greg mat

Question 1

capricious

Answer 1

adjective

1. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
   
   • a ____ and often brutal administration
   • a ____ climate.

Question 2

conspicuous

Answer 2

adjective

1. standing out so as to be clearly visible
   
   • he was very thin, with a ______ Adam’s apple.
2. attracting notice or attention:
   
   • he showed ______- bravery.

Question 3

belie

Answer 3

verb (belies, belying, belied) [with object]

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict:
   
   • his lively, alert manner ______ his years.
2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray
   
   • the notebooks _____ Darwin’s later recollection.

Question 4

cursory

Answer 4

adjective

1. hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
   
   • a _____ glance at the figures.

Question 5

daunting

Answer 5

adjective

1. seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating
   
   • a _____ task.

Question 6

deify

Answer 6

verb (deifies, deifying, deified) [with object] (usually be deified)

1. worship, regard, or treat (someone or something) as a god
   
   1. she was ___ by the early Romans as a fertility goddess.

Question 7

flout

Answer 7

verb [with object]

1. openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)
   
   • these same companies still ____ basic ethical practices.
2. [no object] archaic mock; scoff:
   
   1. the women pointed and _____ at her.

Question 8

humdrum

Answer 8

adjective

1. lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous
   
   • ____ routine work.

noun

1. dullness; monotony
   
   • an escape from the ____ of his life.

Question 9

loquacious

Answer 9

adjective

1. tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

Question 10

misanthropic

Answer 10

adjective

1. disliking humankind and avoiding human society
   
   1. a ___ drunken loner
   2. with his ___ outlook, he was an ugly character.

Question 11

obsequious

Answer 11

adjective

1. obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
   
   • they were served by ____ waiters.

Question 12

puerile

Answer 12

adjective

1. childishly silly and trivial
   
   • you’re making ____ excuses.

Question 13

quixotic

Answer 13

adjective

1. exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
   
   • a vast and perhaps _____ project.

Question 14

spendthrift

Answer 14

noun

1. a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.

Question 15

taciturn

Answer 15

adjective

1. (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

Question 16

wary

Answer 16

adjective

1. feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems
   
   • dogs that have been mistreated often remain very ____ of strangers
   • a ____ look.

Question 17

advocate

Answer 17

noun

1. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy
   
   • he was an untiring ___ of economic reform.
2. a person who pleads on someone else’s behalf
   
   • care managers can become ___ for their clients.
3. a pleader in a court of law; a lawyer
   
   • Marshall was a skilled ___ but a mediocre judge.

verb [with obj.]

1. publicly recommend or support
   
   • they ___ an ethical foreign policy.

Question 18

alacrity

Answer 18

noun

1. brisk and cheerful readiness
   
   • she accepted the invitation with ____.

Question 19

amenable

Answer 19

adjective

1. (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled
   
   • parents who have had easy babies and ____ children.
2. [predic.] (____ to) (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to
   
   • the patients had cardiac failure not ____ to medical treatment.

Question 20

banal

Answer 20

adjective

1. so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
   
   • songs with ____, repeated words.

Question 21

brazen

Answer 21

adjective

1. bold and without shame:
   
   • he went about his illegal business with a ____ assurance
   • a ____ hussy!
2. harsh in sound:
   
   • he music’s ____ chords.

Question 22

candid

Answer 22

adjective

1. truthful and straightforward; frank
   
   • his responses were remarkably ___
   • a ____ discussion.
2. (of a photograph of a person) taken informally, especially without the subject’s knowledge.

Question 23

caustic

Answer 23

adjective

1. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action
   
   • a ____ cleaner.
2. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
   
   • the players were making ____ comments about the refereeing.

Question 24

construe

Answer 24

Verb

1. interpret (a word or action) in a particular way
   
   • his words could hardly be ____ as an apology.
2. analyze the syntax of (a text, sentence, or word)
   
   • both verbs can be ____ with either infinitive.

Question 25

contrite

Answer 25

adjective

1. feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt
   
   • a broken and a ____ heart.

Question 26

convoluted

Answer 26

adjective

1. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow
   
   • its _____ narrative encompasses all manner of digressions.

• chiefly technical intricately folded, twisted, or coiled
  
  • walnuts come in hard and _____ shells.

