the heinousness of his crime.

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25
Q

venality

A

n. the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption

Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality.

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26
Q

amalgam

A

n. a mixture of multiple things

The band’s music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz.

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27
Q

intimate

A

v. to suggest something subtly

Kari’s professors intimated to her parents that she was not suited to take singing lessons.

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28
Q

venerate

A

v. to respect deeply

Ozzy was venerated amongst Survivor fans.

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29
Q

amenable

A

adj. easily persuaded

Shirley was generally amenable and so her boyfriend was able to persuade her to go camping.

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30
Q

castigate

A

v. to reprimand harshly

Sheldon is known to castigate new recruits mercilessly.

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31
Q

amorphous

A

adj. shapeless

His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous.

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32
Q

parochial

A

adj. narrowly restricted in scope or outlook

His taste in sports was simply too parochial; he would only watch golf.

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33
Q

artful

A

adj. exhibiting artistic skill
adj. clever in a cunning way

Picasso is generally considered an artful member of the Cubist movement.

Bernie Madoff’s artful scheme stole billions of dollars from investors.

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34
Q

chastise

A

v. to reprimand harshly

Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother’s harsh words.

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35
Q

calumny

A

n. making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation

The air is thick with calumny.

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36
Q

veracious

A

adj. truthful

We elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious.

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37
Q

impertinent

A

adj. being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold

Dexter found the police officer’s questions impertinent.

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38
Q

gregarious

A

adj. to be likely to socialize with others

Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious.

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39
Q

undermine

A

adj. to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)

The student undermined the teacher’s authority.

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40
Q

prevaricate

A

v. to speak in an evasive way

The cynic quipped, “There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate”.

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41
Q

profligate

A

adj. spending resources recklessly or wastefully
n. someone who spends resources recklessly or wastefully

The composer Wagner was so profligate as to line all the walls of his apartment with pure silk.

Most lottery winners go from being frugal types to outright profligates.

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42
Q

auspicious

A

adj. favorable, the opposite of sinister

Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps.

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43
Q

maintain

A

v. to assert

The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate.

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44
Q

anomalous

A

adj. not normal

The extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous.

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45
Q

iconoclast

A

n. somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

Lady Gaga is an iconoclast for wearing a “meat dress” to a prominent awards show.

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46
Q

aberration

A

n. a deviation from what is normal or expected

Aberrations in climate have become the norm.

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47
Q

egregious

A

adj. standing out in negative way; shockingly bad

The dictator’s abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders demanded that he be tried.

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48
Q

betray

A

v. to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally

The gymnast’s quivering lip betraying his intense emotions.

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49
Q

aesthete

A

n. one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature

A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum.

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50
Q

apathetic

A

adj. marked by a lack of interest

Even normally apathetic students took interest.

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51
Q

didactic

A

adj. instructive (especially excessively)

The Death of Ivan is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.

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52
Q

mawkish

A

adj. overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting

The film was incredibly mawkish.

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53
Q

culpability

A

n. a state of guilt

He accepted culpability for Martha’s broken leg.

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54
Q

eschew

A

v. avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of

Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.

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55
Q

glut

A

n. an excessive supply
v. supply with an excess of

The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories.

Hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes.

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56
Q

engender

A

v. give rise to

They engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people.

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57
Q

bucolic

A

adj. relating to the pleasant aspects of the country

They once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land.

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58
Q

culminate

A

v. reach the highest or most decisive point

The 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.

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59
Q

entrenched

A

adj. fixed firmly or securely

Most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.

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60
Q

torpor

A

n. inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy

After work, I found my colleagues in a state of complete torpor.

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61
Q

gainsay

A

v. deny or contradict; speak against or oppose

I can’t gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented.

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62
Q

meticulous

A

adj. marked by extreme care in treatment of details

The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles.

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63
Q

gall

A

n. the trait of being rude and impertinent
n. feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

She had the gall to question her boss’s judgment.

In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers.

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64
Q

banal

A

adj. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class fell asleep.

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65
Q

deferential

A

adj. showing respect

Stand up straight and be deferential.

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66
Q

prescience

A

n. the power to foresee the future

Baxter’s warnings seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly.

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67
Q

fortuitous

A

adj. occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause

The sun and the moon seem to have the same fortuitous size in the sky.

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68
Q

impudent

A

adj. improperly forward or bold

In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order.

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69
Q

incisive

A

adj. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

The lawyer had an incisive mind.

