Kaplan Flashcards
1
Q
Abase
A
to humble; disgrace
2
Q
Abate
A
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
3
Q
Abdicate
A
to give up a position, right, or power
4
Q
Aberrant
A
deviating from what is normal or expected
5
Q
Abeyance
A
temporary suppression or supension
6
Q
Abjure
A
to reject; abandon formally
7
Q
Abscond
A
to leave secretly
8
Q
Abstain
A
to chose not to do something
9
Q
Abstemious
A
moderate in appetite
10
Q
Abyss
A
an extreely deep hole
11
Q
Accretion
A
a growth in size; increase in amount
12
Q
Acidulous
A
sour in taste or manner
13
Q
Acme
A
highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable
14
Q
Adulterate
A
to make impure
15
Q
Advocate
A
to speak in favor of
16
Q
Aerie
A
a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
17
Q
Aesthetic
A
concerning the appreciation of beauty
18
Q
Affected
A
phony; artificial
19
Q
Aggrandize
A
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
20
Q
Alacrity
A
cheerful readiness, promptness or willingness (speed)
21
Q
Alleviate
A
to make more bearable
22
Q
Amalgamate
A
to combine; to mix together
23
Q
Ambiguous
A
doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways
24
Q
Ameliorate
A
to make better; to improve
25
Amortize
to diminish by installment payments
26
Amulet
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
27
Anachronism
something out of place in time
28
Analgesia
a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
29
Analogous
similar or alike insome way; equivalent to
30
Anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
31
Anomaly
deviation from what is normal
32
Antagonize
to annoy or provoke to anger
33
Antipathy
extreme dislike
34
Apathy
lack of interest or emotion
35
Apocryphal
of questionable authority or authenticity
36
Apostate
one who renounces a religious faith
37
Approbation
approval and praise
38
Arbitrary
determined by chance or impulse
39
Arbitrate
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
40
Archaic
ancient; old-fashioned
41
Ardor
intense and passionate feeling
42
Arrogate
to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
43
Articulate
able to speak clearly and expressively
44
Assail
to attack; assault
45
Assuage
to make something unpleasant less severe
46
Attenuate
to reduce in force or degree; weaken
47
Audacious
fearless and daring
48
Augury
prophecy; prediction of events
49
August
dignified; grandiose
50
Austere
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
51
Axiom
premise; postulate; self-evident truth
52
Banal
predictable; cliched; boring
53
Belfry
bell tower; room in which a bell in hung
54
Bevy
group
55
Bifurcate
to divide into two parts
56
Bilk
to cheat; defraud
57
Blight
to afflict; destroy
58
Blithe
joyful; cheerful; or without appropriate thought
59
Bolster
to support; prop up
60
Bombastic
pompous in speech and manner
61
Bonhomie
good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
62
Boor
crude person, one lacking manners or taste
63
Burgeon
to grow and flourish
64
Burnish
to polish
65
Cabal
a secret group seeking to overturn something
66
Cacophony
harsh, jarring noise
67
Calumny
a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation
68
Canard
a lie
69
Candid
impartial and honest in speech
70
Capricious
changing one's mind quickly and often
71
Cartography
science or art of making maps
72
Castigate
to punish or criticize harshly
73
Catalyst
something that brings about a change in something else
74
Catholic
universal broad and comprehensive
75
Caustic
biting in wit
76
Chaos
great disorder or confused situation
77
Chauvinist
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
78
Chicanery
deception by means of craft or guile
79
Circumspect
cautious; aware of potential consequences
80
Cloying
sickly sweet; excessive
81
Coalesce
to grow together to form a single whole
82
Coffer
strongbox; large chest for money
83
Cogent
convincing and well-reasoned
84
Collusion
collaboration; complicity; conspiracy
85
Condone
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
86
Connoisseur
a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
87
Contrite
deeply sorrowful and repentatnt for a wrong
88
Contumacious
rebellious
89
Convoluted
intricate and complicated
90
Corroborate
to support with evidence
91
Cosset
to pamper; treat with great care
92
Coterie
an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose
93
Craven
lacking courage
94
Credulous
too trusting; gullible
95
Crescendo
steadily increasing in volume or force
96
Cupidity
greed; strong desire
97
Curmudgeon
cranky person, usually old
98
Debutante
young woman making debut in high society
99
Declivity
downward slope
100
Decorous