Question 27

covet

Answer 27

verb [with obj.]

1. yearn to possess or have (something)
   
   • the president-elect ____ time for exercise and fishing
2. (as adj. )
   
   • he won the ____ Booker Prize for fiction.

Question 28

craven

Answer 28

adjective

1. contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly
   
   • a ____ abdication of his moral duty.

Question 29

decorum

Answer 29

noun

1. behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety
   
   • you exhibit remarkable modesty and ____.
2. etiquette
   
   • he had no idea of funeral ____.

Question 30

deft

Answer 30

adjective

1. neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements
   
   • a ___ piece of footwork.
2. demonstrating skill and cleverness
   
   • the script was both ___ and literate.

Question 31

demur

Answer 31

verb [no obj.]

1. raise doubts or objections or show reluctance
   
   1. normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she _____.
2. Law
   
   1. put forward a _____-rer.

noun [usu. with negative]

1. the action or process of objecting to or hesitating over something
   
   • they accepted this ruling without _____.

Question 32

diatribe

Answer 32

noun

1. a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
   
   • a _____ against the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 33

abjure

Answer 33

verb [with object] formal

• solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim):
  
  • MPs were urged to ___ their Jacobite allegiance.

Question 34

arcane

Answer 34

adjective

• understood by few; mysterious or secret
  
  • ___ procedures for electing people.

Question 35

artless

Answer 35

adjective

• without guile or deception:
  
  • an ____, naive girl
  • ____ sincerity.
• • without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple
  
  • an ____ literary masterpiece.
• • without skill or finesse
  
  • her awkward, ____ prose

Question 36

assuage

Answer 36

• To lessen, calm or satisfy
• VERB. If you assuage an unpleasant feeling that someone has, you make them feel it less strongly.
  
  • The announcement appeared designed to ____ concerns at home and abroad. [VERB noun]
  • She was just trying to ____ her guilt by playing the devoted mother. [VERB noun]
• VERB. If you assuage a need or desire for something, you satisfy it.
  
  • The meat they’d managed to procure ____ their hunger

Question 37

bucolic

Answer 37

adjective

• relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
  
  • the church is lovely for its ____ setting.

Question 38

burgeon

Answer 38

verb [no object]

• begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish:
  
  • the city’s suburbs have ___-ed, sprawling out from the centre.

Question 39

cacophonous

Answer 39

adjective

• involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds:
  
  • the ____ sound of slot machines.

Question 40

canonize

Answer 40

verb [with object]

• (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint:
  
  • he was the last English saint to be ___d prior to the Reformation.
• treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance:
  
  • we have ___-ed freedom of speech as an absolute value overriding all others.
• place in or regard as belonging to a canon of literary or artistic works
  
  • Warhol is now _____d as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century

Question 41

censure

Answer 41

verb [with object]

• express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement:
  
  • the company was heavily ___-d by inspectors from the Department of Trade

noun [mass noun]

• the formal expression of severe disapproval:
  
  • two MPs were singled out for censure

Question 42

chicanery

Answer 42

noun [mass noun]

• the use of deception (engaño) or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose:
  
  • storylines packed with ____ chicanery.

Question 43

coalesce

Answer 43

verb [no object]

• come together to form one mass or whole:
  
  • the puddles had __-d into shallow streams.
• • [with object] combine (elements) in a mass or whole:
  
  • his idea served to __ all that happened into one connected whole.

Question 44

cogent

Answer 44

adjective

• (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing:
  
  • the newspaper’s lawyers must prepare a ___ appeal.

Question 45

contend

Answer 45

verb

• [no object] (contend with/against) struggle to overcome/surmount (a difficulty):
  
  • she had to __ with his uncertain temper.
• (contend for) compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something):
  
  • factions within the government were ___-ing for the succession to the presidency.
• assert something as a position in an argument:
  
  • he ___-s that the judge was wrong.

Question 46

deference

Answer 46

noun [mass noun]

• polite submission and respect
  
  • he addressed her with the ___ due to age

Question 47

desultory

Answer 47

adjective

• lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm:
  
  • a few people were left, dancing in a ___ fashion.
• (of conversation or speech) going from one subject to another in a half-hearted way:
  
  • the ___ conversation faded.
• occurring randomly or occasionally:
  
  • ___ passengers were appearing.

Question 48

diffident

Answer 48

adjective

• modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence:
  
  • a __ youth.

Question 49

equivocal

Answer 49

adjective

• open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous:
  
  • the ___ nature of her remarks.
• • (of a person) using ambiguous or evasive language:
  
  • he has always been ____ about the meaning of his lyrics.
• • uncertain or questionable in nature:
  
  • the results of the investigation were ___.
• __te as as a verb:* use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself:
• the government have ___ted too often in the past.

Question 50

prodigal

Answer 50

adjective

• spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant:
  
  • ___ habits die hard.
• having or giving something on a lavish scale:
  
  • the dessert was ___ with whipped cream.

Question 51

verbose

Answer 51

adjective

• using or expressed in more words than are needed:
  
  • much academic language is obscure and ___.

Question 52

cherish

Answer 52

verb [with object]

• protect and care for (someone) lovingly:
  
  • he cared for me beyond measure and ___ed me in his heart.
• hold (something) dear:
  
  • I ____ the letters she wrote | (as adjective ___ed) : ___ed possessions.
• keep (a hope or ambition) in one’s mind:
  
  • he had long ___ed a secret fantasy about his future.

Question 53

disparate

Answer 53

adjective

• essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison
  
  • they inhabit _____ worlds of thought.
• containing elements very different from one another
  
  • a culturally ___ country.

Question 54

emulate

Answer 54

verb [with object]

• match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation:
  
  • lesser men trying to ____ his greatness.
• imitate:
  
  • hers is not a hairstyle I wish to ____.
• Computing reproduce the function or action of (a different computer, software system, etc.).

Question 55

fervid

Answer 55

adjective

• intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree:
  
  • his ___ protestations of love.
• literary hot, burning, or glowing.

Question 56

garrulous

Answer 56

adjective

• excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
  
  • a ____ cab driver.

Question 57

inimical

Answer 57

adjective

• tending to obstruct or harm
  
  • the policy was ___ to Britain’s real interests.
• unfriendly; hostile
  
  • an ___ alien power.

Question 58

paradigmatic

Answer 58

adjective

• serving as a typical example of something
  
  • his biography is ____ of the experiences of this generation.
• of or denoting the relationship between a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles. Contrasted with syntagmatic.

Question 59

pedantic

Answer 59

adjective

• excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous:
  
  • his analyses are careful and even painstaking, but never ____

Question 60

placid

Answer 60

adjective

• not easily upset or excited
  
  • a __, contented man.
• calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity:
  
  • the __ waters of a small lake.

Question 61

precipitate

Answer 61

verb |[with object]

• cause (an event or situation, typically one that is undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely
  
  • the incident ___ed a political crisis.
• [with object and adverbial of direction] cause to move suddenly and with force
  
  • suddenly the ladder broke, ___ing them down into a heap.
• (precipitate someone/something into) send someone or something suddenly into a particular state or condition
  
  • they were ___ed into a conflict for which they were quite unprepared.
• Chemistry cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution
  
  • cell proteins were then ___ed and washed in 10% trichloroacetic acid.

adjective | prɪˈsɪpɪtət |

• done, made, or acting suddenly or without careful consideration
  
  • I must apologize for my staff—their actions were ___ed

Question 62

punctilious

Answer 62

adjective

• showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour:
  
  • he was ___ in providing every amenity for his guests.

Question 63

recondite

Answer 63

adjective

• (of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse:
  
  • the book is full of ___ information.

Question 64

scrupulous

Answer 64

adjective

• (of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details:
  
  • the research has been carried out with ___ attention to detail.
• very concerned to avoid doing wrong:
  
  • she’s too ___ to have an affair with a married man.

Question 65

tranquil

Answer 65

adjective

• free from disturbance; calm:
  
  • her ___ gaze
  • the sea was ___.

Question 66

aloof

Answer 66

adjective

• not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant
  
  • they were courteous but faintly ___
  • an ___ and somewhat austere figure.
• • conspicuously uninvolved
  
  • he stayed ___ from the bickering.

Question 67

clangor

Answer 67

noun [in singular]

• a continuous loud banging or ringing sound
  
  • he went deaf because of the ___ of the steam hammers.