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70
Q

audacious

A

adj. willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks

Bill audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.

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71
Q

superfluous

A

adj. serving no useful purpose
adj. more than is needed, desired, or required

How can we hope to stay open if we don’t eliminate all superfluous spending?

The third paragraph in your essay is superfluous.

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72
Q

rustic

A

adj. characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial

Despite the inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.

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73
Q

decorous

A

adj. characterized by good taste in manners and conduct

Sally’s parties are decorous affairs.

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74
Q

predilection

A

n. a strong liking

Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life.

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75
Q

cryptic

A

adj. mysterious or vague, usually intentionally

She only answered cryptically.

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76
Q

mitigate

A

v. make less severe or harsh
v. lessen the severity of an offense

I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife.

If it weren’t for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job.

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77
Q

inexorable

A

adj. impossible to stop or prevent

The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology.

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78
Q

volubility

A

n. the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

The professor’s volubility knows no bounds.

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79
Q

vociferous

A

adj. conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry

In giving a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn.

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80
Q

diffident

A

adj. showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence

As a young girl she was diffident and reserved.

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81
Q

lambast

A

v. criticize severely or angrily

The manager utterly lambasted the sales team.

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82
Q

reticent

A

adj. reluctant to draw attention to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk

Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.

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83
Q

preclude

A

v. keep from happening or arising; make impossible

The manager specified that all gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons entering the arena undetected.

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84
Q

frivolous

A

adj. not serious in content or attitude or behavior

Jake’s non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.

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85
Q

concede

A

v. acknowledge defeat
v. admit (to a wrongdoing)
v. give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another

I concede. You win!

Olivia conceded to having broken the window.

The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory.

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86
Q

dogmatic

A

adj. highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct

Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat.

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87
Q

recondite

A

adj. difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge

I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book.

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88
Q

conspicuous

A

adj. without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious

American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad.

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89
Q

exacerbate

A

v. make worse

Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold.

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90
Q

dictatorial

A

adj. expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler

The coach was dictatorial in his approach.

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91
Q

querulous

A

adj. habitually complaining

The querulous old woman was beginning to wear down the staff.

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92
Q

obscure

A

v. make unclear
adj. known by only a few

Mr. Smith’s big head obscured much of Her view.

Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors.

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93
Q

platitude

A

n. a trite or obvious remark

Many statements once regarded as wise are now regarded as mere platitudes.

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94
Q

germane

A

adj. relevant and appropriate

It wasn’t germane to the charges in the cases.

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95
Q

gossamer

A

adj. characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy

The gossamer wings of a butterfly, are extremely delicate.

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96
Q

chortle

A

v. to chuckle, laugh merrily

I could hear happy, chortling people.

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97
Q

perfidy

A

n. an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust

The lowest circles in were for those who had practiced perfidy.

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98
Q

aesthetic

A

adj. concerned with the appreciation of beauty
n. a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement

The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all.

The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic.

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99
Q

elucidate

A

v. make clearer and easier to understand

An expert elucidates finer points.

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100
Q

languid

A

adj. not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed

We spent a languid week lying around the house.

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101
Q

tenacious

A

adj. stubbornly unyielding

Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit the downfalls.

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102
Q

guileless

A

adj. free of deceit

At first I thought my niece was guileless.

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103
Q

subsume

A

v. contain or include
v. consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle

The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk.

La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels.

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104
Q

fallacious

A

adj. of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning

The belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious.

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105
Q

refractory

A

adj. stubbornly resistant to authority or control

Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners.

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106
Q

precocious

A

adj. characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)

She was a precocious chess prodigy.

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107
Q

heretic

A

n. a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)

Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.

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108
Q

vilify

A

v. spread negative information about

Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.

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109
Q

tantamount

A

adj. being essentially equal to something

In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt.

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110
Q

jingoism

A

n. fanatical patriotism

They maintain intense control over its population through jingoism.

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111
Q

derive

A

v. come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example
v. reason by deduction; establish by deduction

Many words in the English language are derived from Latin.

The investigator derived an important clue.

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112
Q

apathy

A

n. an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout.

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113
Q

forlorn

A

adj. marked by or showing hopelessness

Marcia was simply forlorn.

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114
Q

ephemeral

A

adj. lasting a very short time

The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral.

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115
Q

abstain

A

v. choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)

Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar.

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116
Q

belligerent

A

adj. characteristic of one eager to fight

His belligerent tone indicated otherwise.

