“common” words Flashcards

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1
Q

restive

A

restless

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2
Q

egregious

A

standing out in a negative way

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3
Q

auspicious

A

favourable; the opposite of sinister

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4
Q

acrimony

A

bitterness and ill will

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5
Q

vindicate

A

to clear of accusation or blame

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6
Q

prevaricate

A

to speak in an evasive way

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7
Q

equivocal

A

confusing or mysterious

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8
Q

commensurate

A

to be in proportion

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9
Q

laconic

A

using few words; not talkative

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10
Q

innocuous

A

harmless; producing no ill effects

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11
Q

calumny

A

making a false statement meant to injure someone’s reputation

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12
Q

censure

A

express strong disapproval

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13
Q

galvanize

A

to excite someone to action

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14
Q

venerate

A

to respect deeply

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15
Q

parochial

A

restricted in scope

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16
Q

upbraid

A

to scold

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17
Q

impertinent

A

being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold

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18
Q

demur

A

to object; show reluctance

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19
Q

venality

A

being susceptible to bribes and corruption

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20
Q

volubility

A

the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

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21
Q

incisive

A

having the ability to draw fine distinctions

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22
Q

mawkish

A

overly sentimental to the point where it is disgusting

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23
Q

platitude

A

an obvious remark

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24
Q

perfidy

A

a deliberate act of betrayal; a breach of trust

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25
Q

torpor

A

inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigour/energy

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26
Q

predilection

A

a strong liking

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27
Q

bucolic

A

relating to the pleasant aspects of the country

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28
Q

recondite

A

difficult to comprehend; inaccessible to someone of ordinary knowledge

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29
Q

fortuitous

A

occurring by chance/happy coincidence

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30
Q

diffident

A

reserved; lacking self-confidence

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31
Q

querulous

A

habitually complaining

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32
Q

reticent

A

not inclined to talk; unlikely to share one’s feelings

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33
Q

germane

A

relevant & appropriate

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34
Q

decorous

A

having good taste in manners & conduct

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35
Q

impudent

A

improperly forward or bold

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36
Q

lambash

A

criticize severely or angrily

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37
Q

subsume

A

contain or include

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38
Q

itinerant

A

travelling from place to place for work

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39
Q

disaffected

A

discontented towards authority

40
Q

vilify

A

spread negative information about

41
Q

supplant

A

take the place of; move into the position of

42
Q

ascetic

A

practicing self-denial (eg. Gandhi)

43
Q

languid

A

not inclined toward physical effort; slow to move; relaxed

44
Q

mollify

A

make less angry

45
Q

guileless

A

free of deceit

46
Q

magnanimous

A

noble and generous

47
Q

forlorn

A

showing hopelessness

48
Q

abstruse

A

difficult to understand; incomprehensible

49
Q

exalt

A

praise or glorify

50
Q

ignoble

A

dishonourable

51
Q

soporific

A

sleep-inducing

52
Q

denigrate

A

charge falsely with malicious intent

53
Q

implacable

A

incapable of making less angry

54
Q

admonitory

A

serving to warn

55
Q

tortuous

A

marked by lots of bends; not straightforward

56
Q

ostentatious

A

intended to attract notice; tawdry or vulgar

57
Q

myopic

A

lacking foresight or imagination

58
Q

apocryphal

A

of questionable authenticity

59
Q

intransigent

A

unwilling to change one’s beliefs or course of action

60
Q

petulant

A

easily irritated or annoyed

61
Q

pernicious

A

exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden way

62
Q

repudiate

A

reject as untrue or unfounded

63
Q

propitious

A

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

64
Q

winsome

A

charming in a childlike way

65
Q

inveterate

A

habitual

66
Q

sycophant

A

a person who tries to please others to gain a personal advantage

67
Q

inimical

A

hostile (condition or environment)

68
Q

austere

A

practicing self-denial; unadorned I’m style or appearance; harsh in temper

69
Q

foment

A

try to stir up public opinion

70
Q

munificent

A

very generous

71
Q

hegemony

A

dominance over a certain area

72
Q

obsequious

A

trying to gain favour through flattery (it’s the waiter one)

73
Q

gauche

A

lacking social polish

74
Q

precipitous

A

done with great haste, without due deliberation

75
Q

intrepid

A

fearless

76
Q

taciturn

A

consistently reserved and uncommunicative

77
Q

insolent

A

rude and arrogant

78
Q

disseminate

A

cause to become widely known

79
Q

capricious

A

determined by chance or impulse rather than necessity or reason

80
Q

ignominious

A

deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

81
Q

furtive

A

quiet & caution & secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

82
Q

specious

A

deceptively pleasing; plausible but false

83
Q

polemic

A

strong verbal or written attack

84
Q

contrition

A

the feeling of remorse or guilt from doing something bad

85
Q

askance

A

with a look of suspicion or disapproval

86
Q

reproach

A

express criticism towards

87
Q

harried

A

always troubled with petty annoyances

88
Q

dilatory

A

wasting time

89
Q

fastidious

A

overly concerned with details; fussy

90
Q

pejorative

A

expressing disapproval

91
Q

edifying

A

enlightening or uplifting; encouraging intellectual or moral improvement

92
Q

mendacity

A

tendency to be untruthful

93
Q

rebuke

A

criticize severely or angrily

94
Q

antipathy

A

an intense feeling of dislike or aversion

95
Q

craven

A

pathetically cowardly