Question 68

debunk

Answer 68

verb [with object]

• expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief):
  
  • she ___s all the usual rubbish about acting.
• reduce the inflated reputation of (someone):
  
  • comedy takes delight in ___ing heroes.

Question 69

estranged

Answer 69

adjective

• (of a person) no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated
  
  • Harriet felt more __ed from her daughter than ever
  • her __ed father.
• • (of a wife or husband) no longer living with their spouse:
  
  • his __ed wife.

Question 70

extravagant

Answer 70

adjective

• lacking restraint in spending money or using resources:
  
  • it was rather ___ to buy both.
• resulting from or showing a lack of restraint in spending money or resources:
  
  • ___ gifts like computer games.
• exceeding what is reasonable or appropriate; excessive or elaborate:
  
  • ___ claims about the merchandise

Question 71

fanciful

Answer 71

adjective

• over-imaginative and unrealistic:
  
  • ever more ____ proposals were raised.
• existing only in the imagination:
  
  • ____ lunar inhabitants.
• highly ornamental or imaginative in design:
  
  • a ____ Art Nouveau bar.

Question 72

frivolous

Answer 72

adjective

• not having any serious purpose or value:
  
  • ____ ribbons and lacy frills
  • rules to stop ____ lawsuits.
• • (of a person) carefree and superficial:
  
  • the ____, fun-loving flappers of the twenties

Question 73

imperious

Answer 73

adjective

• arrogant and domineering:
  
  • his ___ demands.

Question 74

irresolute

Answer 74

adjective

• showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain:
  
  • she stood ___ outside his door.

Question 75

panache

Answer 75

noun

• [mass noun] flamboyant confidence of style or manner:
  
  • he entertained London society with great ____.
• historical a tuft or plume of feathers, especially as a headdress or on a helmet.

Question 76

plodding

Answer 76

adjective

• slow-moving and unexciting:
  
  • a ____ comedy drama.
• (of a person) thorough and hard-working but lacking in imagination or intelligence
  
  • ____, methodical Ralph Bellamy.

Question 77

prosaic

Answer 77

adjective

• having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality
  
  • ___ language can’t convey the experience.
• • commonplace; unromantic
  
  • the masses were too preoccupied by ___ day-to-day concerns.

Question 78

restive

Answer 78

adjective

• (of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction:
  
  • the crowd had been waiting for hours and many were becoming ___
  • he reiterated his determination to hold the ___ republics together.
• (of a horse) stubbornly standing still or moving backwards or sideways; refusing to advance:
  
  • both their horses became ___ at once.

Question 79

undermine

Answer 79

verb [with object]

• erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation):
  
  • the flow of water had ___ed pillars supporting the roof.
• dig or excavate beneath (a building or fortification) so as to make it collapse:
  
  • the demolition engineers did eventually ___ two of the tower’s six sides.
• lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously:
  
  • this could ___ years of hard work

Question 80

weary

Answer 80

adjective (wearier, weariest)

• feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion:
  
  • he gave a long, ___ sigh.
• calling for a great amount of energy or endurance; tiring and tedious:
  
  • the ___ journey began again.
• reluctant to see or experience any more of; tired of:
  
  • she was ___ of their constant arguments
  • [in combination] : war-___ Americans.

Question 81

zealous

Answer 81

adjective

• having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective:
  
  • the council was extremely ____ in the application of the regulations.

Question 82

admonish

Answer 82

verb [with object]

• warn or reprimand someone firmly:
  
  • she ___ed me for appearing at breakfast unshaven.
• • [with object and infinitive] advise or urge (someone) earnestly:
  
  • she ___ed him to drink no more than one glass of wine.
• archaic warn (someone) of something to be avoided:
  
  • he ___ed the people against the evil of such practices

Question 83

affectation

Answer 83

noun [mass noun]

• behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress:
  
  • the ___ of a man who measures every word for effect
  • [count noun] : she called the room her boudoir, which he thought an ___.
• [count noun] a studied display of real or pretended feeling:
  
  • an ___ of calm.

Question 84

bolster

Answer 84

verb [with object]

• support or strengthen:
  
  • the fall in interest rates is starting to ___ confidence.
• provide (a seat) with padded support:
  
  • they ___ed the seats for a more comfortable ride.

