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English vocabulary Flashcards

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1
Q

Innocuous

A

innocent, not harmful or offensive

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2
Q

Consternation

A

feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected

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3
Q

Acquiesce

A

Accept something reluctantly but without protest

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4
Q

Ostentatious

A

Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.

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5
Q

Incumbent

A

Necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility.

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6
Q

Perturbed

A

feeling anxiety or concern; unsettled.

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7
Q

Pervasive

A

(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.

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8
Q

Morose

A

Sullen and ill-tempered

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9
Q

Antipathy

A

Strong feeling of dislike, aversion

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10
Q

Impudence

A

Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others

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11
Q

Ignominy

A

Public shame or disgrace

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12
Q

Opprobrium

A

Harsh criticism or censure.

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13
Q

Instigate

A

bring about or initiate (an action or event).

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14
Q

Transitory

A

Not permanent

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15
Q

Insipid

A

Lacking flavour, vigour or interest

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16
Q

Propensity

A

an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

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17
Q

Perjury

A

the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.

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18
Q

Peremptory

A

insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way.

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19
Q

Artifice

A

clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.

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20
Q

Virulent

A

extremely severe or harmful in its effects./bitterly hostile- VIRUS

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21
Q

Duplicity

A

deceitfulness; double-dealing.

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22
Q

Ameliorate

A

Make better; improve

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23
Q

Meretricious

A

apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity

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24
Q

Pacification

A

an attempt to create or maintain peace

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25
Q

Spurious

A

Not being what it purports to be; false or fake.

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26
Q

Unscrupulous

A

Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.

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27
Q

Premeditated

A

(of an action, especially a crime) thought out or planned beforehand.

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28
Q

Vapid

A

Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

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29
Q

Impelled

A

Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.

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30
Q

Vehement

A

In a forceful, passionate or intense manner; with great feeling.

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31
Q

Candour

A

The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.

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32
Q

Despot

A

A ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

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33
Q

Prognostication

A

The action of foretelling or prophesying future event

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34
Q

Insalubrious

A

(especially of a climate or locality) not salubrious; unhealthy.

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35
Q

Pontification

A

Pompous or dogmatic speech:

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36
Q

Vindictive

A

Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

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37
Q

Cathartic (Catharsis)

A

Providing a psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions.

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38
Q

Soporific

A

Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.

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39
Q

Prevaricate

A

To deliberately deviate from the truth

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40
Q

Demure

A

Reserved, modest, and shy

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41
Q

Irreverant

A

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.

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42
Q

Lugubrious

A

looking or sounding sad and dismal.

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43
Q

Ingratiate

A

bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them.

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44
Q

Disconsolate

A

Without consolation or comfort; unhappy.

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45
Q

Contingency

A

A future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.

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46
Q

Subversion

A

The undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution.

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47
Q

Subservience

A

Willingness to obey others unquestioningly

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48
Q

Frivolous

A

not having any serious purpose or value/(of a person) carefree and not serious.

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49
Q

Avaricious

A

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

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50
Q

Voracious

A

Having a very eager approach to an activity.

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51
Q

Abate

A

To subside; reduce

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52
Q

Aberration

A

Something not typical; a deviation from the standard

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53
Q

Abject

A

hopeless; extremely sad and servile; defeated

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54
Q

Absolve

A

To forgive or free from blame, sin or an obligation

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55
Q

Abnegate

A

To deny oneself of things; reject, renounce

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56
Q

Trepidation

A

A nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation

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57
Q

Insidious

A

Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.

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58
Q

Tenuous

A

Very weak or slight

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59
Q

Plaintive

A

Expressing sadness or melancholy

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60
Q

Suave

A

Having a sophisticated charm

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61
Q

Macabre

A

Shockingly repellent, inspiring horror

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62
Q

Munificent

A

larger or more generous than is usual or necessary.

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63
Q

Edify

A

instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.

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64
Q

Infallible

A

incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

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65
Q

Prerogative

A

a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.

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66
Q

Infinitesimal

A

extremely small.

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67
Q

Purloin

A

steal (something), FORMAL AND HUMOROUS

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68
Q

Platitude

A

a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.

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69
Q

Obscene

A

offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of morality and decency.

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70
Q

Sedately

A

In a quiet, relaxed, or slow way without excitement or risk

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71
Q

Unequivocally

A

in a way that leaves no doubt.

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72
Q

Contrived

A

Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously.

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73
Q

Negligible

A

so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.

74
Q

Sanguine

A

optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.

74
Q

Nebulous

A

(of a concept or idea) unclear, vague, or ill-defined.

75
Q

Disparaging

A

Expressing the opinion that something is of little worth; derogatory.

76
Q

Denounce

A

Publicly declare to be wrong or evil

77
Q

Partisanship

A

prejudice in favour of a particular cause, bias

78
Q

Hedonism

A

A lifestyle based on the pursuit of pleasure, self-indulgence

79
Q

Arbitrary

A

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

80
Q

Tenacious

A

Keeping a firm hold on something; clinging or adhering closely.

81
Q

Amiable

A

Having or displaying a friendly or pleasant manner

82
Q

Coalesce

A

Come together to form one mass or whole

83
Q

Surreptitious

A

kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.

83
Q

Clandestine

A

kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.

84
Q

Beleauguered

A

In a very difficult situation

85
Q

Petulant

A

childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

86
Q

Extricate

A

free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty.

