Direct Hits 1 Core Vocabulary I Flashcards
ambivalent
having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time
anomalous
atypical, full of anomalies
sarcastic, sardonic, snide
mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging
dearth, paucity
a scarcity or shortage of something
wry, droll
dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony
unconventional, unorthodox
not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors
meticulous, painstaking, fastidious
extremely careful; very exacting
audacious
fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold
indifferent, apathetic
marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant
diffident, self-effacing
hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring
pragmatic
practical; sensible; not idealistic or romantic
evocation
an imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth
recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant and defiant; obstinate; obdurate; refractory; disobedient
clandestine, surreptitious
secret; covert; not open; not aboveboard
affable, amiable, genial, gregarious
agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly
austere
having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ornate
austerity
great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack of adornment
altruism
unselfish concern for the welfare of others
ambiguity
the quality or state of having more than one possible meaning; doubtful; equivocal, ambiguous—unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive; dubious
ambiguous
unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive; dubious
upbraid, reproach, castigate
to express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure
nostalgia
a wistful, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past
conjecture
an inference based upon guesswork; a supposition
gaffe
a blunder; a faux pas; a clumsy social or diplomatic error
impasse
a deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
anachronism
the false assignment of an event, person, scene, or language to a time when the event, person, scene, or word did not exist
belie
to contradict; to prove false; used of appearances that are misrepresentative
mitigate, mollify, assuage, alleviate
to relieve; to lessen; to ease
covet
to strongly desire; to crave
covetous
grasping, eager to obtain something; avaricious
antithesis
the direct or exact opposite; extreme contrast; antipode
antithetical
exactly opposite; antipodal
prototype
an original model; an initial design
aloof
detached; distant physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart
trite, hackneyed, banal, platitudinous, insipid
unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichéd
antecedent
a preceding event; a forerunner; a precursor
plausible
believable; credible
implausible
unbelievable; incredible
prudent
careful; cautious; sensible
aesthetic
relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or pleasing
paradox
a seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth
enigmatic, inscrutable
mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
acquiesce
to comply; to agree; to give in
naïve, gullible
unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly credulous; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; ingenuous
autonomy
independence; self-governance
autonomous
self-governing; acting independently, or having the freedom to do so; not controlled by others;
futile
doomed to failure; completely useless; in vain
endemic
indigenous
ubiquitous, prevalent
characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; pervasive
pandemic
an epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large proportion of the population
fortitude
strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage
