Magoosh Basic Vocab Flashcards
Pithy
(Adj)
Concise and full of meaning
Quandary
(Noun)
Uncertainty and perplexity usually over making a choice between two equally unfavorable options
Consummate
(Adj)
Displaying supreme mastery or skill.
(Verb)
To make perfect and complete in every way
Renege
(Verb)
Fail to fulfill a promise or obligation.
Mnemonic: think of renegade, which is a deserter of a faith, cause, or allegiance to another. Both words relate to a betrayal.
Ingenuity
(Noun)
The quality of being cleverly creative, imaginative, and original
Flounder
(Verb)
To behave awkwardly; struggle or have difficulties
Plodding
(Adj)
1) Of a movement, slow and laborious.
2) Of a person, slow-moving and unexciting; thorough and diligent but lacking in imagination or intelligence.
Ascendancy
(Noun)
A state in which an individual or group has power over another
Fete
(Verb)
To celebrate someone
Obdurate
(Adj)
Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
Synonyms: obstinate, stubborn, unyielding.
Sedulous
(Adj)
Of a person or action, showing great dedication and diligence.
Synonyms: assiduous, industrious, scrupulous.
Artifice
(Noun)
Cunning tricks used to deceive others
Belie
(Verb)
1) Of an appearance, fail to give a true notion or impression of something; disguise or contradict.
2) Fail to fulfill or justify a claim or expectation; betray.
Temerity
(Noun)
Excessive confidence or daring.
Synonyms: boldness, audacity, effrontery.
Facetious
(Adj)
Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant
Construe
(Verb)
Interpret (a word or action) in a particular way
Spurious
(Adj)
Fake or false; not being what it purports to be.
Synonyms: bogus, factitious, fictitious, fallacious.
Note: Specious, another word relating to falseness, differs slightly from the above synonyms in that it entails something that sounds plausible when in reality it’s wrong.
Duplicity
(Noun)
Deceitfulness; double-dealing
Laconic
(Adj)
Using very few words (of a person, speech, or style of writing)
Synonyms: pithy, terse, taciturn
Baseless
(Adj)
Lack of moral principles; bad character
Doctrinaire
(Adj)
Seeking to impose a doctrine without regard to practical considerations.
Synonyms: dogmatic, uncompromising, inflexible.
Debased
(Adj)
Of low quality or value.
Synonyms: debauched, dissolute, immoral.
Distill
(Verb)
Extract the essential meaning or most important specs of
Sanguine
(Adj)
Optimistic or positive, especially in a bad or difficult situation.
Interesting tidbit (mnemonic): in medieval science and medicine, it was thought that those with a ruddy complexion, indicating predominance of blood (think of ‘sange’ in French), represented an optimistic disposition.
Equivocal
(Adj)
Open to more than one interpretation; uncertain or questionable in nature; ambiguous
Timorous
(Adj)
Showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence.
Note: This word is NOT the same as temerity, which means excessive confidence or boldness (quite the opposite!).
Transitory
(Adj)
Not permanent; temporary, transient
Crass
(Adj)
Lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence; stupid, blundering
Arbiter
(Noun)
1) Person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter.
2) Person whose views or actions have great influence over trends in social behavior.
Demure
(Adj)
1) Reserved, modest.
2) Affectedly modest, reserved, or serious; coy.
Preclude
(Verb)
Prevent from happening; make impossible
Glib
(Adj)
Of a person or words, fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow.
Synonyms: slick, pat, smooth-talking.
Character example: Nick Wilde from Zootopia.
Genteel
(Adj)
Marked by refinement in taste and manners
Precedent
(Noun)
An example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
Tawdry
(Adj)
Tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy
Perennial
(Adj)
Lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal, everlasting.
Mnemonic: think of the character Tulip from Infinity Train. She is named after a flower that is perennial, and she happens to be on a strange train that seems to run forever.
Smattering
(Noun)
A slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something
Assail
(Verb)
1) Attack in speech or writing.
2) Of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation, come upon someone suddenly and strongly; trouble, disturb.
Synonyms: besiege, belabor, assault.
Mnemonic: think of Seo from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun. She is known for her brash personality as seen when she attacks in basketball and offends everybody relentlessly.
Irresolute
(Adj)
Uncertain how to act or respond
Buck
(Verb)
Resist
Hamstrung
(Verb)
Made ineffective or powerless; handicap, restrict
Fickle
(Adj)
Liable to sudden unpredictable change, especially in affections or attachments.
Mnemonic: think of jiggle (rhymes with this), which is the movement of a jello causing it to slightly CHANGE shape.
Urbane
(Adj)
1) Showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience.
2) Notably polite and polished in manner.
Synonyms: debonair, smooth, sophisticated, suave, svelte.
