Direct Hits 2 Core Vocabulary II Flashcards
diminutive
very small
trivial
trifling; unimportant; insignificant
minutiae
minor everyday details
exhort
to encourage; to urge; to give a pep talk; to implore
antipathy
strong dislike; ill will; the state of detesting someone; enmity; rancor
digress
to depart from a subject; to wander; to ramble
tenacious
characterized by holding fast; showing great determination in holding on to something that is valued
polarize
to create disunity or dissension; to break up into opposing factions or groups; to be divisive
nebulous
vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully developed form
analogy
a similarity or likeness between things—events, ideas, actions, trends—that are otherwise unrelated
analogous
comparable or similar in certain respects
ephemeral, fleeting, evanescent
very brief; lasting for a short time; transient
perennial
returning year after year; enduring
penchant, predilection, propensity
a liking or preference for something; a bent; an inclination
capricious, mercurial, fickle
very changeable; characterized by constantly shifting moods
boorish, uncouth, crass
vulgar; characterized by crude behavior and deplorable manners; unrefined
thwart, stymie
to stop; to frustrate; to prevent
adroit, deft, adept
to have or show great skill; dexterous; nimble
admonish
to earnestly caution; to warn another to avoid a course of action
incontrovertible
impossible to deny or disprove; demonstrably true
rapacious
voracious; ravenous; insatiable
callous
insensitive; unfeeling; emotionally hardened;
intrepid, undaunted
courageous; resolute; fearless
nonchalant
unflappable; having an air of casual indifference; coolly unconcerned; unflappable
itinerant
migrating from place to place; not sedentary
poignant
moving; touching; heartrending
impetus
a stimulus or encouragement that results in increased activity
bucolic, rustic, pastoral
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
equanimity
calmness; composure; even-tempered; poise
panache, verve, flamboyance, élan
great vigor and energy; dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
provocative
provoking discussion; stimulating controversy; arousing a reaction
placid
serene; calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
fortuitous
of accidental but fortunate occurrence; having unexpected good fortune
dispel
to drive away; scatter, as to dispel a misconception
viable, feasible
capable of being accomplished; possible
intemperate
lacking restraint; excessive
temperate
exercising moderation and restraint
superficial
shallow; lacking in depth; concerned with surface appearances
laud, extol, tout, acclaim
to praise; to applaud
dismissive
showing overt intentional indifference or disregard; rejecting
disparage
to speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; to belittle
cryptic
having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious
subtle
difficult to detect; faint; mysterious; likely to elude perception
disparity
an inequality; a gap; an imbalance
curtail
to cut short or reduce
innocuous
harmless; not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility; not inimical
diatribe, tirade, harangue
a bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack; a rant
