Direct Hits: People Flashcards
charlatan
a fake; fraud; imposter; cheat
skeptic
a person who doubts; a skeptic asks questions and lacks faith
rhetorician
an eloquent writer or speaker; a master of rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing)
hedonist
a person who believes that pleasure is the chief goal of life
ascetic
a person who gives up material comforts and leads a life of self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
raconteur
a person who excels in telling anecdotes
iconoclast
a person who attacks and ridicules cherished figures, ideas, and institutions
dilettante
an amateur or dabbler; a person with a superficial interest in an art or branch of knowledge
partisan
a supporter of a person, party, or cause; a person with strong and perhaps biased beliefs
mentor
an advisor; teacher; guide
acolyte
a devoted follower
demagogue
a leader who appeals to the fears, emotions, and prejudices of the populace
automaton
a self-operating machine; a mindless follower; a person who acts in a mechanical fashion
recluse
a person who leads a secluded or solitary life
bungler
someone who is clumsy or inept; a person who makes mistakes because of incompetence
clairvoyant
Having the supposed power to see objects and events that cannot be perceived with the five traditional senses; a seer
prognosticator
a person who makes predictions based upon current information and data
pundit
an expert commentator; an authority who expresses his or her opinion, usually on political issues
zealot
a very enthusiastic person; a champion; a true believer, perhaps to an excessive degree; a fanatic
neophyte
a beginner; someone new to field or activity
novice
a beginner; someone new to field or activity
greenhorn
a beginner; someone new to field or activity
benefactor
a person who makes a gift or bequest
patron
a person who makes a gift or bequest
beneficiary
the recipient of funds, titles, property, and other benefits
dissembler
a liar and deceiver
prevaricator
a liar and deceiver
proponent
one who argues in support of something; an advocate; a champion of a cause
prodigy
a person with great talent; a young genius
oracle
a person considered to be oracular, that is a source of wise courses of prophetic opinions
misanthrope
a person who hates or distrusts humankind
innovator
a person who introduces something new
sycophant
a person who seeks favor by flattering people of influence; a toady; someone who behaves in an obsequious or servile manner
stoic
a person seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain; someone who is impassive or emotionless
reprobate
a morally unprincipled person
renegade
a disloyal person who betrays his or her cause; a traitor; a deserter
