Level 3 Flashcards
Taciturn (TAS-i-turn)
Silent, not talkative, holding one’s tongue, reserved, uncommunicative, reticent
Defray (di-FRAY)
To pay, provide money for, cover the cost or expenses of
Terse (rhymes with worse)
Brief and to the point, free of superfluous words, expressed in a pointed or polished way
Boon (rhymes with moon)
A blessing, timely and welcome benefit, something beneficial bestowed upon one, something to be thankful for
Proletariat (PROH-luh-TAIR-ee-it)
The working class, especially the industrial wage-earning class, which earns its living by manual labor
The adjective is proletarian
Heterogenous (HET-uh-roh-JEE-nee-us)
Varied, composed of parts of different kinds, made up of unrelated or diverse elements, mixed, dissimilar, miscellaneous
Pittance (PIT-‘ns)
A small amount, portion, or share, especially a small or meager amount of money
Glib (rhymes with rib)
Too smooth-spoken, talkative in a nonchalant and insincere way, unctuous, smarmy
Penchant (PEN-chint)
A liking, leaning, strong inclination, decided taste
Solicitous (suh-LIS-i-tus)
Concerned, showing care and attention, especially in a worried, anxious or fearful way
Circumscribe (sur-kum-SKRYB)
To limit, restrict, confine, hem in, fix the boundaries of
Dearth (rhymes with earth)
A lack, scarcity, insufficiency, inadequate supply of something needed
Ingratiating (in-GRAY-shee-AY-ting)
Flattering, attempting to win approval or curry favor, trying to gain acceptance, done to charm or please another
Mercenary (MUR-suh-NER-ee)
Greedy, done for payment only, motivated by a selfish desire for money or other reward, covetous, avaricious, venal
Extemporize (ek-STEM-puh-ryz)
To improvise a speech or answer, to speak or compose with little or no preparation, preform something in an offhand or unpremeditated way
Erudite (ER-yuh-DYT)
Learned, scholarly, possessing extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books
Austere (aw-STEER)
Severe, somber, stern, serous, grim, grave, dour (rhymes with poor)
Laconic (luh-KAHN-ik)
Using few words, briefly and often bluntly expressed, succinct, concise, terse, pithy
Ameliorate (uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt)
To make or become better or more tolerable, improve, amend, correct, reform, rectify, raise the condition or state of
Expunge (ek-SPUHNJ)
To erase, delete, cancel; punch, strike, or wipe out; eradicate, obliterate
Circumspect (SUR-kum-spekt)
Careful, cautious, wary, watchful, carefully considering all circumstances before acting or making judgement
Quiescent (kwy-ES-int)
Still, quiet, tranquil, inactive, at rest or repose
Foible (FOY-bul)
A weak point, slight flaw, minor failing, especially a slight, forgivable weakness in a person’s character
Fervent (FUR-vint)
Passionate, having or showing great warmth or intensity of feeling, fiery, earnest, impassioned
Protract (proh-TRAKT)
To draw out, drag out, extend in time, lengthen, prolong, especially to excess
Ostentatious (AHS-ten-TAY-shus)
Showy, extremely conspicuous, extravagant, flamboyant; specifically, displayed or done in a flashy, vain manner
Quandary (KWAHN-duh-ree)
A state of uncertainty, perplexity, or doubt
Censure (SEN-shur)
To blame, condemn, find fault with, criticize harshly, express stern disapproval of
Cavil (KAV-ul)
To criticize or complain unnecessarily, point out petty flaws, raise trivial or frivolous objections
Assimilate (uh-SIM-i-layt)
To absorb, take in, incorporate, appropriate
Rescind (ri-SIND)
To cancel, take back, take away, remove; also, to render void, annul, repeal
Discernible (di-SURN-i-bul)
Recognizable, detectible, perceptible, capable of being recognized by the senses or by the mind, apparent, evident, distinguishable, manifest
Cataclysm (KAT-uh-KLIZ-‘m)
A disaster, great mishap, catastrophe, violent upheaval
Narcissism (NAHR-si-SIZ-‘m)
Self-love, excessive admiration or oneself
Incriminate (in-KRIM-uh-nayt)
To charge with a crime, accuses of wrongdoing, implicate, present evidence or proof of involvement in a wrongful act
Stigma (STIG-muh)
A mark of shame or disgrace, a moral blemish, a stain on one’s character or reputation
Brevity (BREV-i-tee)
Shortness, briefness
Perquisite (PUR-kwi-zit)
A benefit, incidental gain or reward; specifically, an expected or promised benefit, privilege, or advantage received in addition to one’s normal salary or wages
Indigent (IN-di-jint)
Poor, needy, penniless, impoverished, down-and-out
Clairvoyant (klair-VOY-int)
Having exceptional powers of perception, unusually clear-sighted or discerning; specifically, able to see objects or events that others cannot
Adroit (uh-DROYT)
Skillful, clever, dexterous; specifically, showing skill in using one’s hands or in using one’s brains
Platitude (PLAT-i-tood)
A flat, dull, ordinary remark, a trite statement or a hackneyed saying, especially one uttered as if it were original or profound
Fastidious (fa-STID-ee-us)
Extremely delicate, sensitive, or particular, especially in matters of taste or behavior; dainty, fussy, finicky, scrupulous, meticulous, punctilious
Vendetta (ven-DET-uh)
A bitter, protracted feud or rivalry
Lucid (LOO-sid)
Clear, easy to see or understand, plainly expressed
Salient (SAY-lee-int)
Conspicuous, noticeable, prominent; sticking or jutting out
Categorical (KAT-uh-GOR-i-kul)
Absolute, unqualified, explicit; without exceptions, conditions, or qualifications
Inscrutable (in-SKROO-tuh-bul)
Incomprehensible, unfathomable, extremely difficult to understand, not open to investigation or analysis, esoteric, mysterious, abstruse, arcane
Construe (kun-STROO)
To interpret, explain the meaning or intention of
Allude (uh-LOOD)
To refer to something indirectly, make a casual reference, suggest, hint, insinuate, intimate
