Magoosh Advanced Vocab Flashcards
Familiarize myself with these particularly difficult to remember words
Maunder
(Verb)
1) To talk in a rambling manner.
Synonyms: prattle, blather/ blether/blither, drivel, gab, yak (SO MANY)
2) To move or act in a dreamy or idle manner.
Synonyms: wander, meander, drift, dawdle.
Impute
(Verb)
To represent something, especially one that’s undesirable, as being done or caused by someone; attribute
Importune
(Verb)
To harass someone persistently for or to do something; beseech, beg
Prolixity
(Noun)
The use of too many words to express an idea; wordiness
Synonyms: garrulousness, circumlocution, logorrhea, periphrasis, verbosity.
Intimation
(Noun)
An indication or hint; the action of making something known, especially in an indirect way; disclosure
Dovetail
(Noun)
A joint formed by one or more tapered projections (tenons) on one piece that interlock with corresponding notches or recesses (mortises) in another.
(Verb)
Fit together or cause to fit together easily and conveniently.
Impetuous
(Adj)
1) Acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
Synonyms: hasty, reckless, precipitous.
2) Moving forcefully or rapidly.
Synonyms: torrential, rampant.
Imperious
(Adj)
Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.
Synonyms: overweening, peremptory, imperial, authoritarian.
Obstreperous
(Adj)
Noisy and difficult to control.
Synonyms: unruly, refractory, truculent.
Invidious
(Adj)
1) (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur anger or resentment in others; unenviable, difficult.
2) (of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust.
Hobble
(Verb and noun)
1) To restrict the activity or development of.
2) To walk awkwardly, usually due to pain from injury.
3) Tie or strap together the legs of an animal to prevent it from straying.
Phlegmatic
(Adj)
Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition; cool, composed.
Similar to aplomb (noun).
Inchoate
(Adj)
1) Just begun and not fully or imperfectly formed and developed; rudimentary.
2) In law, “inchoate offense” is one anticipated to be committed (planning or seeking to commit further crimes).
Truculence
(Noun)
The quality of being aggressively self-assertive.
Synonyms: belligerent, vitriolic, cruel, destructive.
Brook
(Verb)
Tolerate or allow something, typically dissent or opposition
Untrammeled
(Adj)
Not deprived of freedom of action or expression; not restricted or hampered
Panegyric
(Noun)
Formal expression (public speech or published text) of praise.
Synonyms: paean, eulogy, commendation.
Discursive
(Adj)
1) Departing from the main point.
Synonyms: tangential, maundering, digressive, prolix.
2) (Of a style of speech or writing) fluent and expansive rather than formulaic and abbreviated; articulate.
Complaisant
(Adj)
Having or showing joyful willingness to do favors or to please others.
Synonyms: amenable, agreeable, obliging.
Note: this word differs from “complacent,” which means to be smugly self-satisfied.
Doughty
(Adj)
Brave and persistent.
Synonyms: dauntless, indomitable, plucky, intrepid, mettlesome.
Dissemble
(Verb)
Conceal true intentions/motives, feelings, or beliefs.
Character examples: Shigure from Fruits Basket, Light from Death Note.
Dissolution
(Noun)
1) Indulging in debauched living; dissipation.
2) The closing down or dismissal of an assembly or partnership; disbandment.
Canard
(Noun)
An unfounded rumor or story; false report.
Origin: in French, it means “duck” but also “a hoax or fabrication.” Likely came from the 16th century French phrase “vendre des canards à moitié,” (literally “to half-sell ducks”) meaning “to fool or cheat.”
Palaver
(Noun and verb)
1) A long conference between different groups of people to discuss or settle a dispute; parley.
2) Idle or misleading talk.
3) An unnecessarily elaborate or complex procedure.
Graft
(Noun and verb)
1) Corruption, especially through bribery.
2) Hard work.
3) In medicine, a surgical procedure in which tissue is transplanted.
4) To insert or fix something permanently to something else, typically in a way considered inappropriate.
Exorbitant
(Adj)
Excessive beyond reason or moderation; unreasonably high in price.
Synonyms: extortionate, inordinate, expensive.
Exiguous (adj) / Exiguity (noun)
The quality of being meager (small in size or amount); excessively inadequate.
Synonyms: scanty, sparse, skimpy, stingy, sparing.
Trenchant
(Adj)
1) Sharply perceptive; keen, sharp, penetrating.
2) Vigorously effective and incisive/articulate.
3) Of a remark, caustic or acerbic; mordacious, mordant.
4) Clear-cut, distinct.
Perfunctory
(Adj)
Of an action or gesture, carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.
Synonyms: cursory, desultory, hasty, superficial.
Persnickety
(Adj)
Placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details.
Synonyms: fussy, finicky, fastidious, punctilious.
Muckrake
(Verb)
To search out and publicize a scandal about famous people
Cavil
(Verb)
Make petty or unnecessary objections
Synonyms: carp, complain, grouch, grouse.