Question 85

chauvunist

Answer 85

noun

• a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
• a person displaying excessive or prejudiced support for their own cause, group, or sex:
  
  • we don’t want to lay ourselves open to charges that we’re chauvinists
  • a hard-drinking male chauvinist.

Question 86

dissemble

Answer 86

verb [no object]

• conceal or disguise one’s true feelings or beliefs:
  
  • an honest, sincere person with no need to ___.
• • [with object] disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention):
  
  • she smiled, ___ing her true emotion

Question 87

dogged

Answer 87

adjective

• having or showing tenacity and grim persistence:
  
  • success required ___ed determination.

Question 88

dupe

Answer 88

verb [with object]

• deceive; trick:
  
  • the newspaper was __d into publishing an untrue story.

noun

• a victim of deception:
  
  • men who were simply the __s of their unscrupulous leaders.

Question 89

pertinacious

Answer 89

adjective formal

• holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action:
  
  • he worked with a ___ resistance to interruptions.

Question 90

presumptuous

Answer 90

adjective

• (of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate:
  
  • I hope I won’t be considered ___ if I offer some advice.

Question 91

probity

Answer 91

noun [mass noun] formal

• the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency:
  
  • financial ___.

Question 92

specious

Answer 92

adjective

• superficially plausible, but actually wrong:
  
  • a ___ argument.
• misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive:
  
  • the music trade gives Golden Oldies a ___ appearance of novelty.

Question 93

subvert

Answer 93

verb [with object]

• undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution):
  
  • an attempt to ___ democratic government.

Question 94

timorous

Answer 94

adjective

• showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence:
  
  • a __ voice.

Question 95

tractable

Answer 95

adjective

• (of a person) easy to control or influence:
  
  • she has always been ____ and obedient, even as a child.
• • (of a situation or problem) easy to deal with:
  
  • trying to make the mathematics ____.

Question 96

transient

Answer 96

adjective

• lasting only for a short time; impermanent:
  
  • a ___ cold spell.
• staying or working in a place for a short time only:
  
  • the ___ nature of the labour force in catering.

noun

• a person who is staying or working in a place for a short time only.
• a momentary variation in current, voltage, or frequency.

pasajero

Question 97

ubiquitious

Answer 97

adjective

• present, appearing, or found everywhere:
  
  • his ___ influence was felt by all the family
  • cowboy hats are ___ among the male singers.

Question 98

underscore

Answer 98

noun

• a line drawn under a word or phrase for emphasis.
• (on a computer or typewriter keyboard) a short horizontal line _ on the baseline.

verb

• underline (something).
• emphasize:
  
  • the company __ the progress made with fuel cells.

Question 99

venal

Answer 99

adjective

• showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt:
  
  • local customs officers are notoriously __
  • their generosity had been at least partly __.

Question 100

dearth

Answer 100

noun

• a scarcity or lack of something:
  
  • there is a ___ of evidence.
• Archaic a situation where food is in short supply.

Question 101

hyperbole

Answer 101

noun [mass noun]

• exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally:
  
  • he vowed revenge with oaths and ___
  • [mass noun] : you can’t accuse us of ___

Question 102

indolent

Answer 102

adjective

• wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy:
  
  • they were ____ and addicted to a life of pleasure.
• Medicine (of a disease or condition) causing little or no pain.
• (especially of an ulcer) slow to develop, progress, or heal; persistent

Question 103

insular

Answer 103

adjective

• ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience:
  
  • a stubbornly ___ farming people.
• lacking contact with other people:
  
  • people living restricted and sometimes ___ existences.
• relating to or from an island:
  
  • goods of ___ origin.
• (of climate) equable because of the influence of the sea.

Question 104

intransigent

Answer 104

adjective

• unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something:
  
  • her father had tried persuasion, but she was ___

Question 105

loathe

Answer 105

verb [with object]

• feel intense dislike or disgust for:
  
  • she __ him on sight.

Question 106

platitude

Answer 106

noun

• a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful:
  
  • she began uttering liberal ___.

Question 107

sedulous

Answer 107

adjective

• (of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence:
  
  • he watched himself with the most __ care.

