General Flashcards
Having a very harmful effect, especially in a subtle way.
Pernicious
A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
Nuance
“Our eyes and facial expressions can communicate virtually every subtle nuance of emotion.”
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Allegory
Very weak, uncertain, or slight.
Tenuous
- Having the same meaning as another word or phrase in the same language.
- Closely associated with or suggestive of something.
Synonymous
“Eating out does not have to be synonymous with unhealthy food.”
A thing tacitly assumed beforehand at the beginning of a line of argument or course of action.
Presupposition
Assumption
Presumption
Set the boundaries or limits of.
Demarcate
Not harmful or offensive.
Innocuous
“It was an innocuous question.”
Excessively harsh and severe (of laws or their application).
Draconian
A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter.
Arbiter
Adjudicator
Judge
Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Contentious
“Age has been a particularly contentious issue for social workers.”
Causing one to feel unsettled.
Disconcerting
Appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged.
Purported
Claimed
professed
“the purported marriage was void.”
The rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless.
Nihilism
Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.
Indifferent
Cavalier
Be in the position of authority in a meeting or other gathering.
Preside
Chair
Conduct
spread (something, especially information) widely.
Disseminate
“Health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information.”
A general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Referendum
“he called for a referendum on the death penalty.”
(of spoken or written language) expressed in an incomprehensible or confusing way; unclear.
Incoherent
Unintelligible
Disjointed
The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, and validity, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion.
Epistemology
Formal politeness and courtesy in behaviour or speech.
Civility
Unable to be affected by.
Impervious
Immune
The likelihood of something being true; plausibility.
Credence
“being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one’s opinions.”
To be completely and directly in opposition to something.
Diametrically opposed
Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.
Vindictive
Most noticeable or important aspects of something.
Salient
“it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case.”
Serving as a desirable model; very good.
Exemplary
The tendency to favour information that confirms your previously existing beliefs or biases.
Confirmation bias
Cognitive bias
A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing.
Proclivity
“The young boy had a proclivity to misbehave.”
An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
Conjecture
A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
Antithesis
“love is the antithesis of selfishness.”
The act of moving smoothly up and down.
Undulation
“The road follows the undulations of the countryside.”
Prejudicial to one point of view.
Partisan
“They were especially concerned about promoting a non-partisan civil service.”
Of the same kind; alike.
Homogenous
Equivalent
Analogous
Corresponding
To give up or renounce power or position.
Abdicate
“He agreed to abdicated his position at the table in favour of someone else.”
Describe or portray (something) precisely.
Delineate
“Clothing can be a good way to delineate boundaries, or to allow parts of the body to be touched without invasive feeling.”
Causing disconnection or separation.
Dissociative
A division or contrast between two things that are, or are represented as being, opposed or entirely different.
Dichotomy
“There exists a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism.”
A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true. Serves as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments.
Axiom
“Many people believe the axiom that people cannot change, and thus have little faith in humanity.”
Actions that are likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
Invidious
Intervene in a dispute in order to bring about an agreement or reconciliation.
Mediated
A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
Misnomer
“Morning sickness is a misnomer for many women, since the nausea can occur any time during the day.”
Behaviour showing high moral standards.
Virtuous
Righteousness
Morality
Charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive way.
Beguiled
“He used cunning methods to beguile her into doing things she didn’t want to.”
As appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently.
Ostensibly
Seemingly
Supposedly
Seeking or intended to rebel against or undermine an established system or institution.
Subversive
“They became a dangerous leaven for all subversive activities against the government.”
An intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent’s real argument.
Straw-man
The steel man argument (or steelmanning) is the exact opposite of the straw man argument. The idea is to find the best form of the opponent’s argument to test opposing opinions.
Make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Obfuscate
A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material.
Veneer
Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not to be of this world.
Ethereal
(of a feeling, quality, or sensation) issue or spread out from (a source).
Emanate
“Warmth emanated from the fireplace.”
The ability to produce a desired or intended result.
Efficacy
“there is little information on the efficacy of this treatment.”
Demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of an agreement.
Stipulate
“Law does not stipulate that credit bureaus provide credit score for free.”
The practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
Nepotism
“He was guilty of excessive taxation and nepotism.”
Engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent.
Hedonistic
The faculty or power of using one’s own will.
Volition
“They choose to leave early of their own volition.”
A Greek word meaning “character” that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology.
Ethos
“Literature always reflects the ethos of a particular culture or society.”
Transcending physical matter or the laws of nature.
Metaphysical
“Good and Evil are inextricably linked in a metaphysical battle across space and time.”
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
Pragmatic
“sensible, pragmatic approach was taken.”
The ability to perceive or feel things.
Sentient
“she had been instructed from birth in the equality of all sentient life forms.”
Raise or lift something to a higher position.
Elevate
A conclusion or reply that doesn’t follow logically from the previous statement.
Non Sequitur
A thing that is forced, in particular an unfair or unwelcome demand or burden.
Imposition
“The imposition of this tax involved a rough and ready assessment of every village in the protectorate.”
Digressing from subject to subject. Rambling and wandering from the main topic.
Discursive
“students often write dull, second-hand, discursive prose.”
A mode of behaviour or way of thought peculiar to an individual.
Idiosyncrasies
“One of his little idiosyncrasies was always preferring to be in the car first.”
The assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties.
Triage
“victims were triaged by paramedics before being transported to hospitals.”
Objective POV is independent of observer, and measurable/verifiable by standards that don’t vary between observers. Subjective POVs depend on something unique to the observer, not verifiable by any outside standard.
Subjective and objective
The action or practice of acting as if one were morally superior to other people.
Sanctimony
The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc.; impartiality.
Neutrality
A medicine taken or given to counteract a particular poison.
Antidote
Cure
Remedy
The loss of other alternatives when one alternative is chosen.
Opportunity cost
Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.
Impelled
Present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful.
Prolific
“Mahogany was once prolific in the tropical forests.”
Inward-looking, self-analysing, self-examining.
Introspective
A division or contrast between two things that are, or are represented as being, opposed or entirely different.
Dichotomy
“There’s a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism.”
A substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Surrogate
Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
Ineffable
- Relating to the assistance of those in need.
2. Apt to judge others leniently or favourably.
Charitable
“Those who were less charitable called for his resignation.”
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
Arduous
Onerous
Taxing
Demanding
Make or become less.
Diminish
Inflicting or intended as punishment.
Punitive
Disciplinary
Punitive
“he called for punitive measures against the Eastern bloc.”
A state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream.
Reverie
Deriving sexual gratification from one’s own pain or humiliation.
Masochistic
Put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.
Posit
Postulate
Hypothesise
The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
Juxtaposition
Convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral (of an action).
Expedient
Bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.
Subjugate
“The invaders had soon subjugated most of the population.”
The fact of being pre-eminent or most important.
Primacy
Priority
Precedence
Impossible to understand or interpret.
Inscrutable
Enigmatic
Cryptic
Incomprehensible
Unintelligible
Written or spoken communication or debate.
Discourse
Not having any serious purpose or value.
Frivolous
Enduring patterns of cognition, emotion, and behavior that negatively affect a person’s adaptation. Characterised by adaptive inflexibility, vicious cycles of maladaptive behavior, and emotional instability under stress.
Pathological
Accept something reluctantly but without protest.
Acquiesce
“He was compelled to acquiesce due to his ill health.”
Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
Xenophobia
“Excessive patriotism can lead to xenophobia.”
Unusually or disproportionately large; excessive
Inordinate
To put to a wrong use, or apply wrongfully or dishonestly.
Misappropriation
- Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
- The degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.
Fidelity