proper; tasteful; socially correct
101
Decorum
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
102
Deface
to mar the appearance of; vandalize
103
Deference
respect; courtesy
104
Deleterious
subtly or unexpectedly harmful
105
Demagogue
a leader or rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
106
Demur
to express doubts or objections
107
Deride
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
108
Desiccate
to dry out thoroughly
109
Desultory
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
110
Diaphanous
allowing light to show through; delicate
111
Diatribe
an abusive, condemnatory speech
112
Dictum
authoritative statement
113
Diffident
lacking self-confidence
114
Dilate
to make larger; expand
115
Dilatory
intended to delay
116
Dilettante
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
117
Dirge
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
118
Disabuse
to set right; free from error
119
Discern
to perceive or recognize
120
Disparate
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
121
Dissemble
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
122
Dissonance
a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds
123
Distaff
the female branch of a family
124
Distend
to swell, inflate, or bloat
125
Dither
to act confusedly or without clear purpose
126
Diurnal
existing during the day
127
Divine
to foretell or know by inspiration
128
Doctrinaire
rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic
129
Dogma
a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief
130
Dogmatic
dictatorial in one's opinions
131
Droll
amusing in a wry, subtle way
132
Dupe
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
133
Dyspeptic
suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
134
Ebullient
exhilarated; full of enthusiam and high spirits
135
Eclectic
selecting from or made up from a variety of soures
136
Edify
to instruct morally and spiritually
137
Efficacy
effectiveness
138
Effigy
stuffed doll; likeness of a person
139
Effrontery
impudent boldness; audacity
140
Elegy
a sorrowful poem or speech
141
Eloquent
persuassive and moving, espcially in speech
142
Embellish
to add ornamental or fictitious details
143
Emulate
to copy; to try to equal or excel
144
Encomium
warm praise
145
Endemic
belinging to a particular area; inherent
146
Enervate
to reduce in strength
147
Engender
to produce, cause, or bring about
148
Enigma
a puzzle; a mystery
149
Enumerate
to count, list, or itemize
150
Ephemeral
lasting a short time
151
Epicure
person with refined taste in food and wine
152
Equivocate
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
153
Erratic
wandering and unpredictable
154
Ersatz
fake
155
Erudite
learned; scholarly; bookish
156
Eschew
to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)
157
Esoteric
known or understood only by a few
158
Estimable
admirable
159
Ethos
beliefs or character of a group
160
Eulogy
speech in praise of someone
161
Euphemism
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
162
Euphony
pleasant, harmonious sound
163
Exacerbate
to make worse
164
Exculpate
to clear from blame; prove innocent
165
Exigent
urgent; requiring immediate action
166
Exonerate
to clear of blame
167
Explicit
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
168
Exponent
one who champions or advocates
169
Exprugate
to censor
170
Fallow
dormant; unused
171
Fanatical
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
172
Fatuous
stupid; foolishly self-satisfied
173
Fawn
to grovel
174
Fecund
fertile; fruitful; productive
175
Fervid
intensely emotional; feverish
176
Fetid
foul-smelling; putrid
177
Flag
to decline in vigor; strength; or interest
178
Florid
red/flushed complexion; excessively complicated
179
Foment
to arouse or incite; instigate
180
Ford
to cross a body of water by wading
181
Forestall
to prevent or delay; anticipate
182
Fortuitous
happening by chance; fortunate
183
Fractious
unruly; rebellious
184
Frenetic
frantic; frenzied
185
Frugality
tending to be thrifty or cheap
186
Furtive
secret; stealthy
187
Gambol
to dance or skip around playfully
188
Garner
to gather and store
189
Garrulous
tending to talk a lot
190
Gestation
growth process from conception to birth
191
Glib
fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual
192
Glower
to glare or stare angrily and intensely
193
Gradation
process occurring by regular degrees or stages; variation in color
194
Gregarious
outgoing; sociable
195
Grievous
causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing
196
Grovel
to humble oneself in a demeaning way
197
Guile
deceit; trickery
198
Gullible
easily deceived
199
Hapless
unfortunate; having bad luck
200
Hegemony
the domination of one state or group over its allies
201
Hermetic
tightly sealed
202
Heterogeneous
composed of unlike parts; different; diverse
203
Hoary
very old; whitish or gray from age
204
Homogeneous
of a similar kind
205
Husband
to manage economically; to use sparingly
206
Hyperbole
purposeful exaggeration for effect
207
Iconoclast
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
208
Idiosyncrasy
peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity
209
Ignoble
having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean
210
Imbue
to infuse, dye, wet, or moisten
211
Impasse
blocked path; dilemma with no solution
212
Impecunious
poor; having no money
213
Imperturbable
not capable of being disturbed
214
Impervious
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
215
Impetuous
quick to act without thinking
216
Impious
not devout in religion
217
Implacable
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
218
Imprecation
a curse
219
Impugn
to call into question; to attack verbally
220
Incarnadine
blood-red in color
221
Inchoate
no fully formed; disorganized
222
Inculcate
to teach; impress in the mind
223
Indolent
habitually lazy or idle
224
Inexorable
inflexible; unyielding
225
Ingenuous
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
226
Ingrate
ungrateful person
227
Ingratiate
to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage
228
Inimical
hostile; unfriendly
229
Iniquity
sin; evil act
230
Innocuous
harmless
231
Inquest
an investigatin; an inquiry
232
Insipid
lacking interest or flavor
233
Insurrection
rebellion
234
Inter
to bury
235
Interregnum
period between reigns
236
Intractable
not easily managed or manipulated
237
Intransigent
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
238
Latent
potential that is not readily apparent
239
Laud
to giv praise; to glorify
240
Lavish
extremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly
241
Leery
suspicious
242
Languid
lacking energy; indifferent
243
Lapidary
relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them
244
Larceny
theft of property
245
Largess
generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior
246
Lassitude
a state of diminished energy
247
Legerdemain
trickery
248
Lethargic
acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
249
Levity
an inappropriate lack of seriousness; overly casual
250
Liberal
tolerant or broad-minded; generous or lavish
251
Libertine
a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint
252
Intrepid
fearless; resolutely courageous
253
Inundate
to overwhelm; to cover with water
254
Inure
to harden; accustom; become used to
255
Invective
abusive language
256
Investiture
ceremony conferring authority
257
Invidious
envious, obnoxious, or offensive, likely to promote ill-will
258
Irascible
easily made angry
259
Itinerant
wandering from place to place; unsettled
260
Jargon
nonsensical talk; specialized language
261
Jettison
to discard; to get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering
262
Jingoism
belligerent support of one's country
263
Jocular
playful; humorous
264
Judicious
sensible; showing good judgement
265
Juncture
point of time, especially where two things are joined
266
Keen
having a sharp edge; intellectually sharp; perceptive
267
Kindle
to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire
268
Kinetic
relating to motion; characterized by movement
269
Knell
sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure
270
Kudos
fame, glory, or honor
271
Lachrymose
tearful
272
Laconic
using few words
273
Lament
to express sorrow; to grieve
274
Lampoon
to ridicule with satire
275
Licentious
immoral; unrestrained by society
276
Limpid
clear; transparent
277
Lionize
to treat as a celebrity
278
Lissome
easily flexed; limber; agile
279
Listless
lacking energy and enthusiasm
280
Livid
discolored from a bruise; pale; reddened with anger
281
Loquacious
talkative
282
Lucid
clear and esily understood
283
Lugubrious
sorrowful; mournful; dismal
284
Lumber
to move slowly and awkwardly
285
Luminous
btight; brilliant; glowing
286
Machination
plot or scheme
287
Maelstrom
whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind
288
Magnate
powerful or influential person
289
Malediction
a curse; a wish of evil upon another
290
Malinger
to evade responibilty by pretending to be ill
291
Malleable
capable of being shaped
292
Mannered
artifical or stilted in character
293
Mar
to damage or deface; spoil
294
Martinet
strict discipliarian; one who rigidly follows rules
295
Maudlin
overly sentimental
296
Mendacious
dishonest
297
Mendicant
beggar
298
Mercurial
