Common Words Flashcards
extant
adj. still in existence (usually refers to documents)
Experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.
acrimony
n. bitterness and ill will
The acrimonious dispute between Kari and her father caused all to leave the room.
parsimonious
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.
frugal
adj. not spending much money (but spending wisely)
Her mother was simply frugal.
prodigal
adj. rashly or wastefully extravagant
Few professional athletes do not fall prey to prodigality.
involved
adj. complicated, and difficult to comprehend
The lecture became so involved that their eyes glazed over.
demur
v. to object or show reluctance
He demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps.
harangue
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.
enervate
v. to sap energy from
The intense sun would always leave him enervated.
qualify
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.
mercurial
adj. (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood
Kendra’s moods were as mercurial as the weather.
belie
v. to give a false representation to; to misrepresent
The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel.
ingenuous
adj. to be naive and innocent
Four-months in South America had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl to a jaded urbanite.
ambiguous
adj. open to more than one interpretation
His directions were ambiguous.
disinterested
adj. unbiased; neutral
The jury must consist only of disinterested members.
laconic
adj. one who says very few words
She always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies.
vindicate
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.
equivocal
adj. confusing or ambiguous
The findings of the study were equivocal.
unbraid
v. to reproach; to scold
He had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.
wanting
adj. lacking
She did not think her vocabulary was wanting.
ambivalent
adj. mixed or conflicting emotions about something
Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam.
innocuous
adj. harmless and doesn’t produce any ill effects
Everyone found Nancy’s banter innocuous.
restive
adj. restless
The crowd grew restive.
commensurate
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.
venality
n. the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality.
amalgam
n. a mixture of multiple things
The band’s music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz.
intimate
v. to suggest something subtly
Kari’s professors intimated to her parents that she was not suited to take singing lessons.
venerate
v. to respect deeply
Ozzy was venerated amongst Survivor fans.
amenable
adj. easily persuaded
Shirley was generally amenable and so her boyfriend was able to persuade her to go camping.
castigate
v. to reprimand harshly
Sheldon is known to castigate new recruits mercilessly.
amorphous
adj. shapeless
His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous.
parochial
adj. narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
His taste in sports was simply too parochial; he would only watch golf.
artful
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.
chastise
v. to reprimand harshly
Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother’s harsh words.
calumny
n. making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation
The air is thick with calumny.
veracious
adj. truthful
We elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious.
impertinent
adj. being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
Dexter found the police officer’s questions impertinent.
gregarious
adj. to be likely to socialize with others
Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious.
undermine
adj. to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)
The student undermined the teacher’s authority.
prevaricate
v. to speak in an evasive way
The cynic quipped, “There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate”.
profligate
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.
auspicious
adj. favorable, the opposite of sinister
Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps.
maintain
v. to assert
The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate.
anomalous
adj. not normal
The extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous.
iconoclast
n. somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Lady Gaga is an iconoclast for wearing a “meat dress” to a prominent awards show.
aberration
n. a deviation from what is normal or expected
Aberrations in climate have become the norm.
egregious
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.
betray
v. to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally
The gymnast’s quivering lip betraying his intense emotions.
aesthete
n. one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature
A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum.
apathetic
adj. marked by a lack of interest
Even normally apathetic students took interest.
didactic
adj. instructive (especially excessively)
The Death of Ivan is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.
mawkish
adj. overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
The film was incredibly mawkish.
culpability
n. a state of guilt
He accepted culpability for Martha’s broken leg.
eschew
v. avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.
glut
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.
engender
v. give rise to
They engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people.
bucolic
adj. relating to the pleasant aspects of the country
They once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land.
culminate
v. reach the highest or most decisive point
The 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.
entrenched
adj. fixed firmly or securely
Most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.
torpor
n. inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy
After work, I found my colleagues in a state of complete torpor.
gainsay
v. deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
I can’t gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented.
meticulous
adj. marked by extreme care in treatment of details
The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles.
gall
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.
banal
adj. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class fell asleep.
deferential
adj. showing respect
Stand up straight and be deferential.
prescience
n. the power to foresee the future
Baxter’s warnings seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly.
fortuitous
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.
impudent
adj. improperly forward or bold
In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order.
incisive
adj. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
The lawyer had an incisive mind.
audacious
adj. willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks
Bill audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.
superfluous
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.
rustic
adj. characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
Despite the inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.
decorous
adj. characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
Sally’s parties are decorous affairs.
predilection
n. a strong liking
Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life.
cryptic
adj. mysterious or vague, usually intentionally
She only answered cryptically.
mitigate
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.