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117
Q

circumvent

A

v. cleverly find a way out of one’s duties or obligations

One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a different grad school.

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118
Q

panache

A

n. distinctive and stylish elegance

Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long cape.

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119
Q

denote

A

v. be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning

Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes “stop”.

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120
Q

immutable

A

adj. not able to be changed

Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land.

121
Q

eclectic

A

adj. comprised of a variety of styles

Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music.

122
Q

haughty

A

adj. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

The haughty manager didn’t believe that any of his subordinates could have an insight as brilliant his own.

123
Q

spurious

A

adj. plausible but false

It is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.

124
Q

vehement

A

adj. marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions

Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.

125
Q

negligible

A

adj. so small as to be meaningless; insignificant

If you cram the night before it is likely to only have a negligible impact on your score.

126
Q

treacherous

A

adj. tending to betray
adj. dangerously unstable and unpredictable

Robert Ford is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murder.

The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across.

127
Q

insidious

A

adj. working in a subtle but destructive way

Plaque is insidious: each day it eats away at our enamel.

128
Q

contrive

A

v. to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery

Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college.

129
Q

unequivocal

A

adj. admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion

He was careful to make his position completely unequivocal.

130
Q

magnanimous

A

adj. noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful

In defeat he was complementary and in victory he was magnanimous.

131
Q

staunch

A

adj. firm and dependable especially in loyalty

No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now openly questions its goals.

132
Q

avaricious

A

adj. excessively greedy

Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins.

133
Q

derivative

A

adj. (or a creative product, e.g. music, writing, etc.) not original but drawing on the work of another person

Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office.

134
Q

ameliorate

A

v. make something bad better

It tells the story of a western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty.

135
Q

itinerant

A

adj. traveling from place to place to work

Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients’ homes.

136
Q

ascetic

A

adj. practicing self-denial
n. one who practices great self-denial

His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers.

Historically, ascetics like Ghandi are often considered wise men.

137
Q

quotidian

A

adj. found in the ordinary course of events

Phil gets so involved that he forgets quotidian concerns.

138
Q

mollify

A

v. to make someone angry less angry; placate

Harriat was unable to mollify Harry.

139
Q

disaffected

A

adj. discontented as toward authority

He quickly became disaffected and rebeled.

140
Q

supplant

A

v. take the place or move into the position of

A cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone.

141
Q

rudimentary

A

adj. being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles

Our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.

142
Q

jubilant

A

adj. full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success

My hard work paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.

143
Q

incongruous

A

adj. lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness

The economic inequality is incongruous with America’s ideals.

144
Q

juxtapose

A

v. place side by side

The appeal comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.

145
Q

frustrate

A

v. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

A number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan.

146
Q

travesty

A

n. an absurd presentation of something; a mockery

The historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty.

147
Q

delineate

A

v. describe in detail

The coach delineated the specifics of each stroke.

148
Q

eminent

A

adj. standing above others in quality or position

Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language.

149
Q

temperance

A

n. the trait of avoiding excesses

Welles wasn’t known for his temperance.

150
Q

confound

A

v. be confusing or perplexing to
v. mistake one thing for another

Though Harry loved numbers, he found calculus confounding.

Americans often confound sweet potatoes with yams.

151
Q

apocryphal

A

adj. being of questionable authenticity

The web is notorious for apocryphal stories.

152
Q

aberrant

A

adj. markedly different from an accepted norm

The police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.

153
Q

implausible

A

adj. describing a statement that is not believable

The teacher found the student’s excuse implausible.

154
Q

iconoclastic

A

adj. defying tradition or convention

Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist.

155
Q

provincial

A

adj. characteristic of the a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated

Her enthusiasm seemed provincial to her college classmates.

156
Q

opaque

A

adj. not clearly understood or expressed

The meaning of the professor’s new research was opaque to most people.

157
Q

abstruse

A

adj. difficult to understand; incomprehensible

Physics textbooks can seem abstruse to the uninitiated.

158
Q

hackneyed

A

adj. lacking significance through having been overused

She heard the lecturer’s hackneyed advice to “be true to yourself.”

159
Q

acerbic

A

adj. harsh in tone

Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters.

160
Q

intransigent

A

adj. unwilling to change one’s beliefs or course of action

The judge remained intransigent.

161
Q

petulant

A

adj. easily irritated or annoyed

He didn’t realize she was so petulant.

