Direct Hits: Core Vocab Flashcards
ambivalent
having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time
anomaly
deviation from the norm or what is expected
anomalous
atypical, full of anomalies
sarcastic
mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging
snide
mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging
sardonic
mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging
dearth
a scarcity of something
paucity
a scarcity of something
prattle
to speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly
wry
dry humor
droll
dry humor
unorthodox
not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors
meticulous
extremely careful; very exacting
painstaking
extremely careful; very exacting
fastidious
extremely careful; very exacting
audacious
fearless, often recklessly daring; very bold
apathetic
marked by a lack of interest or concern
diffident
hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence
self-effacing
hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence
pragmatic
practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic
evocation
an imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth
presumptuous
taking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold
recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant and defiant; obstinate; obdurate; refractory; disobedient
obstinate
stubbornly resistant and defiant
obdurate
stubbornly resistant and defiant
refractory
stubbornly resistant and defiant
boon
a timely benefit; a blessing
bane
a source of harm and ruin
clandestine
secret; covert
surreptitious
secret; covert
gregarious
agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly; affable; amiable; genial
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 state or quality of having more than one possible meaning
ambiguous
unclear; uncertain; open to more than one possible interpretation; not definitive
upbraid
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
castigate
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
reproach
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
censure
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
nostalgia
a wistful, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past
auspicious
very favorable
propitious
very favorable; auspicious
morose
very depressed; despondent; mournful
impasse
a deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
anachronism
false assignment of an event, person, or object to a time period when it doesn’t exist
belie
to contradict; to misrepresent; to prove to be false
mitigate
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
mollify
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
assuage
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
alleviate
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
covet
to strongly desire; to crave
covetous
grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something
antithesis
exact opposite; extreme contrast
antithetical
exactly opposite; antipodal
trite
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
hackneyed
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
banal
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
platitudinous
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
insipid
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
antecedent
a preceding event; a forerunner
plausible
believable; credible
implausible
unbelievable; incredible
prudent
careful; cautious; sensible
aesthetic
pertaining to beauty
paradox
a seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth
enigmatic
mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
inscrutable
mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
acquiesce
to comply; agree; give in
autonomy
independent; self-governing
futile
completely useless; doomed to failure; in vain
indigenous
native to an area
endemic
native to an area
ubiquitous
characterized by being everywhere
prevalent
characterized by being everywhere
omnipresent
characterized by being everywhere
pandemic
an epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large portion of the population
fortitude
strength of mind that allows one to endure in times of pain or adversity with courage
diminutive
very small
trivial
trifling; unimportant; insignificant
minutiae
minor everyday details
exhort
to encourage; urge; implore
antipathy
strong dislike; ill will; the state of detesting something; rancor; enmity
digress
to wander from a subject
tenacious
characterized by holding fast; showing great determination in holding on to something valued
indulgent
characterized by excessive generosity; overly tolerant
polarize
to create disunity or dissension; to break up into opposing factions or group; to be divisive
nebulous
vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully developed form
analogous
comparable in certain respects
ephemeral
very brief; lasting for a short time
fleeting
very brief; lasting for a short time
perennial
returning year after year; enduring
penchant
a natural liking or preference for something; inclination; propensity
predilection
a natural liking or preference for something; inclination; propensity
capricious
very changeable; fickle
mercurial
characterized by constantly-shifting moods
boorish
vulgar; crude, deplorable
crass
vulgar; crude, deplorable
uncouth
vulgar; crude, deplorable
indignant
characterized by outrage at something perceived as unjust
innuendo
a veiled reference; an insinuation
thwart
to frustrate; to stop; to prevent
stymie
to frustrate; to stop; to prevent
adroit
skillful; dexterous; nimble
adept
skillful; dexterous; nimble
deft
skillful; dexterous; nimble
admonish
to earnestly caution; to warn another to avoid a course of action
earnest
resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
incontrovertible
indisputable; beyond doubt
voracious
having a huge insatiable appetite
callous
emotionally hardened; insensitive; unfeeling
intrepid
courageous, resolute, and fearless
nonchalant
having an air of casual indifference
convoluted
winding, twisting, and difficult to understand; intricate
itinerant
migrating from place to place; not sedentary
poignant
moving; touching; heartrending
impetus
a stimulus or encouragement that results in increased activity
bucolic
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
rustic
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
pastoral
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
equanimity
calmness; composure; even-temperedness; poise
verve
great vigor and energy;
panache
dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
provocative
provoking discussion; stimulating controversy; arousing a reaction
placid
calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
serene
calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
fortuitous
of accidental but fortunate occurrence; having unexpected good fortune
dispel
to drive away; scatter a misconception
amalgam
mixture; blend; combination of different elements
viable
capable of being accomplished; possible
feasible
capable of being accomplished; possible
anguish
agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
intemperate
lacking restraint; excessive
temperate
exercising moderation or restraint
superficial
shallow; lacking in depth; concerned with surface appearances
laud
to praise, applaud
extol
to praise, applaud
tout
to praise, applaud
acclaim
to praise, applaud
dismissive
showing indifference or disregard; rejecting
disparage
to speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle
pompous
filled with excessive self-importance; pretentious; ostentatious
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; unlikely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility
diatribe
a bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack
tirade
a bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack
