Hit Parade Group 4 Flashcards
Acerbic
əˈsərbik
1) tasting sour or bitter
2 )harsh or corrosive in tone
[Latin acerbus meaning “sour-tasting”]
Aggrandize
əˈgranˌdīz
increase the power, status, or wealth of
Amenable
əˈmēnəbəl
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
Anachronism
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
Astringent
tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
[can be used to describe someone’s personality. If someone is prone to biting sarcasm and cynicism, he probably has an astringent view of the world.]
Convention
a way in which something is usually done; a generally agreed upon practice or attitude
[Think of Conventional]
Credulous
krejələs
tending to believe too readily; gullible (Noun form: credulity)
[Latin credulus meaning “easily belives”]
cynicism
the feeling of distrust or that something isn’t going to work out well
Derision
diˈriZHən
the act of deriding or treating with contempt [Derision is more than just making fun of someone — it’s mocking someone so forcefully and with such venom that you discredit the person completely]
Desiccate
desiˌkāt
to dry out, dry up and dehydrate; also means to preserve something by drying it out (beef jerky, raisins)
Dilettante
diliˈtänt,-ˈtäntē
an amateur, often one who pretends to be very knowledgeable.
Disparage
diˈsparij
to belittle or degrade a person or idea; express a negative opinion of
Fawn
to flatter or praise excessively
Flout
openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)
Garrulous
a person just won’t stop talking (and talking, and talking, and talking…)
Glib
artfully persuasive in speech; having only superficial plausibility [might be used to describe the slick car salesman who uses his polished sales pitch to talk his customers into buying lemons]
Immutable
iˈmyo͞otəbəl
not capable of change; unchanging over time or unable to be changed
Impetuous
imˈpeCHo͞oəs
acting or done quickly and without thought or care
Inimical
iˈnimikəl
not friendly; tending to obstruct or harm [Latin INIMICUS meaning “enemy”]
Intractable
hard to control or deal with; difficult to manage [Think: A CONTRACT is a document that explains how a legal situation is to be managed together. When someone is tractable they are able to be managed or handled. When they are intractable, they are unmanageable]
Intrepid
invulnerable to fear or intimidation; bold, brave, courageous [Latin IN- meaning “not” and TREPIDUS meaning “alarmed”]
Maverick
a rebel; someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action