hspt practice Flashcards
bigot
bigot - Narrow-minded, prejudiced person
While my aunt claims she is an open-minded Christian, she is actually a bigot who criticizes most religions.
Discern
Discern - …, (v.) to see clearly, recognize
A detective’s job is to discern who is guilty of a particular crime by evaluating the evidence.
Facilitate
Facilitate - to make something occur or less difficult
As a real estate agent, my mother often helps facilitate deals between property sellers and buyers.
Indifferent
Indifferent - …, Having no preference
Because I am not a football fan, I am indifferent to the fact my husband met a popular football player yesterday.
Irascible
Irascible - …, Easily angered
It does not take much to aggravate my irascible neighbor who is annoyed by any little noise.
Languish
Languish - …, (v.) to become weak, feeble, or dull; to droop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect
If I don’t bother him, my cat will languish on the windowsill all day long.
Lax
Lax - …, Careless
Never let go of that privacy or be lax with your security.
Solace
Solace - (n.) comfort, relief; (v.) to comfort, console
It was, he told her, the only song that could bring them solace.
avert
avert - To turn away
I always avert my eyes to avoid seeing the bloody movie scenes.
Clarify
Clarify - To clear up
She added, as if to clarify the situation, that her son Randy would be there too.
Facile
Facile - easy superficial
While the adults found the video game complicated, the teenagers thought it was facile and easily played.
Grapple
Grapple - …, (n.) an iron hook used to grab and hold; (v.) to come to grips with, wrestle or fight with
He thus learned early to grapple with difficulties and to accustom himself to the necessity of precision in argument and expression.
culminate
culminate - (v.) to reach a high point of development; to end, climax
The holiday parade will culminate with the arrival of Santa Claus on his sleigh.
defer
defer - respect; courtesy
We’re trained at an early age to wait our turn, defer to our superiors and avoid bragging.
dormant
dormant - Asleep; not in an active state
Since the volcano is dormant right now, you do not have to be concerned about it erupting.
Sporadic
Sporadic - occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
Over the years, many singers have discovered success can be sporadic.
Travail
Travail - Hard work
If there is one thing the long travail of the last four presidencies has taught us, it is to be skeptical of the easy answer.
Gaunt
Gaunt - Thin, bony emaciated
After not eating for a week, the man appeared gaunt
Ungainly
Ungainly - Clumsy
The horses and cattle are of a degenerate type, small, ungainly and inured to neglect and hard usage.
allot
allot - to distribute
We know too little of the facts to allot blame to either of them.
barter
barter - (n.) an exchange in trade; (v.) to exchange goods
Thrifty parents are finding plenty of places to barter on the Web.
Candid
Candid - …, Completely honest, straightforward
For once, the media has promised to deliver a candid look at the president.
Cogitate
Cogitate - …, To think about deeply and carefully
If you are unhappy in your job, you should take some time off to get away and cogitate about whether you want to change your career path.
covet
covet - (v.) to desire something belonging to another
Their next door neighbors ( The Hackney Empire ) had always coveted the building.
deplore
deplore - (v.) to feel or express regret or disapproval
We all deplore the inhuman acts in Yugoslavia that preceded NATO action.
Frugal
Frugal - Thrifty, not costly
Fran is a frugal person because she spends endless hours clipping coupons.
mettle
mettle - strength of spirit : ability to continue despite difficulties
Maxwell joined several boards of directors in order to prove his mettle as a community leader.
aloof
aloof - distant or unsympathetic in attitude
The new kid in our school is aloof and does not talk to anyone.
Lexicon
Lexicon - …, (n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium
There is a word in there that you might want to add to your lexicon.
Jocular
Jocular - …, (adj) Humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
Her jocular personality always made the customers smile.
oblique
oblique - misleading or devious
The images he uses are complicated and sometimes oblique.
Component
Component - …, A part or element of a larger whole.
Some of the components for our American missiles are manufactured in Canada.
Vex
Vex - To annoy
If you attempt to vex the cat by pulling his tail, he is sure to bite you!
abjure
abjure - to renounce, to give up something
Although chocolate cake is Martha’s favorite dessert, she has chosen to abjure it while on her diet.
Fulsome
Fulsome - extreme flattering to the point of excess
The shy girl did not like the fulsome attention she received from the most popular boy in school.
Visage
Visage - A person’s face
A white visage reappeared behind a spring of flame.