162
Q

exalt

A

v. praise or glorify

The teenagers exalted the rock star.

163
Q

incorrigible

A

adj. impervious to correction by punishment

Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel.

164
Q

ignoble

A

adj. dishonorable

Tthe World Series was rigged–an ignoble act.

165
Q

idiosyncrasy

A

n. a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

Peggy’s numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes.

166
Q

decorum

A

n. propriety in manners and conduct

“You will obey the rules of decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell,” said the judge.

167
Q

burgeon

A

v. grow and flourish

China’s housing market is burgeoning.

168
Q

bumbling

A

adj. lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands

The bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.

169
Q

reconcile

A

v. make (one thing) compatible with (another)

Peggy was unable to reconcile her friend Jane with the character she played.

170
Q

copious

A

adj. in abundant supply

In midsummer, there are copious popiscle stands at the beach.

171
Q

largess

A

n. extreme generosity and giving

Uncle Frank was known for his largess.

172
Q

denigrate

A

v. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat.

173
Q

pragmatic

A

adj. guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory

The Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach.

174
Q

exacting

A

adj. requiring and demanding accuracy

His childhood piano teacher was exacting.

175
Q

ingratiate

A

v. gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts

He decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.

176
Q

implacable

A

adj. incapable of making less angry or hostile

The coach was always implacable.

177
Q

pedantic

A

adj. marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects

His lectures were utterly pedantic.

178
Q

expound

A

v. add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth

The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department.

179
Q

espouse

A

v. to adopt or support an idea or cause

As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism.

180
Q

blatant

A

adj. without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious

Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers.

181
Q

pundit

A

n. someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field

Steven Pinker’s credentials are unquestioned as a pundit.

182
Q

admonitory

A

adj. serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective

The high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech.

183
Q

adamant

A

adj. refusing to change one’s mind

Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat.

184
Q

contingent

A

n. a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
adj. possible but not certain to occur

A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered.

Whether they can win again is contingent upon injury.

185
Q

tortuous

A

adj. marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward

The logic behind his side of the debate was tortuous.

186
Q

unscrupulous

A

adj. without scruples or principles

The lawyer was unscrupulous.

187
Q

soporific

A

adj. inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing

His monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.

188
Q

eradicate

A

v. to completely destroy

I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment.

189
Q

ostentatious

A

adj. intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar

Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious.

190
Q

forthcoming

A

adj. available when required or as promised
adj. at ease in talking to others

He was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill.

Larry was not a forthcoming husband.

191
Q

indifference

A

n. the trait of seeming not to care

In an effort to fight indifference, the college introduced a new grading system.

192
Q

construe

A

v. interpreted in a particular way

The author’s inability to take a side on the issue was construed as a sign of weakness.

193
Q

underscore

A

v. give extra weight to (a communication)

He underscored the importance of carrying enough water.

194
Q

laudable

A

adj. worthy of high praise

To say that Gandhi’s actions were laudable is the greatest understatement.

195
Q

discrete

A

adj. constituting a separate entity or part

It has split into two discrete, independent nations.

196
Q

exonerate

A

v. pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

The document clearly served to exonerate him of any charges.

197
Q

refute

A

v. prove to be false or incorrect

No one could refute his theories or propositions.

198
Q

myopic

A

adj. lacking foresight or imagination

The myopic managers couldn’t predict the changes in their industry.

199
Q

foment

A

v. try to stir up public opinion

He hoped to foment a general feeling of discontent.

200
Q

gauche

A

adj. lacking social polish

He says the most gauche things.

201
Q

circumscribe

A

v. restrict or confine

Their tour was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations.

202
Q

antithetical

A

adj. sharply contrasted in character or purpose

His involvement with these ideas is antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism preaches.

203
Q

inscrutable

A

adj. not easily understood; unfathomable

Many in the audience found it inscrutable.

204
Q

rescind

A

v. cancel officially

The man’s driver’s license was rescinded.

205
Q

tempered

A

adj. moderated in effect

The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered.

206
Q

obsequious

A

adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment’s peace all through the meal.

207
Q

arcane

A

adj. requiring secret or mysterious knowledge

Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals.

208
Q

munificent

A

adj. very generous

Uncle Charley was known for his munificence.

209
Q

ostracize

A

v. exclude from a community or group

He was ostracized from the church.

210
Q

ravenous

A

adj. extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities

It’s not surprising that he has a ravenous appetite.