Question 108

stern

Answer 108

adjective

• (of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline:
  
  • a smile transformed his ____ face
  • Mama looked ____.
• (of an act or statement) strict and severe:
  
  • ____ measures to restrict vehicle growth.
• (of competition or opposition) putting someone or something under extreme pressure:
  
  • the past year has been a ____ test of the ability of British industry.

Question 109

tendentious

Answer 109

adjective

• expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one:
  
  • a ___ reading of history.

Question 110

convivial

Answer 110

adjective

• (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable:
  
  • a ____ cocktail party.
• (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial:
  
  • she was relaxed and ____.

Question 111

agregious

Answer 111

adjective

• outstandingly bad; shocking:
  
  • ___ abuses of copyright.
• archaic remarkably good

Question 112

evanescent

Answer 112

adjective

• mainly literary soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing:
  
  • the evanescent Arctic summer.

Question 113

forestal

Answer 113

verb [with object]

• prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking advance action:
  
  • they will present their resignations to ____ a vote of no confidence.
• act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent them from doing something:
  
  • he would have spoken but David ____ him.
• historical buy up (goods) in order to profit by an enhanced price.

Question 114

gainsay

Answer 114

verb

• deny or contradict (a fact or statement):
  
  • the impact of the railways cannot be ____d.
• • speak against or oppose (someone):
  
  • none could ____ her.

Question 115

galvanize

Answer 115

verb [with object]

• shock or excite (someone) into taking action:
  
  • the urgency of his voice ____d them into action.
• coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc:
  
  • they promised they would ____ the iron railings to prevent rusting.

Question 116

indiscriminate

Answer 116

adjective

• done at random or without careful judgement:
  
  • the ____ use of antibiotics can cause problems.
• • (of a person) not using or exercising discrimination:
  
  • she was ____ with her affections

Question 117

nettlesome

Answer 117

adjective mainly US

• causing annoyance or difficulty:
  
  • ____ regional disputes.

Question 118

obviate

Answer 118

verb [with object]

• remove (a need or difficulty):
  
  • the presence of roller blinds ____d the need for curtains.
• avoid or prevent (something undesirable):
  
  • a parachute can be used to ____ disaster.

Question 119

oust

Answer 119

verb [with object]

• drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place:
  
  • the reformists were ___ed from power.
• Law deprive of or exclude from possession of something. Take away (a court’s jurisdiction) in a matter.

Question 120

perfidy

Answer 120

noun [mass noun] literary

• the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy:
  
  • it was an example of his ___

Question 121

profuse

Answer 121

adjective

• (especially of something offered or discharged) very plentiful; abundant:
  
  • I offered my ___ apologies.
• • archaic (of a person) extravagant:
  
  • they are __ in hospitality.

Question 122

sagacious

Answer 122

adjective

• having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd:
  
  • they were ___ enough to avoid any outright confrontation.

Question 123

sanguine

Answer 123

adjective

• optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation:
  
  • he is ____ about prospects for the global economy
  • the committee takes a more ____ view.

Question 124

scant

Answer 124

adjective

• barely sufficient or adequate:
  
  • companies with ____ regard for the safety of future generations.
• [attributive] barely amounting to a specified number or quantity:
  
  • she weighed a ____ two pounds.

Question 125

skulduggery

Answer 125

noun [mass noun]

• underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities:
  
  • a firm that investigates commercial __

Question 126

vapid

Answer 126

adjective

• offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland:
  
  • tuneful but ___ musical comedies.

Question 127

boorish

Answer 127

adjective

• rough and bad-mannered; coarse:
  
  • ___ behaviour.

Question 128

brook

Answer 128

verb [with object and negative] formal

• tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition):
  
  • Jenny would ___ no criticism of Matthew.

Question 129

circumspect

Answer 129

adjective

• wary and unwilling to take risks:
  
  • the officials were very ___ in their statements.

Question 130

comity

Answer 130

noun (plural comities) formal

• an association of nations for their mutual benefit.
• [mass noun] courtesy and considerate behaviour towards others:
  
  • a show of public __ in the White House.

Question 131

deleterious

Answer 131

adjective formal

• causing harm or damage:
  
  • divorce is assumed to have ___ effects on children.

Question 132

edify

Answer 132

verb

• instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually:
  
  • Rachel had __ed their childhood with frequent readings from Belloc.