Vocation
Vocation - An occupation or calling
Because of a lack of jobs many have turned to retail as a vocation.
Plausible
Plausible - (adj.) appearing true, reasonable, or fair
Your business proposal would be plausible if you actually had five million dollars in the bank.
nadir
nadir - lowest point
Because employees are terribly worried about losing their positions, company morale has reached a nadir.
Elegy
Elegy - …, a sorrowful poem or speech
In the last few days, he has been composing an elegy about the Haiti earthquake.
negligent
negligent - failing to take proper or normal care of something or someone
His parents say that the naval medical staff was negligent.
Capsize
Capsize - To flip over, (v.) to turn bottom side up, upset
The yacht started to capsize immediately as water poured into the damaged hull.
obstreperous
obstreperous - noisily defiant
The football fans were obstreperous throughout the championship game.
Indolent
Indolent - …, lazy
Although Hank can be indolent on his days off, he always gives one hundred percent at work.
Ruminate
Ruminate - To think, to turn over in your mind
His sudden death made us all ruminate on the true value of time.
Wrath
Wrath - Forceful anger; fury
I will not testify against the gangster because I am afraid of his wrath.
Embark
Embark - …, (v.) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest
He is about to embark on a long trip next week, which will include a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Stint
a span of time in which a person is occupied with a particular job or in a particular place
When the astronaut returned home after a long stint in space, he had to reconnect with his family.
millennium
millennium - a period of 1,000 years
He was headed straight into the battle of the millennium.
Discrete
Discrete - …, Distinct, separate
The exam was marked with discrete points for each section.
Ignoble
Ignoble - Not noble, common
The serial killer was buried in an ignoble grave in the back of the cemetery.
Wane
Wane - To decrease in size, like the moon
About half-past eight the combat began to wane, and the last shots were fired at ten.
noisome
noisome - offensive foul
He does not worry about a few thousand noisome people in the streets.
Grueling
Grueling - …, (adj.) very tiring, calling for an extreme effort
It was a grueling journey through horrible heat and humidity.
allege
allege - To assert without proof
The teacher alleged that a number of students had cheated on the test, but the accusation was later shown to be completely untrue.
Stealthy
Stealthy - Cautious, quiet, sneaky, furtive
As that time approaches the cat becomes more secretive and stealthy.
dexterous
dexterous - (adj.) skillful in the use of hands or body; clever
Since I do not often use my left hand, I am not dexterous when I use it for writing.
Pernicious
Pernicious - (adj.) extremely harmful
Because she hates me, my neighbor is always spreading pernicious lies about me.
Succumb
Succumb - to give up or give in
Even though my knee is aching, I will not succumb to the pain and drop out of the race.
mundane
mundane - ordinary
Though his friends were having a fun time at the bar, Kevin settled for a mundane evening at home.
cognizant
cognizant - Aware; having or showing knowledge of something
As a starving writer, Elaine is very cognizant of the fact that success does not come overnight.
adjacent
adjacent - (adj) near, next to, adjoining.
After college, Amy and Colleen vowed to someday buy adjacent homes so that they could be neighbors.
opulent
opulent - (adj.) wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose
Because the movie star made over ten million dollars a film, she was able to maintain an opulent lifestyle.
luminous
luminous - producing or seeming to produce light ; very bright in color
In the hands of the hero, the magic sword glowed in a luminous manner.
Diminutive
Diminutive - small
Despite its size, the diminutive robot was able to lift over three hundred pounds.
odious
odious - offensive,repungnant
Cleaning the toilet is such an odious task.
Equivocate
Equivocate - to lie using ambitious language
The crooked salesman went out of his way to equivocate the sales terms to the elderly couple.
Hamper
Hamper - To hinder, to get in the way of, to interfere with
The stormy weather will hamper rescue efforts in the mountains.
adept
adept - (adj.) thoroughly skilled; (n.) an expert
My father is adept at teaching young children difficult math and science problems by breaking them down into fun activities.
Forfeit
Forfeit - …, Surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation
Several of the basketball team players did not show up for the game so our team had to forfeit.
Serendipity
Serendipity - Luck, finding good things without looking for them
The lottery is something one wins by serendipity not by design.
Incite
Incite - …, (v.) to stir up or excite
The dictator’s lavish party only served to incite the hatred of the starving people.
agile
agile - nimble quick
All cats are nimble and agile, and their long tails aid their outstanding balance.
Fallacy
Fallacy - …, (n.) a false notion or belief; an error in thinking
Having money makes you happy is a fallacy because happiness has nothing to do with wealth.
Rapacious
Rapacious - aggressively greedy
Once this breed has been trained as an attack dog, it develops a rapacious instinct for the kill.
Verbose
Verbose - Wordy
He is very verbose in the way he describes things.
Vilify
Vilify - To abuse verbally, to malign
The politician wrote an article to vilify his opponent.
Evoke
Evoke - …, To call forth
He had no idea that his proposal would evoke such negative reactions from his colleagues.
Yearn
Yearn - To want very badly; to be filled with longing, (v.) to have a strong and earnest desire
We yearn for knowledge.
Haggard
Haggard - …, (adj.) thin, pale, and careworn as a result of worry or suffering; wild-looking
Using makeup, the artist turned the young actress into a haggard old woman.
Strident
Strident - (adj) shrill; harsh sounding
Since I had a headache, the bird’s chirping sounded quite strident to me.
ambiguous
ambiguous - doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways
Instead of being ambiguous with your words, be more clear and specific.
Distraught
Distraught - …, (adj.) very much agitated or upset as a result of emotion or mental conflict
When my father died, I was so distraught I dropped out of school.
Rue
Rue - To feel regret
He will rue the day that he crossed me
Cogent
Cogent - …, convincing and well-reasoned
Because the child was so young, I worked hard to give her cogent answers to her questions.
Gregarious
Gregarious - …, (adj.) living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others
If you want to be more approachable, show a gregarious smile.
Haven
Haven - …, (n.) a safe place
The rich river basin is a haven for reptiles and amphibians.
avid
avid - (adj) desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager
Janet is an avid reader of mystery novels and considers herself an amateur sleuth.
Zeal
Zeal - Extreme devotion
Because of Barack’s zeal for politics, he knew he would be president one day.
akin
akin - related to or alike
These great, lumbering creatures of the past seem more akin to fantasy than fiction.
Boon
Boon - Gift
The Internet can also be a boon for the faraway baseball fan.
Ire
Ire - Anger
Damian could feel his ire through the phone.
Usurp
Usurp - To seize by force
After the king dies, his brother will usurp the throne from the prince.
Dispatch
Dispatch - …, (v.) to send off for a purpose; to kill; (n.) an official message; promptness, speed; the act of killing
“he dispatched the animal with one blow.
Implore
Implore - …, To beg
The little boy implored his kidnapper to let him go.
Sham
Sham - (adj.) fake, not genuine;
He claims that the trial was a sham.
augment
augment - (v.) to make larger, increase
Because I want to augment my income, I am thinking about getting a second job.
deface
deface - vandalize
It is illegal to deface public property in the state of California
Voracious
Voracious - Having great appetite, ravenous
In the jungle, there are many voracious animals that will eat anything they can catch.
Rebuke
Rebuke - an act or expression of criticism and censure
When I was a teenager, I would avoid my mother so I would not have to listen to her rebuke my clothing choices.
Shrewd
Shrewd - Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute, clever
Ed is a shrewd deal maker; he has sold more cars per year than any salesman in the dealership’s history.
Prudent
Prudent - Careful; cautious; sensible
It is not prudent to go swimming during a hurricane.
Squalid
Squalid - filthy, wretched, debased
The homeless man had no choice but to sleep in squalid conditions.
Taciturn
Taciturn - Untalkative
My shy brother is taciturn and rarely speaks in public.
Renounce
Renounce - ) to give up or resign something
I’m sorry to say, but I must renounce this award as I have not earned it.
Sanguine
Sanguine - optimistic, hopeful, or confident about the future
Despite the fact the soldiers have not been home in eight months, they are still sanguine about seeing their families soon.
Profound
Profound - Deep; insightful, Having great depth or seriousness
I find the theory behind her analysis was very profound.
advocate
advocate - A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
Any good doctor will advocate healthy eating for his patients.
Incredulous
Incredulous - …, Disbelieving
The lottery winner was incredulous and could not believe his good fortune.
Wary
Wary - Cautious, on guard
Fluffy gave her owners a wary look when they walked in the door with a new puppy.
Query
Query - A question or request for information about something
His answer was as irritating as my repeated query.