211
Q

prolific

A

adj. intellectually productive

He was the most prolific composer.

212
Q

winsome

A

adj. charming in a childlike or naive way

She was winsome by nature.

213
Q

haphazard

A

adj. marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance

The greens on the county golf course seem entirely haphazard.

214
Q

prodigious

A

adj. so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

Babe Ruth’s homerun totals were truly prodigious.

215
Q

vacillate

A

v. be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

Some students vacillate between schools.

216
Q

hegemony

A

adj. dominance over a certain area

Spain had hegemony over the seas.

217
Q

insolent

A

adj. rude and arrogant

Lilian could not help herself from being insolent.

218
Q

sporadic

A

adj. recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances

The signals were at first sporadic.

219
Q

pedestrian

A

adj. lacking imagination

Her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns.

220
Q

lionize

A

v. assign great social importance to

Students learn to lionize Washington.

221
Q

austere

A

adj. practicing self-denial
adj. unadorned in style or appearance
adj. harsh in manner of temperament

His lifestyle could hardly be called austere.

Late Soviet architecture remained largely austere.

The principal of my elementary school was a cold, austere woman.

222
Q

pernicious

A

adj. exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way

The most successful viruses are pernicious.

223
Q

trite

A

adj. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

These trite expressions are uninteresting.

224
Q

sanction

A

v. give authority or permission to
n. a legal penalty for a forbidden action

The authorities have sanctioned the use of the reserve for public use.

International sanctions have been placed on certain shipping lanes.

225
Q

inveterate

A

adj. habitual

He is an inveterate smoker.

226
Q

tractable

A

adj. readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)

High school students are somewhat more tractable.

227
Q

taciturn

A

adj. habitually reserved and uncommunicative

The CFO is far more taciturn.

228
Q

scrupulous

A

adj. characterized by extreme care and great effort
adj. having a sense of right and wrong; principled

Because of his scrupulous nature, he was put in charge of numbering.

He was scrupulous and honest.

229
Q

irrevocable

A

adj. incapable of being retracted or revoked

It is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say.

230
Q

admonish

A

v. to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding

Security personel admonished the crowd.

231
Q

audacity

A

n. aggressive boldness in social situations

She had the audacity to criticize the findings.

232
Q

constituent

A

n. a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes
n. an abstract part of something

The mayor’s constituents are no longer happy with her performance.

The constituents of the metal alloy are nickel and tin.

233
Q

precipitous

A

adj. done with very great haste and without due deliberation

He expected a precipitous rise in the value of a “hot” tech stock.

234
Q

reverent

A

adj. feeling or showing profound respect or veneration

He always lectured about Brahms with a particularly reverent air.

235
Q

brazen

A

adj. unrestrained by convention or propriety

The drug cartel had the brazen confidence to do their business in the open.

236
Q

poignant

A

adj. emotionally touching

In the play’s most poignant moment, the mother began to cry.

237
Q

myriad

A

n. a large indefinite number

There are a myriad of internet sites that claim to boost energy.

238
Q

accolade

A

n. an award or praise granted as a special honor

He was not a fan of accolades.

239
Q

garrulous

A

adj. full of trivial conversation

Lynne was garrulous.

240
Q

sycophant

A

n. a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage

He surrounded himself with sycophants who would never dare criticize him.

241
Q

propitious

A

adj. presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success

I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be healing.

242
Q

intrepid

A

adj. fearless

Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain.

243
Q

dilettante

A

n. an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge

He is little more than a dilettante

244
Q

arbitrary

A

adj. based on a random, groundless decision

One of the arbitrary decrees is that all citizens pay weekly homage.

245
Q

subversive

A

adj. in opposition to a civil authority or government

They have begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites.

246
Q

resurgent

A

adj. rising again as to new life and vigor

The team is now resurgent.

247
Q

dispassionate

A

adj. unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice

A good scientist should be dispassionate.

248
Q

bolster

A

v. support and strengthen

The case for the suspect’s innocence was bolstered.

249
Q

harried

A

adj. troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances

She was constantly harried with little questions.

250
Q

mendacity

A

n. the tendency to be untruthful

I can forgive her for her mendacity.

251
Q

imprudent

A

adj. not wise

Hitler made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter.

252
Q

rebuke

A

v. criticize severely or angrily; censure

The police chief rebuked the two officers.

253
Q

misconstrue

A

v. interpret in the wrong way

He though that they would misconstrue his words.

