Direct Hits Volume 2 Flashcards
draconian
very strict laws and rules
laconic, terse
very concise
sophistry
a deliberately misleading argument
chimerical
a fantastic scheme
ostracize
to exclude from group
dirge
a funeral hymn, mournful music
maudlin
tearfully emotional, excessively sentimental
quixotic
foolishly impractical
martinent
strict disciplinarian
debacle
complete failure
galvanize
to stir into action
picayune
something of small value
gerrymander
to divide a district so as to give one side an advantage
serendipity
an accidental but fortunate discovery
nadir
lowest point
expunge, expurgate
delete
extricate
to get our of difficult situation
exorbitant
unreasonable expensive
recant/ renounce
to take back
resilient
to bounce back
reticent
to hold back ones thoughts and feelings, reserved
rebuff
to reject
resurgent
to rise again
forlorn, despondent
miserable, unhappy
denounce
to speak against
devoid
completely lacking in something
implacable
incapable of being pacified, mollified, appeased
inexorable
relentless
irreverent
disrespectful
circumspect
cautious
circuitous
indirect, circular
circumvent
to avoid by maneuver
circumscribe
to limit action
magnanimous
generous and forgiving
mellifluous
smoother and sweet flowing
ominous
threatening, menace
acrimonious
great bitterness
abstemious
moderate in eating or drinking
malodorous
foul smelling
memoir
person journal
caustic
a stinging or bitter remark
sedentary
not mobile
empirical
guided by practical experience
entomology
the scientific study of insect
gestate
to conceive and develop in the mind, to begin
paradigm
a framework or model of thought
avarage
excessive greed
glut/ surfeit
surplus
parsimonious
sparing, restrained, stingy
remunerate
to compensate
pretext
an excuse
watershed
a critical turning point
consensus
general agreement
autocrat, despot
a ruler with unlimited power
manifesto
a public declaration of beliefs
coerce
to compel someone to do something
inquisition
a severe interrogation
ameliorate
to make better
exacerbate
to make worse
contiguous
sharing an edge or boundary, touching
desiccate
totally arid
complicity
association or participation in a wrongful act
exonerate, exculpate
to free from blame or guilt
precedent
an action or decision that serves as an example
unprecedented
without a previous example
malfeasance
misconduct or wrongdoing by a public official
raucous
harsh, rough, rowdy