Hobnob
(Verb)
1) To associate familiarly.
2) Drink sociably.
Synonyms: consort, fraternize, schmooze.
Disavow
(Verb)
To deny any responsibility or support for
Harried
(Adj)
Feeling strained as a result of having demands persistently made on one.
Its verb form “harry” means “to persistently make attacks on an enemy.” Synonym: besieged (inundated by numerous requests or complaints).
Disbarred
(Verb)
Exclude someone from something
Jockeying
(Verb)
1) Struggle by every available means to gain or achieve something.
2) To handle or manipulate in a skillful manner.
Endue
(Verb)
Endow or provide with a quality or ability
Stilted
(Adj)
1) Of a manner of talking or writing, stiff and self-conscious or unnatural.
Synonyms: strained, contrived, awkward.
2) Elevated, as if on stilts; pompous, bombastic, stiff.
Character example: Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.
Arch
(Adj)
Deliberately or affectedly playful or teasing; mischievous, puckish
Arrant
(Adj)
Complete, utter.
Note: this word is different from “errant,” which means “to err or stray from the proper course or standards” (misbehaving, delinquent) or “traveling in search for adventure.”
Askance
(Adverb)
With a look of suspicion or disapproval
Atavism
(Noun)
A reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback
Bandy
(Verb)
Pass on or discuss an idea or rumor in a casual or uninformed way
Benighted
(Adj)
Fallen into a state of ignorance
Besotted
(Adj)
Strongly affectionate towards; very drunk
Braggadocio
(Noun)
Boastful or arrogant behavior
Dash
(Noun)
1) A present or gratuity; a cumshaw, bribe
2) A collision
3) A sudden check; frustration, abashment
4) An impetuous movement; a sudden onset
5) A small infusion or admixture; something mingled with something else
6) A flourish; an ostentatious parade
Dissimulation
(Noun)
Concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or character
Synonyms: pretense, dissembling
Efflorescence
(Noun)
Culmination; blossoming
Encomium
(Noun)
Formal praise
Synonyms: panegyric, commendation
Hagiography
(Noun)
Idealized biography
Insouciance
(Noun)
Lack of concern
Lickspittle
(Noun)
The practice of giving or someone who gives empty flattery for personal gain.
Synonyms: sycophant, toady, brown noser.
Mawkish
(Adj)
Sentimental in a feeble or sickly way; over-sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
Numinous
(Adj)
Indicating or suggesting the presence of a divinity
Obloquy
(Noun)
Strong public criticism or verbal abuse.
Synonyms: opprobrium, vilification, vituperation.
Etymology: “ob” means “against” and loqui” is “to speak” (think of loquacious, soliloquy).
Onus
(Noun)
A burden or obligation
Opprobrium
(Noun)
Harsh criticism or censure
Patina
(Noun)
The impression, appearance, or aura of something; a superficial covering or exterior
Pillory
(Verb)
Attack or ridicule publicly; criticize
Plutocratic
(Adj)
Relating to or characterized by government by the wealthy.
Mnemonic: Pluto is the Greek god of the underworld (aka Hades), where all the earth’s mineral wealth was stored.
Politic
(Adj)
In keeping with policy; wise, prudent
Preponderance
(Noun)
The quality or fact or being greater in number, quantity or importance; prevalence, predominance
Probity
(Noun)
Integrity; strong moral principles
Prosody
(Noun)
The study of poetic meter; the patterns of sounds and rhythms in verse
Quibble
(Noun and verb)
A slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter; a play on words or pun
Racket
(Noun)
1) An illegal or dishonest scheme for obtaining money.
2) A loud unpleasant noise or din.
Rejoinder
(Noun)
A reply, especially a sharp or witty one; comeback, retort
Sacerdotal
(Adj)
Of or relating to priests or a high religious order; priestly
Solipsism
(Noun)
A theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing; extreme egocentrism
Succor
(Noun)
Assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.
Etymology: derived from Latin verb “succurrere,” which means “to run to the rescue” or “to bring aid.” Similar to Spanish word “correr” meaning “to run.”
Synoptic
(Adj)
Affording a general view of the whole or principal parts of a thing
Undergird
(Verb)
Provide support or a firm basis for; bolster, buttress.
Mnemonic: similar to girder, which is a support beam used in construction.
Vicissitude
(Noun)
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
Note: often used as “the vicissitude of life” (ups and downs).
Virility
(Noun)
In a man, the quality of having strength and energy; manliness
Vitiate
(Verb)
Ruin or impair the quality or efficiency of.
Mnemonic: she viciously vitiated the music with overuse of auto tune.
Vituperative
(Adj)
Bitter and abusive
Wherewithal
(Noun)
The ability and means required to accomplish a task; the necessary means.
(Adverb)
In what way or how.