Tirade
Tirade - long, harsh speech or verbal attack
The police arrested my Uncle Jack after he refused to end his tirade outside the courthouse.
oration
oration - (n.) a public speech for a formal occasion
The oration caused everyone in the court to cry, even the judge.
dialect
dialect - A regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
I cannot understand his Kansai dialect
affable
affable - (adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
Instead of being such a jerk, you should try being more affable!
bellicose
bellicose - warlike
John had a bellicose personality which made him a fierce competitor during wrestling competitions.
apex
apex - (n.) the highest point, tip
If you want to reach the apex of the Washington Monument, you can take the stairs or an elevator.
antithesis
antithesis - the opposite
The antithesis between color white and black makes them look great combined.
Redoubtable
Redoubtable - Intimidating
deploy
deploy - (v.) to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up
The U.S. navy has deployed two nuclear submarines in the Indian ocean.
Garrulous
Garrulous - excessively Talkative
Desperate for peace and quiet, Amanda told the garrulous man sitting next to her to “Shut up!”
Vivify
Vivify - To bring to life, animate
By trimming the plants and weeding the borders she was able to revivify the garden.
Precocious
Precocious - having mature qualities at an unusually early age
My precocious little girl thinks she knows everything there is to know about life.
Subtle
Subtle - hard to notice or see
Only the diamond expert could see the subtle difference between the real diamond and the fake one.
Smite
Smite - To strike or hit
The bully threatened to smite him with a baseball bat.
Encroach
Encroach - …, (v.) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass
My neighbor began to encroach my privacy to the point of tresspassing.
benefactor
benefactor - (n.) someone who helps another person, group, etc., by giving money
The anonymous benefactor did not want his church donation made public.
meander
meander - (v.) to move slowly without any real purpose
The confused old man will sometimes come into the store and meander for hours without making a purchase.
Repugnant
Repugnant - offensive, disagreeable, distasteful
The smell was completely repugnant to the pregnant woman.
Flagrant
Flagrant - …, Clearly offensive or bad; conspicuously acting against what is right.
During the soccer tournament, half the people in the stadium noticed the player’s flagrant behavior that got him expelled from the match.
monotonous
monotonous - used to describe something that is boring because it is always the same, Continuing in an unchanging tone;
Everyone complains about my science teacher’s uninteresting and monotonous lectures.
Laudable
Laudable - …, commendable
Even though Gerald finished the marathon in last place, the fact he actually finished the race was a laudable accomplishment.
deceptive
deceptive - Intending to mislead or trick
And with that last lie, his deception was complete.
Peripatetic
Peripatetic - traveling from place to place
Because Arthur can write from any location he chooses, he is fortunate enough to live a peripatetic lifestyle.
Protean
Protean - Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different forms or shapes
High school romances are protean and frequently short-lived.
Pivotal
Pivotal - (adj.) vitally important, essential
The day her father died was a pivotal moment in her life.
Fastidious
Fastidious - …, Difficult to please
While Henry would eat just about anything, his wife was so fastidious she barely ate anything.
Prim
Prim - Excessively proper; Prudish
Benn always looked immaculate, well dressed, so prim and proper.
ornate
ornate - Elaborately decorated
Our tour group enjoyed viewing the ornate carvings on the ceilings of the cathedral.
Pathos
Pathos - A quality that evokes pity or sadness
The pathos of the movie caused me to leave the theater with tears in my eyes.
astute
astute - wise in a clever or pratical way, (adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom
The astute businessman went from rags to riches with one great idea.
avuncular
avuncular - Helpful friendly (uncle like)
My father’s best friend Joe treats me in an avuncular manner and even calls me his niece.
abode
abode - to wait or delay, a temporary stay
The lodge was once a prince’s private hunting abode.
Foster
Foster - …, (v.) to bring up, give care to; to promote, encourage;
Punishing children for bad behavior instead of talking to them can foster feelings of guilt which result in further problems.
allure
allure - (v.) to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; (n.) a strong attraction; the power to attract, charm
I don’t know why, but this has a strange allure to me.
Potent
Potent - powerful
The smell of pure bleach was too potent to use to clean the bathroom with the door and window shut.
Susceptible
Susceptible - open to; easily influenced; lacking in resistance
Many young children get the flu vaccine so they will be less susceptible to the virus.
