Definition Flashcards
Pander
(verb)
gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.).
Example: Newspapers are pandering to people’s baser instincts
Grandstanding
(noun, derogatory)
The action of behaving in a showy or ostentatious manner in an attempt to attract favorable attention from spectators or the media.
Example: With nearly 14 million unemployed, this grandstanding over such a comparatively small retraining program (only 10,000 people) is downright insulting.
Interregnum
(noun)
a period when normal government is suspended, especially between successive reigns or regimes.
Example: Succession: “You are a weak monarch in a dangerous interregnum.”
Immaculate
(adjective)
- free from flaws or mistakes; perfect
- clean, spotless
Example:
- He was dressed in an immaculate white suit
- He gave an immaculate performance as the aging hero.
Impeccable
(adjective)
(of behavior, performance, or appearance) in accordance with the highest standards of propriety; faultless
Example: The author has an impeccable background in ethnography.
Apprehension
(noun)
anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
(adj.) apprehensive
Example:
It’s normal to feel a little apprehension before starting a new job.
Capstone
(noun)
someone’s greatest achievement or the greatest part of something
Example:
This leadership position represents the capstone of my career.
Trailblazer
(adjective)
a pioneer; an innovator
Example:
He was a trailblazer for many ideas that are now standard fare.
Tout
(verb)
- attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner
- to advertise, talk about, or praise something or someone repeatedly, especially as a way of encouraging people to like, accept, or buy something
Example:
There were hundreds of taxis at the airport, all touting for business/custom.
Retrench
(verb)
(of a company, government, or individual) reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty.
syn: cut back; tighten one’s belt
As a result of the recession, the company retrenched.
Barrelling
(verb)
(informal, North American) drive or move in a way that is so fast as to almost be out of control
Example:
We barreled across the Everglades.
Efficacy
(adjective)
the ability to produce a desired or intended result
Example:
There is little information on the efficacy of this treatment.
Plaguing
(verb)
cause continual trouble or distress to; to cause worry, pain, or difficulty to someone or something over a period of time
Example:
Financial problems have been plaguing their new business partners.
Eclectic
(adjective)
combine whatever seem the best or most useful things from many different areas or systems, rather than following a single system; composed of elements drawn from various sources
It was an eclectic mix of our ethnic foods and traditional Thanksgiving food.
Imminent
(adjective)
about to happen; coming or likely to happen very soon
Example:
He warned that an enemy missile attack was imminent.
Veracity
(noun)
conformity to facts; the quality of being true, honest, or accurate
Example:
The veracity of a story does not depend on how many people believe it to be true. Instead, we have to look at the facts to determine what really happened.
Ruminate
(verb)
think deeply about something
Example:
She ruminated for weeks about whether to tell him or not.
Strenuous
(adjective)
requiring or using great exertion (physical or mental effort)
Example:
His doctor advised him not to do any strenuous exercise.
Revile
(verb)
criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner
Example:
The judge was reviled in the newspapers for his opinions on rape.
Disparage
(verb)
regard or represent as being of little worth; to criticize someone or something in a way that shows you do not respect or value him, her, or it
Example:
He never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors.
Vindicate
(verb)
- clear (someone) of blame or suspicion; acquit
- to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it was wrong
Example:
- They said they welcomed the trial as a chance to vindicate themselves.
- The decision to include Morris in the team was completely vindicated when he scored two goals.
Circumvent
(verb)
find a way around (an obstacle); overcome (a problem or difficulty), typically in a clever and surreptitious way
(sym) avoid, get around
Example:
Ships were registered abroad to circumvent employment and safety regulations.
Eviscerate
(verb)
Make (an organization or system) much weaker or much less powerful
Example:
Democrats say the petition will eviscerate state government.
Thwart
(verb)
prevent (someone) from accomplishing something or something from happening
Example:
Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots’ strike
Dubious
(adjective)
- hesitating or doubting;
Example:
I’m dubious about his promises to change his ways.
- not to be relied upon; suspect
Example:
These claims are dubious and not scientifically proven.
Voracious
(adjective)
- wanting or devouring great quantities of food
Example:
He has a voracious appetite (= he eats a lot).
- having a very eager approach to an activity
Example:
He’s a voracious reader of historical novels (= he reads a lot of them eagerly and quickly).
Grievance
(noun)
a cause of distress (such as an unsatisfactory working condition) felt to afford reason for complaint or resistance; a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly.
Example:
He has a deep sense of grievance against his former employer.
Putrid
(adjective)
- (of organic matter) decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell.
Example:
What’s that putrid smell?
- (informal) very unpleasant; repulsive
Example:
A dress in a putrid shade of yellow
Minx
(noun)
(derogatory, humorous) an impudent, cunning, or boldly flirtatious girl or young woman; a girl or young woman who knows how to control other people to her advantage
Example:
You saucy little minx!
Tinge
(verb)
having a very slight amount of a colour or of a feeling
(coll.) a tinge of; tinge with
Example:
- Her dark hair is now tinged with grey.
- Suddenly her excitement was tinged with a faint sense of apprehension.
Ratfucker
(noun)
(vulgar) Someone who engages in (political) sabotage and dirty tricks
Example:
“I want the ratfucks who did this,” Sula said.
Unbecoming
(adj.)
not flattering, not behaving appropriately
Example:
He was charged with conduct unbecoming (to) an officer.