Question 133

elicit

Answer 133

• evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone:
  
  • I tried to ___ a smile from Joanna
  • the work __ed enormous public interest.

Question 134

feeble

Answer 134

adjective

• lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness:
  
  • by now, he was too ____ to leave his room.
• (of a sound) faint:
  
  • her ____ cries of pain.
• lacking strength of character: I
  
  • know it’s ____ but I’ve never been one to stand up for myself.
• failing to convince or impress:
  
  • a ____ excuse.

Question 135

forbear

Answer 135

• politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain:
  
  • he modestly ___ to include his own work.
• • [with object] refrain from doing or using (something):
  
  • Rebecca could not ___ a smile.

Question 136

haphazard

Answer 136

adjective

• lacking any obvious principle of organization:
  
  • the music business works in a ___ fashion.

Question 137

hodgepodge

Answer 137

noun North American

• a confused mixture; a hotchpotch:
  
  • Rob’s living room was a ___ of modern furniture and antiques.

Question 138

mordant

Answer 138

adjective

• (especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting:
  
  • a ___ sense of humour.

Question 139

outstrip

Answer 139

verb (outstrips, outstripping, outstripped) [with object]

• move faster than and overtake (someone else):
  
  • during the morning warm-up, he once again __ed the field.
• • exceed:
  
  • supply far __ed demand.

Question 140

precarious

Answer 140

adjective

• not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse:
  
  • a __ ladder.
• dependent on chance; uncertain:
  
  • he made a ___ living as a painter.

Question 141

trifling

Answer 141

adjective

• unimportant or trivial:
  
  • a ___ sum.

Question 142

acumen

Answer 142

noun [mass noun]

• the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions:
  
  • she hides a shrewd business -___.

Question 143

befuddled

Answer 143

adjective

• unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed:
  
  • even in my __ state I could see that they meant trouble
  • he has an air of __ unworldliness.

Question 144

eschew

Answer 144

verb [with object]

• deliberately avoid using; abstain from:
  
  • he appealed to the crowd to ___ violence

Question 145

esoteric

Answer 145

adjective

• intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest:
  
  • __ philosophical debates.

Question 146

exculpate

Answer 146

verb [with object] formal

• show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing:
  
  • the article ___d the mayor.

Question 147

fastidious

Answer 147

adjective

• very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail:
  
  • she dressed with ___ care.
• very concerned about matters of cleanliness:
  
  • the child seemed ___ about getting her fingers dirty

Question 148

feign

Answer 148

verb [with object]

• pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury):
  
  • she __ed nervousness.

fingir

Question 149

hamper

Answer 149

noun

• a basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used for food, cutlery, and plates on a picnic:
  
  • a picnic ____.
• North American a large basket with a lid, used for laundry:
  
  • a laundry ____.

Question 150

nonchalant

Answer 150

adjective

• (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm:
  
  • she gave a ___ shrug.

Question 151

portend

Answer 151

verb [with object]

• be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen:
  
  • the eclipses ____ some major events.

Question 152

salutary

Answer 152

adjective

• (especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial:
  
  • it failed to draw __ lessons from Britain’s loss of its colonies.

Question 153

sever

Answer 153

verb [with object]

• divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and forcibly:
  
  • the head was ____d from the body.
• • put an end to (a connection or relationship); break off:
  
  • the notice itself may be sufficient to ____ the joint tenancy.

Question 154

slight

Answer 154

adjective

• small in degree; inconsiderable:
  
  • a ____ increase
  • a ____ ankle injury
  • the chance of success is very ____.
• (especially of a creative work) not profound or substantial; rather trivial or superficial:
  
  • a ____ romantic comedy.
• (of a person or their build) not sturdy; thin or slender:
  
  • she was ____ and delicate-looking.

Question 155

supersede

Answer 155

verb [with object]

• take the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use); supplant:
  
  • the older models of car have now been ___.

Question 156

tout

Answer 156

Verb

• [with object] attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach:
  
  • Sanjay was ____ing his wares
  • shop managers would stand in the street ____ing for business.
• attempt to persuade people of the merits of:
  
  • she was ____ed as a potential Prime Minister.

Question 157

wane

Answer 157

verb [no object]

• (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.
• (of a state or feeling) decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker:
  
  • confidence in the dollar ___ed.

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