Chastise
Chastise - …, To punish severely
If you bully someone in Mrs. Marshall’s class, she will chastise you and keep you after school.
debut
debut - A first appearance
The group’s debut album sold over a million copies.
Confiscate
Confiscate - …, (v.) to seize by authority; to take and keep
I had my radio confiscated by the prison guards.
Connoisseur
Connoisseur - …, a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
Since you are a wine connoisseur, I thought I would ask your opinion on the best wines for my dinner party.
Servile
Servile - submissive; willing to serve others
Howard insisted his wife carry his umbrella and follow him around in a servile manner.
Prodigy
Prodigy - A person with great talent; a young genius
The seven year old chess prodigy beat every player in the room.
Tedious
Tedious - Boring, dull, tiresome
My professor’s tedious history lectures have the entire class yawning.
dilemma
dilemma - a choice between two unpleasant or difficult options
It was a dilemma when I had to choose between my sister and brother to save them from the fire.
mercenary
mercenary - A professional soldier hired by a foreign army
As long as you pay a mercenary, he will do anything you ask.
ovation
ovation - (n.) an enthusiastic public welcome, an outburst of applause
The audience gave him a rapturous standing ovation which lasted at least 14 seconds.
decipher
decipher - Decode
Scientists are studying wild and captive dolphins to decipher their secret language.
Perfidious
Perfidious - Disloyal, treacherous, violating one’s trust
Because Lawrence is such a perfidious person, you cannot believe a word he says.
Valor
Valor - Heroic courage; bravery
He showed extreme valor by risking his life to save fallen comrades under enemy fire.
Citadel
Citadel - …, (n.) a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any strong or commanding place
There was a huge citadel in the middle of the town that was heavily surrounded by guards.
crucial
crucial - (adj.) of supreme importance, decisive, critical
The final speaking test is crucial if you want to pass the course.
assimilate
assimilate - (v.) to absorb fully or make one’s own; to adopt as one’s own; to adapt fully
When Helen moved to Japan, she had to quickly assimilate a new language into her vocabulary.
Quench
Quench - to put out, extinguish, end
Even though my dad was fighting the flames, the firemen had to come help to finally quench the fire.
muse
muse - to think or say (something) in a thoughtful way, (v.) to think about in a dreamy way, ponder
I sat on the sand and mused about the beauty of the sunset.
Circumlocution
Circumlocution - Talking in a roundabout way
The student used circumlocution in an attempt to stall his teacher while he completed his homework in class.
mollify
mollify - to make (someone) less angry : to calm (someone) down
When the baby started to cry, his mother tried to mollify him with a bottle of milk.
Soporific
Soporific - Something that puts you to sleep
The professor’s boring speech was soporific and had everyone in the audience yawning.
Chaff
Chaff - …, Husks of grain separated from the seed by threshing.
It’s heartening to see only one piece of chaff in the wheat here.
Dubious
Dubious - Doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
The teacher was dubious of Johnny’s homework excuse.
Lithe
Lithe - Flexible supple graceful
Although Lisa has a lithe, athletic build, she is surprisingly clumsy.
Impede
Impede - …, To obstruct or interfere with; to delay
If you do not eat while you are sick, the lack of nutrients will impede your recovery.
Egress
Egress - An exit
The flight crew is responsible for the safe egress of the passengers.
Docile
Docile - …, (adj.) easily taught, led, or managed; obedient
Although the lion appears docile during the circus acts, he is really a fierce animal when uncontrolled by a trainer.
Laud
Laud - …, Praise
Because the soldier saved the president, everyone is going to laud him at a huge event.
accord
accord - (n.) agreement, harmony; (v.) to agree, be in harmony or bring into harmony; to grant, bestow on
Tentative accord reached in Hollywood writers’ strike.
Pseudonym
Pseudonym - A fictitious name used by an author; a pen name
He didn’t want his mother to know that he wrote such raunchy literature, so he used a pseudonym instead of his real name on his books.
nimble
nimble - able to move or learn quickly, easily, and lightly
Basketball requires strong hands and nimble fingers.
awry
awry - (adj., adv.) in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped-for course
Mail delivery often goes awry during a winter storm.
ostracize
ostracize - to exclude
Only a cruel teacher would ostracize a special needs child and not allow him to interact with other students.
Spontaneous
Spontaneous - happening in a free and natural way, without planning or external influence
We took a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas last weekend.