inexorable
adj. impossible to stop or prevent
The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology.
volubility
n. the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
The professor’s volubility knows no bounds.
vociferous
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.
diffident
adj. showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
As a young girl she was diffident and reserved.
lambast
v. criticize severely or angrily
The manager utterly lambasted the sales team.
reticent
adj. reluctant to draw attention to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk
Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.
preclude
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.
frivolous
adj. not serious in content or attitude or behavior
Jake’s non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.
concede
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.
dogmatic
adj. highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct
Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat.
recondite
adj. difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book.
conspicuous
adj. without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad.
exacerbate
v. make worse
Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold.
dictatorial
adj. expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler
The coach was dictatorial in his approach.
querulous
adj. habitually complaining
The querulous old woman was beginning to wear down the staff.
obscure
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.
platitude
n. a trite or obvious remark
Many statements once regarded as wise are now regarded as mere platitudes.
germane
adj. relevant and appropriate
It wasn’t germane to the charges in the cases.
gossamer
adj. characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
The gossamer wings of a butterfly, are extremely delicate.
chortle
v. to chuckle, laugh merrily
I could hear happy, chortling people.
perfidy
n. an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
The lowest circles in were for those who had practiced perfidy.
aesthetic
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.
elucidate
v. make clearer and easier to understand
An expert elucidates finer points.
languid
adj. not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
We spent a languid week lying around the house.
tenacious
adj. stubbornly unyielding
Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit the downfalls.
guileless
adj. free of deceit
At first I thought my niece was guileless.
subsume
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.
fallacious
adj. of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
The belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious.
refractory
adj. stubbornly resistant to authority or control
Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners.
precocious
adj. characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
She was a precocious chess prodigy.
heretic
n. a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.
vilify
v. spread negative information about
Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.
tantamount
adj. being essentially equal to something
In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt.
jingoism
n. fanatical patriotism
They maintain intense control over its population through jingoism.
derive
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.
apathy
n. an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout.
forlorn
adj. marked by or showing hopelessness
Marcia was simply forlorn.
ephemeral
adj. lasting a very short time
The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral.
abstain
v. choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)
Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar.
belligerent
adj. characteristic of one eager to fight
His belligerent tone indicated otherwise.
circumvent
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.
panache
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.
denote
v. be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes “stop”.
immutable
adj. not able to be changed
Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land.
eclectic
adj. comprised of a variety of styles
Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music.
haughty
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.
spurious
adj. plausible but false
It is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.
vehement
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.
negligible
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.
treacherous
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.
insidious
adj. working in a subtle but destructive way
Plaque is insidious: each day it eats away at our enamel.
contrive
v. to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college.
unequivocal
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.
magnanimous
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.
staunch
adj. firm and dependable especially in loyalty
No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now openly questions its goals.
avaricious
adj. excessively greedy
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins.
derivative
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.
ameliorate
v. make something bad better
It tells the story of a western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty.
itinerant
adj. traveling from place to place to work
Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients’ homes.
ascetic
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.
quotidian
adj. found in the ordinary course of events
Phil gets so involved that he forgets quotidian concerns.
mollify
v. to make someone angry less angry; placate
Harriat was unable to mollify Harry.
disaffected
adj. discontented as toward authority
He quickly became disaffected and rebeled.
supplant
v. take the place or move into the position of
A cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone.
rudimentary
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.
jubilant
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.
incongruous
adj. lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
The economic inequality is incongruous with America’s ideals.
juxtapose
v. place side by side
The appeal comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.
frustrate
v. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
A number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan.
travesty
n. an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
The historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty.
delineate
v. describe in detail
The coach delineated the specifics of each stroke.
eminent
adj. standing above others in quality or position
Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language.
temperance
n. the trait of avoiding excesses
Welles wasn’t known for his temperance.
confound
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.
apocryphal
adj. being of questionable authenticity
The web is notorious for apocryphal stories.
aberrant
adj. markedly different from an accepted norm
The police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.
implausible
adj. describing a statement that is not believable
The teacher found the student’s excuse implausible.
iconoclastic
adj. defying tradition or convention
Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist.
provincial
adj. characteristic of the a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Her enthusiasm seemed provincial to her college classmates.
opaque
adj. not clearly understood or expressed
The meaning of the professor’s new research was opaque to most people.
abstruse
adj. difficult to understand; incomprehensible
Physics textbooks can seem abstruse to the uninitiated.
hackneyed
adj. lacking significance through having been overused
She heard the lecturer’s hackneyed advice to “be true to yourself.”
acerbic
adj. harsh in tone
Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters.
