Group 4 Flashcards
Derision
Scorn; ridicule; contemptuous treatment (adjective: derisive; verb: deride)
Desiccate
To dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
Phlegmatic
Calm; sluggish; unemotional
pristine
pure; uncorrupted; clean
probity
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant (noun: profligacy)
rarefy
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
Maverick
An independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
Mercurial
Characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
soporific
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Disparage
To slight or belittle
Astringent
Having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe
Indifferent
Having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
pragmatic
practical rather than idealistic
quixotic
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
renege
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
shard
a piece of broken pottery or glass
Ostentatious
Characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
tout
to publicly praise or promote
Dilettante
One with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
Bombast
Self-important or pompous writing or speech (adjective: bombastic)
recondite
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
tacit
implied; not explicitly stated
variegated
multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
Aggrandize
To increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige
vacillate
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver
vexation
annoyance; irritation
Anachronism
Something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
presumptuous
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
Glib
Marked by ease or informality, nonchalant, lacking in depth, superficial
unfeigned
genuine; not false or hypocritical
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
Hubris
Overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
Intrepid
Steadfast and courageous
quotidian
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
Laconic
Using few words; terse
Amenable
Agreeable; responsive to suggestion
Immutable
Not capable of change
refulgent
radiant; shiny; brilliant
pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Fawn
To flatter or praise excessively
Obfuscate
To deliberately obscure; to make confusing
trenchant
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
Convention
A generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
Cynicism
An attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness (adjective: cynical)
Flout
To show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
subtle
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Credulous
Tending to believe too readily; gullible (noun: credulity)
Imminent
About to happen; impending
volatile
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive (noun: volatility)
Alchemy
A medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold (an alchemist is one who practices alchemy)
proclivity
a natural predisposition or inclination
Pervade
To permeate throughout (adjective: pervasive)
untenable
not justifiable; not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection; not viable; undefendable
Acerbic
Having a bitter or sour taste or character; sharp; biting
Mollify
To calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
plethora
an overabundance; a surplus
Inimical
Damaging; harmful; injurious
Decorum
Polite or appropriate conduct or behavior (adjective: decorous)
terse
brief and concise in wording
Garrulous
Pointlessly talkative, talking too much
Divulge
To disclose something secret
Obstinate
Suburban; hardheaded; uncompromising
Contiguous
Sharing a border; touching; adjacent
vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate
Intractable
Not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
sedulous
diligent; persistent; hardworking
vigilant
alertly watchful
Impetuous
Hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
prosaic
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
sparse
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
Neophyte
A recent convert; a beginner; novice