quick, shrewd, and unpredictable
299
Meretricious
gaudy; falsely attractive
300
Metaphor
figure of speech comparing two different things
301
Meticulous
extremely careful; fastidious; painstaking
302
Militate
to operate against; work against
303
Mirth
frivolity; gaiety; laughter
304
Misanthrope
a person who dislikes others
305
Missive
a written note or letter
306
Mitigate
to soften; to lessen
307
Mollify
to calm or make less severe
308
Molt
to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically
309
Monastic
extremly plain or secluded, as in a monastery
310
Monotony
no variaion; tedioulsly the same
311
Mores
fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes
312
Multifarious
diverse
313
Myopic
lacking foresight; having a narrow view or long-range perspective
314
Nadir
lowest point
315
Naive
lacking sophistication or experience
316
Nascent
starting to develop; coming into existence
317
Neologism
new word or expression
318
Neophyte
novice; beginner
319
Nettle
to irritate
320
Noisome
stinking; putrid
321
Nominal
existing in name only; negligble
322
Nuance
a subltle expression of meaning or quality
323
Numismatics
coin collecting
324
Obdurate
hardening in feeling; resistant to persuasion
325
Oblique
indirect or evasive; misleading or devious
326
Obsequious
overly submissive and eager to please
327
Obstinate
stubborn; unyielding
328
Obviate
to prevent; to make unnecessary
329
Occlude
to stop up; prevent the passage of
330
Officious
too helpful; meddlesome
331
Onerous
troublesome and oppresive; burdensome
332
Opaque
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
333
Opine
to express an opinion
334
Opprobrium
public disgrace
335
Orotund
pompous
336
Ossify
to change in to bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern
337
Ostensible
apparent
338
Ostentation
excessive showiness
339
Overwrought
agitated; overdone
340
Palatial
relating to a palace; magnificent
341
Palliate
to make less serious; ease
342
Pallid
lacking color or liveliness
343
Panache
flamboyance or dash in style and action; verve
344
Panegyric
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
345
Panoply
impressive array
346
Paradox
a contradiction or dilemma
347
Paragon
model of excellence or perfection
348
Pare
to trim off excess; reduce
349
Pariah
an outcast
350
Parley
discussion, usually between enemies
351
Parry
to ward off or deflect, especially by a quickwitted answer
352
Pastiche
piece of literature or music imitating other works
353
Pathogenic
causing disease
354
Peccadillo
minor sin or offense
355
Pedant
someone who shows off learning
356
Pejorative
having bad connotations; disparaging
357
Penury
an oppressive lack of resources (as money); severe poverty
358
Peregrinate
to wander fro place to place; to travel; especially on foot
359
Perfidious
willing to betray one's trust
360
Perfunctory
done in a routine way; indifferent
361
Peripatetic
wandering from place to place, especially on foot
362
Permeate
to penetrate
363
Perspicacious
shrewd, astute, or keen-witted
364
Pervade
to be present throughout; to permeate
365
Phalanx
a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things
366
Philanthropy
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
367
Philistine
a person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values
368
Phlegmatic
calm and unemotional in temperament
369
Pithy
profound or substantial yet concise, succinct and to the point
370
Placate
to soothe or pacify
371
Plastic
able to be molded, altered, or bent
372
Plebeian
crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners
373
Plethora
excess
374
Plucky
courageous; spunky
375
Polemic
controversy; argument; verbal attack
376
Politic
shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic
377
Polyglot
a speaker of many languages
378
Posit
to assume as real or conceded; propose as an explanation
379
Potentate
a monarch or ruler with great power
380
Pragmatic
practical, as opposed to idealistic
381
Prattle
meaningless, foolish talk
382
Precipitate
to throw violently or bring about abruplty; lacking deliberation
383
Precis
short summary of facts
384
Prescient
having foresight
385
Prevaricate
to lie or deviate from the truth
386
Pristine
fresh and clean; uncorrupted
387
Probity
complete honesty and integrity
388
Proclivity
a natural inclination or predisposition
389
Prodigal
lavish; wasteful
390
Profligate
corrupt; degenerate
391
Proliferate
to increase in number quickly
392
Propitiate
to conciliate; to appease
393
Propriety
the quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs
394
Prudence
wisdom, caution, or restraint
395
Puerile
childish, immature, or silly
396
Pugilism
boxing
