Hard words

Question 1

adduce

uh-doos

Answer 1

v. to offer as proof in an argument

Question 2

obviate

ob-vee-ehyt

Answer 2

v. to anticipate and prevent

v. to make obsolete

Question 3

simper

sim-per

Answer 3

v. to say with a coy smile; to smirk

Question 4

ineluctable

in-ih-luhk-tuh-buhl

Answer 4

adj. certain, inevitable, unavoidable

Question 5

traduce

truh-doos

Answer 5

v. to slander or speak maliciously of

Question 6

gainsay

geyn-sey

Answer 6

v. to declare false
v. to deny
v. to contradict or claim exception to

Question 7

pertinacious

purt-n-ey-shuhs

Answer 7

adj. holding tenaciously to a belief

adj. stubbornly unyielding

Question 8

perspicuity

purr-spih-kyoo-ih-tee

Answer 8

n. clarity or perceptiveness in speech, thought, or writing

Question 9

obstreperous

uhb-strep-er-uhs

Answer 9

adj. unruly, noisy, loudly stubborn

Question 10

officious

uh-fish-us

Answer 10

adj. prone to giving unwanted advice

Question 11

exculpate

ek-skull-pate

Answer 11

v. to free from blame

Question 12

surreptitious

ser-up-tish-us

Answer 12

adj. secretive

Question 13

odium

oh-dee-um

Answer 13

n. repugnance, hatred

n. strong dislike

Question 14

intransigent

in-tran-suh-junt

Answer 14

adj. unwilling to compromise

Question 15

Forbear

Answer 15

to refrain from doing something

Question 16

blandish

blan-dish

Answer 16

v. to coax or influence with flattery

Question 17

sanguine

sang-gwin

Answer 17

adj. cheerfully optimistic

Question 18

calumny

kal-uhm-nee

Answer 18

n. a false statement; slander, aspersion

Question 19

quotidian

kwoh-tid-ee-uhn

Answer 19

adj. everyday, commonplace, habitual

Question 20

bedizen

(bih-dahy-zuhn

Answer 20

v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner

Question 21

Inimical

Answer 21

hostile, unfriendly

Question 22

inveigh

in-vey

Answer 22

v. to attack verbally, deprecate

Question 23

panegyric

pan-ih-djirr-ik

Answer 23

n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation

Question 24

inchoate

in-koe-it

Answer 24

adj. not fully formed

Question 25

inculcate

ing-cull-kate

Answer 25

v. to teach by frequent repetition

Question 26

aspersion

uh-spur-zhuhn

Answer 26

n. the act of defamation or maligning; derogatory remark

Question 27

martinet

mar-tih-net

Answer 27

n. one who demands strict adherence to rules

Question 28

parsimonious

par-suh-moh-nee-us

Answer 28

adj. frugal; cheap

Question 29

peremptory

puh-remp-tuh-ree

Answer 29

adj. admitting of no contradiction; putting an end to further debate; haughty; imperious

Question 30

Perfidy

Answer 30

Betrayal of trust

Question 31

Perspicacity

Answer 31

Acuteness of perception

Question 32

Prevaricate

Answer 32

Deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth

Question 33

Probity

Answer 33

Honesty and decency

Question 34

Prodigal

Answer 34

One who spends wastefully

Question 35

Redoubtable

Answer 35

Awe inspiring, fearsome

Question 36

Condign

Answer 36

Deserved, adequate

Question 37

Alacrity

Answer 37

Enthusiasm

Question 38

Anodyne

Answer 38

Pain relieving

Question 39

Eschew

Answer 39

Shun avoid

Question 40

Mendacious

Answer 40

Dishonest