254
Q

banality

A

n. a trite or obvious remark

The minister’s remark was a mere banality.

255
Q

posit

A

v. assume as fact

Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity.

256
Q

opulence

A

n. wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living

Russians are famous for their opulence.

257
Q

appease

A

v. pacify by acceding to the demands of

He tried to appease Hitler.

258
Q

efficacious

A

adj. producing the intended result

Maggie’s cough syrup was no longer efficacious.

259
Q

maladroit

A

adj. clumsy

As a child she was quite maladroit.

260
Q

jovial

A

adj. full of or showing high-spirited merriment

The political candidate and his supporters were jovial.

261
Q

craven

A

adj. pathetically cowardly

He crouched cravenly in the corner as the woman was mugged.

262
Q

economical

A

adj. avoiding waste, efficient

Journalists favor an economical style of writing.

263
Q

flux

A

n. a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event)

Everything about our strategy has been in a state of flux.

264
Q

truncate

A

v. reduce the length of something

The game was truncated when the rain began to fall.

265
Q

reproach

A

v. to express criticism towards

She didn’t want to reproach him for telling the truth.

266
Q

disseminate

A

v. cause to become widely known

Before the effects of anaethesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain.

267
Q

ignominious

A

adj. (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

His texting of revealing photographs was ignominious.

268
Q

nuance

A

n. a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude

The nuances involved in this case caused me to hire an outside consultant.

269
Q

nonplussed

A

v. unsure how to act or respond

Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off.

270
Q

timorous

A

adj. timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness

Her voice was timorous and quiet.

271
Q

maverick

A

n. someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action

Officer Kelly was a maverick.

272
Q

placate

A

v. cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

I was able to placate the angry mob of students.

273
Q

stringent

A

adj. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures

Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy.

274
Q

erudite

A

adj. having or showing profound knowledge

The library was typically were you would find erudite readers.

275
Q

fastidious

A

adj. overly concerned with details; fussy

She is fastidious about her shoes.

276
Q

polemic

A

n. a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.

The professor launched into a polemic.

277
Q

askance

A

adv. with a look of suspicion or disapproval

The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them.

278
Q

sullen

A

adj. showing a brooding ill humor

He often appeared sullen after losing.

279
Q

impartial

A

adj. free from undue bias or preconceived opinions

The judge was not impartial.

280
Q

antipathy

A

n. an intense feeling of dislike or aversion

Maria had an antipathy for tour groups.

281
Q

deleterious

A

adj. harmful to living things

The oil spill was deleterious to the fishing industry.

282
Q

transient

A

adj. lasting a very short time

The transient nature of deja vu makes it very difficult to study properly.

283
Q

anomaly

A

n. something that is not normal, standard, or expected

After finding an anomaly in the data, she had to conduct her experiment again.

284
Q

specious

A

adj. based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
adj. plausible but false

Almost every image on TV is specious.

He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results.

285
Q

indecorous

A

adj. not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous.

286
Q

arduous

A

adj. demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance

In order to deal with the arduous journey, truck drivers often survive on caffeinated drinks.

287
Q

furtive

A

adj. marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

George and his boss felt the need to be as furtive as possible.

288
Q

mundane

A

adj. repetitive and boring; not spiritual
adj. relating to the ordinary world

Nancy found doing dishes a thoroughly mundane task.

He is also concerned with mundane events.

289
Q

edifying

A

adj. enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage improvement

I recently read an article about whether good literature is edifying or not.

290
Q

esoteric

A

adj. understandable by only an enlightened inner circle

Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most.

291
Q

contrition

A

n. the feeling of remorse or guilt

Those who show contrition during their prison terms often get shortened sentences.

292
Q

elicit

A

v. call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

Just smiling can elicit feelings of happiness.

293
Q

dilatory

A

adj. wasting time

Lawyers use dilatory tactics.

294
Q

capricious

A

adj. determined by chance or impulse rather than reason

Our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around.

295
Q

duress

A

n. compulsory force or threat

The witness said he signed the contract under duress.

296
Q

pejorative

A

adj. expressing disapproval (usu. refers to a term)

Most psychologists object to the pejorative term “shrink”.

297
Q

repudiate

A

v. reject as untrue or unfounded

He did everything he could to repudiate the rumors.

298
Q

inimical

A

adj. hostile (usually describes conditions or environments)

Venus is inimical to any form of life.

XX - Magoosh Vocab (4 decks)

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