397
Pulchritude
beauty
398
Pungent
sharp and irritating to the senses
399
Pusillanimous
cowardly; without courage
400
Querulous
inclined to complain; irritable
401
Quiescent
motionless
402
Quixotic
overly idealistic; impractical
403
Quotidian
occurring daily; commonplace
404
Raconteur
witty, skillful storyteller
405
Rarefy
to make thinner or sparser
406
Redress
relief from wrong or injury
407
Rejoinder
response
408
Repast
meal or mealtime
409
Replete
abundantly supplied, complete
410
Repose
rexlation; leisure
411
Repudiate
to reject the validity of
412
Requite
to return or repay
413
Restive
impatient, uneasy, or restless
414
Reticent
silent; reserved
415
Rhetoric
effective writing or speaking
416
Ribald
humorous in a vulgar way
417
Rococo
very highly ornamented; relating to an 18th century artistic style of elaborate ornamentation
418
Rustic
rural
419
Sacrosanct
extremely sacred; beyond criticism
420
Sagacious
shrewd; wise
421
Salient
prominent; of notable significance
422
Salubrious
healthful
423
Sanguine
ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
424
Sardonic
cynical; scornfully mocking
425
Satiate
to satisfy fully or overindulge
426
Scintilla
trace amount
427
Sedition
behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state
428
Sentient
aware; conscious; able to perceive
429
Seraphic
angelic; sweet
430
Sinecure
a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work
431
Slake
quench or satisfy
432
Sobriquet
nickname
433
Solecism
gtrammatical mistake; blunder in speech
434
Soporific
causing sleep or lethargy
435
Spartan
highly self-disciplined; frugal; austere
436
Specious
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
437
Sportive
frolicsome; playful
438
Stasis
a state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation
439
Stentorian
extremely loud
440
Stigma
a mark of shame or discredit
441
Stolid
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
442
Stratagem
trick designed to deceive an enemy
443
Sublime
lofty or grand
444
Sully
to tarnish; taint
445
Supplant
to replace (another) by force; to take the place of
446
Surfeit
excessive amount
447
Surly
rude and bad-tempered
448
Sybarite
a person devoted to pleasure and luxury
449
Sycophant
a self-serving flatterer; yes-man
450
Symbiosis
cooperation; mutual helpfulness
451
Syncopation
temporary irregularity in musical rhythm
452
Tacit
done without using words
453
Taciturn
silent; not talkative
454
Talon
claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey
455
Tangential
digressing; diverting
456
Tawdry
gaudy, cheap,or showy
457
Terrestrial
earthly; down to earth; commonplace
458
Tirade
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
459
Toady
one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
460
Tome
book, usually large and academic
461
Torpor
extreme mental and physical sluggishness
462
Transitory
temporary; lasting a brief time
463
Trenchant
acute, sharp, or incisive; forecful; effective
464
Turgid
swollen as from a fluid; bloated
465
Tyro
beginner; novice
466
Umbrage
offense; resentment
467
Unconscionable
unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust
468
Unequivocal
absolute; certain
469
Upbraid
to scold sharply
470
Usury
the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
471
Vacillate
to physically sway or to be indecisive
472
Variegated
varied; marked with different colors
473
Venerable
respected because of age
474
Venerate
to respect deeply
475
Veracity
filled with truth and accuracy
476
Verbose
wordy
477
Verdant
green with vegtation; inexperienced
478
Vernal
related to spring; fresh
479
Vestige
a trace; remnant
480
Vex
to annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuse
481
Vicissitude
a change or variation; ups and downs
482
Vim
vitality and energy
483
Viscous
thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid
484
Vituperate
to abuse verbally; berate
485
Volatile
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
486
Voluble
talkative; speaking easily; glib
487
Wan
sickly pale
488
Wanton
undisciplined; unrestrained; reckless
489
Waver
to fluctuate between choices
490
Whimsical
lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
491
Wily
clever; deceptive
492
Winsome
charming; happily engaging
493
Wizened
shriveled; withered; wrinkled
494
Wraith
a ghost or specter; a ghost of a living person seen just before his or her death
495
Xenophobia
a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
496
Yoke
to join together
497
Zeal
passion; excitement
498
Zealot
someone passionately devoted to a cause
499
Zenith
the point of culmination; peak
500
Zephyr
a gentle breeze; something airy or usubstantial