Perturb
Perturb - (v.) to trouble, make uneasy; to disturb greatly; to throw into confusion
My cat is easily perturbed by even the slightest sounds.
anarchy
anarchy - (n) a lack of government and law; confusion
As soon as the teacher stepped in the hall, the classroom descended into anarchy.
malcontent
malcontent - dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs
Gaining a reputation as a malcontent will not enhance your career.
Gaudy
Gaudy - (adj.) so showy that it is unattractive
When Crystal returned from the nail salon, she showed me her gaudy nails that were painted bright orange.
Turbulent
Turbulent - Chaotic, unruly, stormy, agitated
The sea looks too turbulent to go out for a sail today.
deplete
deplete - To use up
After I made my sandwich, my jar of peanut butter was completely depleted.
Trepidation
Trepidation - Fear or uneasiness about the future
Shaking with trepidation, the young man faced his fear of heights by skydiving.
Renown
Renown - Fame, glory
She was a world renown artist loved by all of her fans.
benign
benign - having no significant effect; harmless
The medicine is benign in its effects and will cause you no harm.
obdurate
obdurate - unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn
Because Janice was obdurate, she did not shed a single tear while hearing the tragic story.
banter
banter - (v.) to exchange playful remarks, tease; (n.) talk that is playful and teasing
We went to the party and just listened to the banter while waiting to be served
nomadic
nomadic - having the life of a drifter
Because my husband is a long distance truck driver, his days are very nomadic.
Copious
Copious - …, Abundant; plentiful
It takes a copious amount of food to suppress my hungry appetite.
Engender
Engender - …, to cause a feeling or attitude to exist
Some people believe violent video games engender feelings of hostility in young people.
Hew
Hew - To cut down
They hewed logs to build a cabin.
Tenacious
Tenacious - Persistent, stubborn
Trapped in the cabin, the tenacious teenager would not quit until she found a way to escape.
Flustered
Flustered - …, Nervous and confused
Before getting too flustered ask yourself some questions and see if you can figure out why this is happening.
Sage
Sage - Wise
My grandmother is very wise and offers such sage wisdom about life.
Transient
Transient - (adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time
The transient storm passed through our town rather quickly.
Endeavor
Endeavor - …, an attempt with a lot of effort
Andrew promised himself that every day he would endeavor to stay focused on achieving his goal of participating in the Iron Man competition.
crusade
crusade - To crusade is defined as to rebel against an unfair practice.
Single-handed, he began a crusade against the gross political corruption
Wax
Wax - to increase in size, like the moon
Gold has a long history of waxing and waning in allure.
Embargo
Embargo - …, (n.) an order forbidding the trade in or movement of commercial goods; any restraint or hindrance;
The United Nations imposed an arms embargo against the African country.
Jubilant
Jubilant - …, Joyful
I am jubilant to learn that my sister is finally having a baby.
counterfeit
counterfeit - (n.) an imitation designed to deceive; (adj.) not genuine, fake; (v.) to make an illegal copy
The man tried to make a purchase with a counterfeit 50 dollar bill.
edible
edible - any substance that can be used as food
I can’t believe people think snails are edible!
Elite
Elite - …, (n.) the choice part of a group of people or things; (adj.) superior
The President is constantly guarded by an elite unit of soldiers.
lucid
lucid - very clear and easy to understand ; very clear and easy to understand
I was so stressed out after a hard day’s work that I was not lucid by any means.
Incense
Incense - …, to make very angry
Zephyr
Zephyr - West wind; a gentle breeze, a gentle breeze; something airy or insubstantial
The ceiling fan created a zephyr that made everyone feel comfortable on the warm day.
apathetic
apathetic - Feeling or showing little emotion
Although James was apathetic about his classes, he loved playing football.
Impair
Impair - …, (v.) to make imperfect, damage, harm
Alcohol will impair your judgment if you drink too much.
decree
decree - An order having the force of law
The foreign government tried to reduce the population by issuing a decree limiting births.
amiss
amiss -improper; wrong
If something seems amiss in the bank, the police will be called immediately.
Zealot
Zealot - A person totally devoted to a purpose or cause, a fanatic
The security camera caught the health zealot vandalizing the soft drink manufacturer’s office.
Glut
The definition of a glut is a supply of something that is greater than the demand.
If there are too many houses on the market and not enough buyers, this is an example of a glut of houses.
audacious
audacious - fearless and daring
Although April is an audacious athlete, she does not participate in any dangerous sports.
