List 19 Flashcards
acolyte
noun:
a person who assists or follows another person or cause
James maintained power in the organization through his acolytes.
Synonyms:
lackey
disciple
minion
anoint
verb:
appoint or designate for a particular role or purpose
He was anointed as the next CEO of the company.
Synonyms:
ordain
install
crown
base
adjective:
lacking principles; morally wrong
Using someone’s vulnerability for personal gain is a base act.
Synonyms:
sordid
wicked
iniquitous
coercion
noun:
the act of persuading or forcing someone to do something using threats or violence
The confession was extracted through coercion and is not valid.
Synonyms:
oppression
duress
compulsion
coin
verb:
invent or devise a new word or phrase
She coined the term “webinar” for online seminars.
Synonyms:
conceive of
originate
formulate
cunning
adjective:
showing skill in achieving one’s ends through deceit or evasion
The fox is often portrayed as a cunning animal in fables.
Synonyms:
devious
guileful
crafty
discomfit
verb:
make someone feel uneasy or embarrassed
The unexpected question seemed to discomfit the speaker.
Synonyms:
discompose
fluster
agitate
dissent
verb:
hold or express an opinion that varies from a prevailing or official position
Several members dissented from the majority decision.
Synonyms:
demur
diverge
repudiate
===========================
noun:
difference of opinion or disagreement
There was a lot of dissent about the new policy among employees.
Synonyms:
dispute
defiance
friction
distill
verb:
extract the most important information from something
The notes were distilled from a much longer report.
Synonyms:
glean
consolidate
synthesize
dubious
adjective:
(of a person’s feeling) suspicious of
John was dubious that a “speed-reader” could truly understand the content of a book.
Synonyms:
doubtful
unresolved
skeptical
===========================
adjective:
(of a thing or concept) not to be relied upon
The origins of the artifact remain dubious.
Synonyms:
suspect
unreliable
indeterminate
ebullient
adjective:
cheerful and joyful
The ebullient child was always ready to play.
Synonyms:
buoyant
exuberant
jaunty
facetious
adjective:
treating serious issues with inappropriate humor
His facetious remarks were not well-received at the funeral.
Synonyms:
flippant
glib
waggish
fallible
adjective:
capable of making an error
As humans, we are all fallible and make mistakes.
Synonyms:
errant
flawed
error-prone
florid
adjective:
excessively complicated; including too many details
The author’s florid prose did not appeal to minimalist readers.
Synonyms:
ornate
embellished
flamboyant
gawky
adjective:
awkward or clumsy
The gawky teenager eventually grew into a graceful adult.
Synonyms:
ungainly
bumbling
graceless
inveigle
verb:
persuade someone to do something using flattery or deception
She managed to inveigle him into doing her work for her.
Synonyms:
coax
wheedle
cajole
jettison
verb:
abandon or discard (something that is no longer needed)
The crew jettisoned excess cargo to lighten the aircraft.
Synonyms:
cast aside
dispose of
relinquish
mendacity
noun:
dishonesty
His mendacity cost him the trust of his friends.
Synonyms:
insincerity
deceit
dissembling
munificent
adjective:
more generous than is usual or necessary
The munificent donation allowed the hospital to build a new wing.
Synonyms:
beneficent
philanthropic
bountiful
naive
adjective:
showing a lack of experience or judgment
Her naive assumption was that everyone would play fair.
Synonyms:
callow
gullible
ingenuous
noble
adjective:
having high moral qualities or principles
He made the noble decision to donate all his winnings to charity.
Synonyms:
virtuous
upright
righteous
parochial
adjective:
having a limited perspective; narrow-minded
The curriculum was criticized for its parochial viewpoint.
Synonyms:
myopic
insular
provincial
pedestrian
adjective:
lacking imagination or excitement; ordinary
Critics described the play as pedestrian and uninspiring.
Synonyms:
dull
plodding
tedious
prevaricate
verb:
evade or dodge the truth by being evasive
He would always prevaricate when asked about his past.
Synonyms:
equivocate
waver
fence
