List 12 Flashcards
acrimonious
adjective:
bitter and sharp in language or tone
Their divorce was acrimonious, with both parties hurling insults.
Synonyms:
caustic
scathing
astringent
belligerent
adjective:
argumentative, threatening, or aggressive
His belligerent attitude made it hard to have a calm conversation.
Synonyms:
pugnacious
bellicose
truculent
beneficent
adjective:
kind and charitable, producing good results or benefits
The beneficent organization provided meals to the homeless.
Synonyms:
altruistic
humanitarian
benevolent
canny
adjective:
shrewd and cautious
Her canny investments made her a millionaire.
Synonyms:
astute
discerning
acute
cavalier
adjective:
exhibiting an overly casual attitude; unconcerned
His cavalier dismissal of the issue upset many.
Synonyms:
offhand
insouciant
dismissive
distressed
adjective:
experiencing nervousness, irritation, or sadness
The distressed child sought comfort from his mother.
Synonyms:
tormented
perturbed
afflicted
dwindling
adjective:
decreasing steadily in size or quantity
The dwindling supplies made survival even more challenging.
Synonyms:
diminishing
shrinking
contracting
eclipse
verb:
overshadow or surpass
The success of her latest book eclipsed all her previous works.
Synonyms:
outshine
outstrip
upstage
encyclopedic
adjective:
thorough; comprehensive in scope
His encyclopedic knowledge of history impressed everyone.
Synonyms:
exhaustive
wide-ranging
all-inclusive
exacerbate
verb:
make a situation or condition worse
His shouting only served to exacerbate the argument.
Synonyms:
inflame
compound
aggravate
exasperated
adjective:
severely irritated or angry
She was exasperated by the constant interruptions.
Synonyms:
infuriated
enraged
vexed
fungible
adjective:
interchangeable for another item of a similar type
Oil and cash are considered fungible commodities.
Synonyms:
exchangeable
equivalent
indistinguishable
hackneyed
adjective:
lacking creativity; derivative and overused
“Love at first sight” is a hackneyed plot in romance novels.
Synonyms:
trite
banal
pedestrian
incongruous
adjective:
out of place; lacking harmony
The modern building looked incongruous in the historic district.
Synonyms:
clashing
jarring
discordant
interchangeable
adjective:
capable of being used in place of each other
The parts are interchangeable between the different models.
Synonyms:
fungible
uniform
homogeneous
laconic
adjective:
economical with words; quiet and reserved
His laconic reply was simply, “No.”
Synonyms:
terse
pithy
taciturn
lucrative
adjective:
producing a significant amount of money
Selling rare antiques can be a lucrative business.
Synonyms:
gainful
remunerative
fruitful
magisterial
adjective:
possessing great authority
The judge spoke in a magisterial tone.
Synonyms:
masterful
authoritative
lordly
===========================
adjective:
exercising authority in an excessive manner
His magisterial tone left no room for debate.
Synonyms:
domineering
dictatorial
overbearing
onerous
adjective:
involving a heavy burden; challenging or difficult
The onerous task of cleaning the entire house was left to her.
Synonyms:
formidable
taxing
Herculean
opprobrium
noun:
severe criticism or public shame
He faced opprobrium for his unethical actions.
Synonyms:
vilification
vituperation
obloquy
parsimonious
adjective:
extremely frugal or stingy
His parsimonious habits meant he rarely treated others.
Synonyms:
miserly
stinting
penurious
peripheral
adjective:
of marginal importance; minor
The issue was only of peripheral importance to the main discussion.
Synonyms:
subsidiary
tangential
trivial
provocative
adjective:
causing outrage or irritation, often intentionally
His provocative statements stirred up controversy.
Synonyms:
goading
affronting
galling
renounce
verb:
reject or give up
She decided to renounce her citizenship.
Synonyms:
forswear
abjure
disavow