Paragon
Paragon - model of excellence or perfection
When talking to the class, the teacher described John’s essay as a paragon that everyone should strive to reproduce.
Breach
Breach - A break(n) to break(v)
Because of a serious breach of the rules, two players were ejected from the game.
Capricious
Capricious - …, changing one’s mind quickly and often
Because of his capricious nature, Jeremy found it hard to keep a steady job.
Illiterate
Illiterate - …, unable to read or write
Upon arrival, the new students were illiterate, but after only one year they tested highest in the county.
Capacious
Capacious -
The definition of capacious is something large or roomy.
An example of capacious used as an adjective is a capacious house, a large house with tons of space.
Durable
Durable -someone or something that lasts for a long time, even with frequent use.
An example of durable is an old car that keeps on going.
Zenith
Zenith - the strongest or most successful period of time
At the zenith, the two planets will fully align because of the strong magnetic pull between them.
Raze
Raze - To demolish, level to the ground
Officials struggled with deciding whether or not to raze the abandoned church to make room for a parking lot.
Doctrine
Doctrine - belief creed dogma
The doctrine of the Trinity is a foundation of the Christian teachings
Feign
Feign - to pretend
I feign sleep when Mom checks up on me after bedtime, then I go back to playing video games when she leaves.
Immaculate
Immaculate - spotlessly clean,Pure
The gardener works seven days a week to keep my lawn immaculate.
Heinous
Heinous - …, (adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful
The criminal received the death penalty for his heinous crime.
Disgruntled
Disgruntled - …, (adj., part) in bad humor, discontented, annoyed
The German shepherd didn’t seem at all disgruntled when the Yorkie snatched his chew toy.
mimic
mimic - to copy (someone or someone’s behavior or speech) especially for humor
benighted
benighted - being in a state of intellectual darkness; ignorant; unenlightened
She is smart about a lot of things, but she is also somewhat benighted when it comes to seat belts.
Foreboding
Foreboding - .a feeling something bad is going to happen
The dark clouds are a foreboding of the storm that is soon to hit the mainland.
aspire
aspire -to hope or dream
If you aspire to be a physician, you’re going to have to be very committed to spending most of your time studying.
mirth
mirth - happiness and laughter
He could not contain his mirth and burst out laughing.
Gullible
Gullible - …, Easily deceived
The gullible woman gave all her money to a fake charity.
Formidable
Formidable - …, Menacing; causing fear or awe
Cramming 100 words for my vocabulary exam puts me in a formidable mood, but I am determined to succeed.
Torpid
Torpid - inactive, sluggish, dull
The torpid student did nothing but sleep in class each day.
Inane
Inane - …, (adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value
Your idea about eating plastic fruit is totally inane.
Clad
Clad - dressed or covered in.
The knight was clad in shining armor.
Dross
Dross - (n.) refuse, waste products
An example of dross is what is left over after separating reusable, compostable and recyclable items from the garbage.
Serene
Serene - calm; peaceful
Danielle sleeps best in a serene environment.
Veracity
Veracity - Truthfulness
The teacher doubted the student’s veracity when he turned in a paper that had obviously been written by someone else.
articulate
articulate - able to speak clearly and expressively
Because John found it difficult to articulate his love for Jessica, he wrote her a poem about his feelings.
abet
abet - to Aid
Giving the dog a treat is a way to abet his obedience.
adamant
adamant - hard stubborn
Mom, why are you adamant about me going to school everyday?
Whim
Whim - a sudden or capricious idea or fancy, impulse
She had only intended to go window shopping but ended up buying a new dress on a whim.
Dismal
Dismal - …, Causing great sadness or pessimism
It was a dismal day, cloudy, grey and damp.
Cache
Cache - A hiding place
He had a cache of weapons in his basement.
Disdain
Disdain - …, Intense dislike
The mother was in complete disdain after finding out her son failed the sixth grade again.
Guile
Guile - …, (n.) treacherous cunning, deceit
If you want to win the competition, you will need to use your guile to beat the others.
affliction
affliction - a cause of great suffering and distress
A good percentage of all homeless people suffer from some untreated mental affliction.
Lavish
Lavish - …, 1. (verb) to spend freely, 2. (adj.) opulent; costing a lot
The billionaire owned twelve cars, several lavish homes, and two airplanes.
acrid
acrid - Harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper
Sulfur has an acrid smell that is quite similar to the odor of rotten eggs.
bizarre
bizarre - weird, odd
There was a really bizarre guy on the bus this morning. I think he must have been on drugs or something.
