English vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
Innocuous
A
innocent, not harmful or offensive
2
Q
Consternation
A
feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected
3
Q
Acquiesce
A
Accept something reluctantly but without protest
4
Q
Ostentatious
A
Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.
5
Q
Incumbent
A
Necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility.
6
Q
Perturbed
A
feeling anxiety or concern; unsettled.
7
Q
Pervasive
A
(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
8
Q
Morose
A
Sullen and ill-tempered
9
Q
Antipathy
A
Strong feeling of dislike, aversion
10
Q
Impudence
A
Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others
11
Q
Ignominy
A
Public shame or disgrace
12
Q
Opprobrium
A
Harsh criticism or censure.
13
Q
Instigate
A
bring about or initiate (an action or event).
14
Q
Transitory
A
Not permanent
15
Q
Insipid
A
Lacking flavour, vigour or interest
16
Q
Propensity
A
an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
17
Q
Perjury
A
the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.
18
Q
Peremptory
A
insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way.
19
Q
Artifice
A
clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.
20
Q
Virulent
A
extremely severe or harmful in its effects./bitterly hostile- VIRUS
21
Q
Duplicity
A
deceitfulness; double-dealing.
22
Q
Ameliorate
A
Make better; improve
23
Q
Meretricious
A
apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity
24
Q
Pacification
A
an attempt to create or maintain peace
25
Spurious
Not being what it purports to be; false or fake.
26
Unscrupulous
Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
27
Premeditated
(of an action, especially a crime) thought out or planned beforehand.
28
Vapid
Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.
29
Impelled
Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.
30
Vehement
In a forceful, passionate or intense manner; with great feeling.
31
Candour
The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.
32
Despot
A ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.
33
Prognostication
The action of foretelling or prophesying future event
34
Insalubrious
(especially of a climate or locality) not salubrious; unhealthy.
35
Pontification
Pompous or dogmatic speech:
36
Vindictive
Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.
37
Cathartic (Catharsis)
Providing a psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions.
38
Soporific
Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.
39
Prevaricate
To deliberately deviate from the truth
40
Demure
Reserved, modest, and shy
41
Irreverant
showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.
42
Lugubrious
looking or sounding sad and dismal.
43
Ingratiate
bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them.
44
Disconsolate
Without consolation or comfort; unhappy.
45
Contingency
A future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
46
Subversion
The undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution.
47
Subservience
Willingness to obey others unquestioningly
48
Frivolous
not having any serious purpose or value/(of a person) carefree and not serious.
49
Avaricious
having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
50
Voracious
Having a very eager approach to an activity.
51
Abate
To subside; reduce
52
Aberration
Something not typical; a deviation from the standard
53
Abject
hopeless; extremely sad and servile; defeated
54
Absolve
To forgive or free from blame, sin or an obligation
55
Abnegate
To deny oneself of things; reject, renounce
56
Trepidation
A nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation
57
Insidious
Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.
58
Tenuous
Very weak or slight
59
Plaintive
Expressing sadness or melancholy
60
Suave
Having a sophisticated charm
61
Macabre
Shockingly repellent, inspiring horror
62
Munificent
larger or more generous than is usual or necessary.
63
Edify
instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.
64
Infallible
incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.
65
Prerogative
a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.
66
Infinitesimal
extremely small.
67
Purloin
steal (something), FORMAL AND HUMOROUS
68
Platitude
a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
69
Obscene
offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of morality and decency.
70
Sedately
In a quiet, relaxed, or slow way without excitement or risk
71
Unequivocally
in a way that leaves no doubt.
72
Contrived
Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously.
73
Negligible
so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.
74
Sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
74
Nebulous
(of a concept or idea) unclear, vague, or ill-defined.
75
Disparaging
Expressing the opinion that something is of little worth; derogatory.
76
Denounce
Publicly declare to be wrong or evil
77
Partisanship
prejudice in favour of a particular cause, bias
78
Hedonism
A lifestyle based on the pursuit of pleasure, self-indulgence
79
Arbitrary
Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
80
Tenacious
Keeping a firm hold on something; clinging or adhering closely.
81
Amiable
Having or displaying a friendly or pleasant manner
82
Coalesce
Come together to form one mass or whole
83
Surreptitious
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
83
Clandestine
kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
84
Beleauguered
In a very difficult situation
85
Petulant
childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
86
Extricate
free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty.
