Direct Hits volume 2 -- set 4 Flashcards
flummox
to confuse; perplex
spate
a large number or amount
ineffable
unable to be put into words; indescribable
histrionic, overwrought
excessively dramatic
placate
to soothe or calm; appease
eschew
to avoid; shun; stay clear of
stopgap
a temporary solution to meet an urgent need
flotsam
debris
restitution
compensating for a loss damage or injury
churlish, sullen, surly
ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility
disquieting
disturbing; upsetting; causing unease
ornate
elaborately or expensively decorated; lavish
execrable, odious, repugnant
detestable; repulsive
perspicacious, discerning
insightful and perceptive
prescient
displaying apparent knowledge of future events
eclectic
choosing or using a variety of sources
hiatus
an interruption in time; a break
vertiginous
suffering from dizziness OR causing vertigo
esoteric, arcane
known only to a small group; obscure
supercilious
showing haughty disdain
underwrite
to assume financial responsibility for
discomfited
uneasy; in a state of embarrassment
taciturn
habitually quiet; uncommunicative
sinecure
an position with little work but good pay
lugubrious
sad and mournful
cosmopolitan;
worldly; sophisticated
provincial, parochial, insular
limited in perspective; small-minded
fecund
intellectually productive or inventive
ostentatious
showy; intended to attract notice; pretentious
guile
treacherous cunning; skillful deceit
guileless
innocent and without deception
sanguine
cheerfully confident; optimistic
scintillating
sparkling; shining; brilliantly clever
pristine
remaining in a pure state; clean and unblemished
rampant
unrestrained; unchecked
pernicious
highly injurious; destructive; deadly
oblivious
lacking conscious awareness; unaware
refractory
obstinately resistant to authority or control; stubborn
garrulous, verbose, loquacious
overly talkative
convivial
friendly; lively; enjoyable
brusque and curt
abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt
tepid
lukewarm; mild; half-hearted
protean
readily taking on varied forms and meanings
solicitous
showing great care and concern; (overly) attentive
disingenuous
not straightforward or candid; insincere
venerate, revere
to regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem
contentious
quarrelsome; argumentative; disputatious
preclude
to make impossible; to rule; prevent
compunction, contrition, remorse
feelings of sincere and deep regret
demography
study of the characteristics of human populations
aphorism, axiom
a statement universally accepted as true; a maxim
juxtapose
to place side by side; compare
bombastic
pompous or ostentatious
forbearance
refraining from acting on a desire
unfettered
freed from any restraint
prescribe
to order or require
proscribe
to forbid