Unctuous
Unctuous - not expressing true feelings; pretending to display true feelings
His impression of the president was unctuous and poorly done.
blatant
blatant - …, (adj.) noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense
The thief’s blatant attempt to steal the police car angered everyone in law enforcement.
Robust
Robust - Strong and healthy
The robust lifeguard was able to swim far out into the ocean to save the drowning woman.
Blithe
Blithe - carefree and unconcerned
Sarah was so blithe about her father’s death that she had a party after his funeral.
morose
morose - very serious, unhappy, and quiet
After their team lost the basketball game, the disappointed fans looked morose.
Console
Console - Comfort
My friend was upset, so in an attempt to to console her I bought her a new games console.
Pied
Pied - Multicolored, Pacthwork
a pied horse.
Pugnacious
Pugnacious - Inclined to fight, belligerent
The pugnacious little boy constantly talks back to his mother.
Stamina
Stamina - (n.) the strength needed to keep going or overcome physical or mental strain; staying power
He ran out of stamina when he tried to run the mile, so he walked the rest of the way.
Wan
Wan - Pale
His hair seemed grayer, his face wan.
credulous
credulous - too trusting; gullible
The con man was able to easily sell his wonder products to credulous buyers.
Discreet
Discreet - …, careful
In hopes of being discreet, many celebrities wear sunglasses when out in public.
Epoch
Epoch - …, A period of time
The invention of nuclear weapons marked an epoch in the history of warfare
Enigma
Enigma - …, a puzzle; a mystery
The magician’s trick was an enigma to everyone in the audience.
Hybrid
Hybrid - …,
Hybrid is defined as something that is a combination of two different things.
The dog was a hybrid combined of lab and golden retriver.
abate
abate - (v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit
With any luck, the storm will abate soon so we can still have our picnic.
deter
deter - to prevent something from happening
Her father taught her that she should never let anything deter her in her goal to get at least a bachelor’s degree.
Irate
Irate - Angry
He is starting to get irate, but he is still smiling.
Enmity
Enmity - …, (n.) hatred, ill-will
After learning John was the one who stole his truck, Henry felt a great deal of enmity towards him.
assuage
assuage - to provide relief; causing to feel better
In an effort to assuage angry customers, the store issued everyone a full refund.
lucrative
lucrative - producing money or wealth
While my mother’s bakery has not been profitable this year, it was quite lucrative last year.
Truculent
Truculent - Fierce, ready to fight, pugnacious
On Monday, the truculent bully made the mistake of starting a fight with someone who could hit harder than him.
Concur
Concur - To agree
Since we all concur, the company picnic will be scheduled for the last Friday of July.
ardor
ardor - passion
Even though I enjoy playing tennis, I do not have the ardor for it that would lead me to play the sport professionally.
Haughty
Haughty - …, Arrogant
The principal at my school is haughty and considers herself to be above everyone else.
Shackle
Shackle - (v.) to put into chains;
The chains that bind a prisoner’s hands to his ankles are an example of a shackle.
atrocity
atrocity - An act of great cruelty and wickedness
It’s sad that my country is letting this atrocity happen.
bleak
bleak - something that is gloomy, somber or exposed to wind and cold.
An example of bleak is a dark, stormy and dreary day.
Petty
Petty - (adj.) unimportant,
She has been charged with a number of petty offences but never anything as serious as attempted murder.
apocryphal
apocryphal - well-known but probably not true
The old man often shared apocryphal ghost stories with anyone who would listen.
meager
meager - very small or too small in amount
Because you only earn a meager salary, you should be very careful about your spending.
Veneer
Veneer - cover with a thin layer
The veneer on the old dresser was peeling terribly.
Toxic
Toxic - Poisonous
Pungent
Pungent - Describing a sharp, acrid smell or taste
When the pungent smell of rotten eggs filled the house, I held my nose.
Plunder
Plunder - (v.) to rob by force, especially during wartime; to seize wrongfully;
The video showed the thieves break the glass and plunder the jewelry display.
Pique
Pique - Anger
He slammed the door in a fit of pique
Brisk
Brisk - Vigorous Energetic
She went for a brisk walk to clear the cobwebs from her head.