intransigent
adj. unwilling to change one’s beliefs or course of action
The judge remained intransigent.
petulant
adj. easily irritated or annoyed
He didn’t realize she was so petulant.
exalt
v. praise or glorify
The teenagers exalted the rock star.
incorrigible
adj. impervious to correction by punishment
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel.
ignoble
adj. dishonorable
Tthe World Series was rigged–an ignoble act.
idiosyncrasy
n. a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
Peggy’s numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes.
decorum
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.
burgeon
v. grow and flourish
China’s housing market is burgeoning.
bumbling
adj. lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
The bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.
reconcile
v. make (one thing) compatible with (another)
Peggy was unable to reconcile her friend Jane with the character she played.
copious
adj. in abundant supply
In midsummer, there are copious popiscle stands at the beach.
largess
n. extreme generosity and giving
Uncle Frank was known for his largess.
denigrate
v. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat.
pragmatic
adj. guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
The Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach.
exacting
adj. requiring and demanding accuracy
His childhood piano teacher was exacting.
ingratiate
v. gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
He decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.
implacable
adj. incapable of making less angry or hostile
The coach was always implacable.
pedantic
adj. marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
His lectures were utterly pedantic.
expound
v. add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department.
espouse
v. to adopt or support an idea or cause
As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism.
blatant
adj. without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers.
pundit
n. someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
Steven Pinker’s credentials are unquestioned as a pundit.
admonitory
adj. serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
The high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech.
adamant
adj. refusing to change one’s mind
Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat.
contingent
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.
tortuous
adj. marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
The logic behind his side of the debate was tortuous.
unscrupulous
adj. without scruples or principles
The lawyer was unscrupulous.
soporific
adj. inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
His monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.
eradicate
v. to completely destroy
I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment.
ostentatious
adj. intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar
Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious.
forthcoming
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.
indifference
n. the trait of seeming not to care
In an effort to fight indifference, the college introduced a new grading system.
construe
v. interpreted in a particular way
The author’s inability to take a side on the issue was construed as a sign of weakness.
underscore
v. give extra weight to (a communication)
He underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
laudable
adj. worthy of high praise
To say that Gandhi’s actions were laudable is the greatest understatement.
discrete
adj. constituting a separate entity or part
It has split into two discrete, independent nations.
exonerate
v. pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
The document clearly served to exonerate him of any charges.
refute
v. prove to be false or incorrect
No one could refute his theories or propositions.
myopic
adj. lacking foresight or imagination
The myopic managers couldn’t predict the changes in their industry.
foment
v. try to stir up public opinion
He hoped to foment a general feeling of discontent.
gauche
adj. lacking social polish
He says the most gauche things.
circumscribe
v. restrict or confine
Their tour was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations.
antithetical
adj. sharply contrasted in character or purpose
His involvement with these ideas is antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism preaches.
inscrutable
adj. not easily understood; unfathomable
Many in the audience found it inscrutable.
rescind
v. cancel officially
The man’s driver’s license was rescinded.
tempered
adj. moderated in effect
The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered.
obsequious
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.
arcane
adj. requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals.
munificent
adj. very generous
Uncle Charley was known for his munificence.
ostracize
v. exclude from a community or group
He was ostracized from the church.
ravenous
adj. extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities
It’s not surprising that he has a ravenous appetite.
prolific
adj. intellectually productive
He was the most prolific composer.
winsome
adj. charming in a childlike or naive way
She was winsome by nature.
haphazard
adj. marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance
The greens on the county golf course seem entirely haphazard.
prodigious
adj. so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
Babe Ruth’s homerun totals were truly prodigious.
vacillate
v. be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
Some students vacillate between schools.
hegemony
adj. dominance over a certain area
Spain had hegemony over the seas.
insolent
adj. rude and arrogant
Lilian could not help herself from being insolent.
sporadic
adj. recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
The signals were at first sporadic.
pedestrian
adj. lacking imagination
Her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns.
lionize
v. assign great social importance to
Students learn to lionize Washington.
austere
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.
pernicious
adj. exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way
The most successful viruses are pernicious.
trite
adj. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
These trite expressions are uninteresting.
sanction
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.
inveterate
adj. habitual
He is an inveterate smoker.
tractable
adj. readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
High school students are somewhat more tractable.
taciturn
adj. habitually reserved and uncommunicative
The CFO is far more taciturn.
scrupulous
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.
irrevocable
adj. incapable of being retracted or revoked
It is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say.
admonish
v. to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding
Security personel admonished the crowd.
audacity
n. aggressive boldness in social situations
She had the audacity to criticize the findings.