87
Mendacious
not telling the truth; lying
88
Belligerent
hostile and aggressive
89
Curmudgeonly
bad-tempered and negative.
90
Benign
gentle and kindly.
91
Susurration
whispering, murmuring, rustling.
92
Obstinate
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
93
Marauding
going about in search of things to steal or people to attack.
94
Impunity
exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
95
Derisive
expressing contempt or ridicule.
96
Defamation
the action of damaging the good reputation of someone.
97
Reticient
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
98
Admonish
warn or reprimand someone firmly
99
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
100
Adulation
obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise.
101
Irascible
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
102
Illustrious
well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
103
Vociferous
vehement or clamorous
104
Auspicious
conducive to success; favourable.
105
Propriety
the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.
106
Desecrate
treat a sacred thing/place with violent disrespect; violate
107
Pertain
be appropriate, related, or applicable.
108
Berate
scold; rebuke
109
Nefarious
wicked or criminal.
110
Castigate
reprimand severely
111
Discrepancy
a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
112
Culpable
deserving blame.
113
Dilapidated
in a state of disrepair or ruin due to age or neglect
114
Malignant
malevolent- having or showing the will to do evil to others
115
Sadistic
deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.
116
Emaciated
abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.
117
Sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.
118
Qualm
an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct; a misgiving.
118
Gratuitous
uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted
119
Desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
120
Perfunctory
carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.
121
Odious
extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
122
Cantankerous
bad tempered, argumentative and uncooperative
123
Gallivant
go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.
124
Cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
125
Slovenly
messy, dirty / careless, excessively casual
126
Diffidence
modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence.
127
Industrious
Diligent and hard-working
128
Truculent
Eager or quick to argue or fight, aggressively defiant
129
Deplorable
Deserving strong condemnation/ shockingly bad in quality.
130
Machinations
A plot or scheme
131
Consummate
Showing a high degree of skill/flair, complete or perfect
132
enmity
the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
133
Ascetic
characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
134
Magnanimous
Generous or forgiving, esp. to a rival/less powerful person
135
Redolent
strongly reminiscent or suggestive of.
136
Compunction
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.
137
Adroit
having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.
138
Despondent
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
139
Blighted
In a badly damaged or deteriorated condition
140
Redoubtable
Formidable, especially as an opponent
141
Portentious
Of momentous or ominous significance
142
Penitent
Showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong, repentant
143
Chagrin
Annoyance or distress at having failed or been humiliated
144
Ubiquitous
Present, appearing or found everywhere
145
Dyspeptic
Irritable, bad-tempered
146
Venerable
To be admired or respected due to status or age
147
Fastidious
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
148
Concatenation
A series of interconnected things
149
Incorrigible
Not able to be changed or reformed
150
Cordial
Warm and friendly
151
Diffident
Modest or shy due to a lack of self confidence
152
Didactic
Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
153
Mercenary
Money-oriented
154
Impetuous
Acting or done quickly and without thought or care
155
Fidelity
Loyalty
156
Indefatigable
Persisting tirelessly
157
Obstreperous
Noisy and difficult to control
158
Pertinacious
Holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action
159
Effacious
Producing a desired or intended result, effective
160
Uncouth
Uncivilized
161
Imbue
Inspire or permeate with
162
Appertaining
Relating to
163
Cursory
Hasty, not thorough or detailed
164
Abstruse
Difficult to understand, obscure
165
Facile
Simplistic; effortless
166
Lurid
Unpleasantly bright in color - harsh or unnatural effect
167
Perfidious
Deceitful and untrustworthy
168
Forsaken
Abandoned or deserted
169
Sardonic
Grimly mocking or cynical
170
Insouciant
Showing a casual lack of concern
171
Salacious
having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.
172
Recalcitrant
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude
173
Complacent
Smug, self-satisfied, unbothered
174
Florid
Having a red or flushed complexion
175
Aspersion
A critical remark, slander
176
Ephemeral
Lasting for a very short period of time
177
Sophistry
Using clever but false arguments with the intention of deceiving
178
Asperity
Harshness of tone or manner
179
Sequestered
Hidden away or isolated
180
Obeisance
Deferential respect
181
Effusive
Showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner
182
Sagacity
Sound judgement, acuity, foresight
183
Mellifluous
Sweet-sounding
187
Duress
Compulsion by threat or force