87
Q

Mendacious

A

not telling the truth; lying

88
Q

Belligerent

A

hostile and aggressive

89
Q

Curmudgeonly

A

bad-tempered and negative.

90
Q

Benign

A

gentle and kindly.

91
Q

Susurration

A

whispering, murmuring, rustling.

92
Q

Obstinate

A

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

93
Q

Marauding

A

going about in search of things to steal or people to attack.

94
Q

Impunity

A

exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.

95
Q

Derisive

A

expressing contempt or ridicule.

96
Q

Defamation

A

the action of damaging the good reputation of someone.

97
Q

Reticient

A

not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily.

98
Q

Admonish

A

warn or reprimand someone firmly

99
Q

Obsequious

A

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

100
Q

Adulation

A

obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise.

101
Q

Irascible

A

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.

102
Q

Illustrious

A

well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.

103
Q

Vociferous

A

vehement or clamorous

104
Q

Auspicious

A

conducive to success; favourable.

105
Q

Propriety

A

the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.

106
Q

Desecrate

A

treat a sacred thing/place with violent disrespect; violate

107
Q

Pertain

A

be appropriate, related, or applicable.

108
Q

Berate

A

scold; rebuke

109
Q

Nefarious

A

wicked or criminal.

110
Q

Castigate

A

reprimand severely

111
Q

Discrepancy

A

a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.

112
Q

Culpable

A

deserving blame.

113
Q

Dilapidated

A

in a state of disrepair or ruin due to age or neglect

114
Q

Malignant

A

malevolent- having or showing the will to do evil to others

115
Q

Sadistic

A

deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

116
Q

Emaciated

A

abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.

117
Q

Sporadic

A

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.

118
Q

Qualm

A

an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct; a misgiving.

118
Q

Gratuitous

A

uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted

119
Q

Desultory

A

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

120
Q

Perfunctory

A

carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.

121
Q

Odious

A

extremely unpleasant; repulsive.

122
Q

Cantankerous

A

bad tempered, argumentative and uncooperative

123
Q

Gallivant

A

go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.

124
Q

Cursory

A

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.

125
Q

Slovenly

A

messy, dirty / careless, excessively casual

126
Q

Diffidence

A

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence.

127
Q

Industrious

A

Diligent and hard-working

128
Q

Truculent

A

Eager or quick to argue or fight, aggressively defiant

129
Q

Deplorable

A

Deserving strong condemnation/ shockingly bad in quality.

130
Q

Machinations

A

A plot or scheme

131
Q

Consummate

A

Showing a high degree of skill/flair, complete or perfect

132
Q

enmity

A

the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

133
Q

Ascetic

A

characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

134
Q

Magnanimous

A

Generous or forgiving, esp. to a rival/less powerful person

135
Q

Redolent

A

strongly reminiscent or suggestive of.

136
Q

Compunction

A

a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.

137
Q

Adroit

A

having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.

138
Q

Despondent

A

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

139
Q

Blighted

A

In a badly damaged or deteriorated condition

140
Q

Redoubtable

A

Formidable, especially as an opponent

141
Q

Portentious

A

Of momentous or ominous significance

142
Q

Penitent

A

Showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong, repentant

143
Q

Chagrin

A

Annoyance or distress at having failed or been humiliated

144
Q

Ubiquitous

A

Present, appearing or found everywhere

145
Q

Dyspeptic

A

Irritable, bad-tempered

146
Q

Venerable

A

To be admired or respected due to status or age

147
Q

Fastidious

A

Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

148
Q

Concatenation

A

A series of interconnected things

149
Q

Incorrigible

A

Not able to be changed or reformed

150
Q

Cordial

A

Warm and friendly

151
Q

Diffident

A

Modest or shy due to a lack of self confidence

152
Q

Didactic

A

Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive

153
Q

Mercenary

A

Money-oriented

154
Q

Impetuous

A

Acting or done quickly and without thought or care

155
Q

Fidelity

A

Loyalty

156
Q

Indefatigable

A

Persisting tirelessly

157
Q

Obstreperous

A

Noisy and difficult to control

158
Q

Pertinacious

A

Holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action

159
Q

Effacious

A

Producing a desired or intended result, effective

160
Q

Uncouth

A

Uncivilized

161
Q

Imbue

A

Inspire or permeate with

162
Q

Appertaining

A

Relating to

163
Q

Cursory

A

Hasty, not thorough or detailed

164
Q

Abstruse

A

Difficult to understand, obscure

165
Q

Facile

A

Simplistic; effortless

166
Q

Lurid

A

Unpleasantly bright in color - harsh or unnatural effect

167
Q

Perfidious

A

Deceitful and untrustworthy

168
Q

Forsaken

A

Abandoned or deserted

169
Q

Sardonic

A

Grimly mocking or cynical

170
Q

Insouciant

A

Showing a casual lack of concern

171
Q

Salacious

A

having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.

172
Q

Recalcitrant

A

Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude

173
Q

Complacent

A

Smug, self-satisfied, unbothered

174
Q

Florid

A

Having a red or flushed complexion

175
Q

Aspersion

A

A critical remark, slander

176
Q

Ephemeral

A

Lasting for a very short period of time

177
Q

Sophistry

A

Using clever but false arguments with the intention of deceiving

178
Q

Asperity

A

Harshness of tone or manner

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