constituent
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.
precipitous
adj. done with very great haste and without due deliberation
He expected a precipitous rise in the value of a “hot” tech stock.
reverent
adj. feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
He always lectured about Brahms with a particularly reverent air.
brazen
adj. unrestrained by convention or propriety
The drug cartel had the brazen confidence to do their business in the open.
poignant
adj. emotionally touching
In the play’s most poignant moment, the mother began to cry.
myriad
n. a large indefinite number
There are a myriad of internet sites that claim to boost energy.
accolade
n. an award or praise granted as a special honor
He was not a fan of accolades.
garrulous
adj. full of trivial conversation
Lynne was garrulous.
sycophant
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.
propitious
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.
intrepid
adj. fearless
Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain.
dilettante
n. an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
He is little more than a dilettante
arbitrary
adj. based on a random, groundless decision
One of the arbitrary decrees is that all citizens pay weekly homage.
subversive
adj. in opposition to a civil authority or government
They have begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites.
resurgent
adj. rising again as to new life and vigor
The team is now resurgent.
dispassionate
adj. unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
A good scientist should be dispassionate.
bolster
v. support and strengthen
The case for the suspect’s innocence was bolstered.
harried
adj. troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
She was constantly harried with little questions.
mendacity
n. the tendency to be untruthful
I can forgive her for her mendacity.
imprudent
adj. not wise
Hitler made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter.
rebuke
v. criticize severely or angrily; censure
The police chief rebuked the two officers.
misconstrue
v. interpret in the wrong way
He though that they would misconstrue his words.
banality
n. a trite or obvious remark
The minister’s remark was a mere banality.
posit
v. assume as fact
Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity.
opulence
n. wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
Russians are famous for their opulence.
appease
v. pacify by acceding to the demands of
He tried to appease Hitler.
efficacious
adj. producing the intended result
Maggie’s cough syrup was no longer efficacious.
maladroit
adj. clumsy
As a child she was quite maladroit.
jovial
adj. full of or showing high-spirited merriment
The political candidate and his supporters were jovial.
craven
adj. pathetically cowardly
He crouched cravenly in the corner as the woman was mugged.
economical
adj. avoiding waste, efficient
Journalists favor an economical style of writing.
flux
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.
truncate
v. reduce the length of something
The game was truncated when the rain began to fall.
reproach
v. to express criticism towards
She didn’t want to reproach him for telling the truth.
disseminate
v. cause to become widely known
Before the effects of anaethesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain.
ignominious
adj. (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
His texting of revealing photographs was ignominious.
nuance
n. a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
The nuances involved in this case caused me to hire an outside consultant.
nonplussed
v. unsure how to act or respond
Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off.
timorous
adj. timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness
Her voice was timorous and quiet.
maverick
n. someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
Officer Kelly was a maverick.
placate
v. cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
I was able to placate the angry mob of students.
stringent
adj. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy.
erudite
adj. having or showing profound knowledge
The library was typically were you would find erudite readers.
fastidious
adj. overly concerned with details; fussy
She is fastidious about her shoes.
polemic
n. a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
The professor launched into a polemic.
askance
adv. with a look of suspicion or disapproval
The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them.
sullen
adj. showing a brooding ill humor
He often appeared sullen after losing.
impartial
adj. free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
The judge was not impartial.
antipathy
n. an intense feeling of dislike or aversion
Maria had an antipathy for tour groups.
deleterious
adj. harmful to living things
The oil spill was deleterious to the fishing industry.
transient
adj. lasting a very short time
The transient nature of deja vu makes it very difficult to study properly.
anomaly
n. something that is not normal, standard, or expected
After finding an anomaly in the data, she had to conduct her experiment again.
specious
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.
indecorous
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.
arduous
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.
furtive
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.
mundane
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.
edifying
adj. enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage improvement
I recently read an article about whether good literature is edifying or not.
esoteric
adj. understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most.
contrition
n. the feeling of remorse or guilt
Those who show contrition during their prison terms often get shortened sentences.
elicit
v. call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
Just smiling can elicit feelings of happiness.
dilatory
adj. wasting time
Lawyers use dilatory tactics.
capricious
adj. determined by chance or impulse rather than reason
Our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around.
duress
n. compulsory force or threat
The witness said he signed the contract under duress.
pejorative
adj. expressing disapproval (usu. refers to a term)
Most psychologists object to the pejorative term “shrink”.
repudiate
v. reject as untrue or unfounded
He did everything he could to repudiate the rumors.
inimical
adj. hostile (usually describes conditions or environments)
Venus is inimical to any form of life.