Credence
(Noun)
Belief in something
Rankle
(Verb)
Gnaw into; make resentful or angry
Placid
(Adj)
Not easily irritated
Devolve
(Verb)
1) Pass on or delegate to another.
2) Grow worse.
Unseemly
(Adj)
Not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
Credulity
(Noun)
Tendency to believe readily
Exasperate
(Verb)
To irritate intensely.
Mnemonic: similar to ASPiration, which is the action of drawing a breath. Ex- which means “out of.” Thus, together it creates an image of someone huffing and sighing impatiently due to irritation.
Tact
(Noun)
Consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
Eke
(Verb)
1) To live off meager resources; to scrape by.
2) To get with great difficulty (usually used with “out” in this context).
Travail
(Noun)
Use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish
Presumption
(Noun)
1) Overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
Synonyms: brazen, audacious, overconfident.
2) An assumption that is taken for granted.
Connive
(Verb)
Taking part in immoral and unethical plots
Foible
(Noun)
A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual; a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character.
Synonyms: shortcoming, quirk, idiosyncrasy.
Fortitude
(Noun)
1) Courage in pain or adversity; mental power of endurance.
2) Strength or force; power to attack or resist attack.
Foment
(Verb)
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action); to promote the growth or development of
Clemency
(Noun)
Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice; mercy
Piquant
(Adj)
1) Having an agreeably pungent or stimulating taste, especially spicy.
2) Engagingly provocative or pleasantly stimulating to the mind (usually used to describe a behavior).
Antonym: insipid
Behoove
(Verb)
1) It is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on.
2) It is appropriate or suitable; it befits
Insipid
(Adj)
1) Lacking flavor.
Synonyms: tasteless, unpalatable, bland.
2) Lacking vigor or interest.
Synonyms: humdrum, prosaic, vapid, boring, anemic, lackluster.
Antonym: piquant
Antedate
(Verb)
1) To precede in time; come before something in date.
2) Indicate or discover that a document, event, or word should be assigned to an earlier date.
Redress
(Noun and verb)
A remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance; to remedy or set right an undesirable or unfair situation.
Common usage: “redress the balance” means “take action to restore equality in a situation.”
Synonyms: amend, rectify
Rakish
(Adj)
Having or showing a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance.
Synonyms: debonair, devil-may-care, dapper, raffish, louche.
Ascribe
(Verb)
To attribute something to a cause; regard a quality as belonging to.
Synonyms: impute, attribute.
Begrudge
(Verb)
1) Envy someone for the possession or enjoyment of something.
2) To give reluctantly or resentfully.
Cavalier
(Adj)
Showing a lack of proper concern; offhand, insouciant
Wanton
(Adj) Of a cruel or violent action, deliberate and unprovoked.
Synonyms: malicious, unjustified, spiteful.
Mnemonic: rearrange the letters of the word to “no want,” which can be thought of as no warrant on some bad action.
Finagle
(Verb)
Obtain something by devious or dishonest means.
Mnemonic: think of how similarly it sounds to “find an angle,” which is finding a way out of something, implying a trick or mischief.
Veneer
(Noun and verb)
An attractive appearance that disguises someone or something’s true nature or feelings.
Synonyms: facade, semblance.
Preempt
(Verb)
1) Take action in order to prevent an anticipated event from happening or to prevent someone from doing something; forestall.
2) To acquire or appropriate in advance.
Sordid
(Adj)
Involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive —> similar to boorish?
Dispatch
(Noun)
The property of being prompt and efficient.
(Verb)
To dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently.
Creditable
(Adj)
Deserving of praise but not that amazing
Snub
(Verb)
To rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully; slight or insult
Provisional
(Adj)
Under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
Champion
(Verb)
To fight for a cause.
Synonyms: defend, protect, advocate, uphold, support.
Staid (pronounced like “stayed”)
(Adj)
Characterized by dignity and propriety; sedate, respectable, and unadventurous.
Mnemonic: think of a noble STEED, which sounds similar to staid. Both evoke sophisticatication and propriety.
Perquisite
(Adj)
A right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right).
Mnemonic: perk is an abbreviated version of this word.
Balk
(Verb and noun)
1) Refuse to comply; to hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
2) To check or stop by or as if by an obstacle; block.
Synonyms: eschew, resist, thwart, foil, frustrate.
Relegate
(Verb)
Assign to a lower position
Discreet
(Adj)
Careful to protect one’s speech or actions in order to avoid offense or draw attention.
Note: this is a different word from discrete, which means disparate/separate.
Exposition
(Noun)
A comprehensive description or explanation of an idea or theory
Consequence
(Noun)
1) Importance or relevance.
2) Result of an action.
Vestigial
(Adj)
Forming a very small amount of something that was once much larger or more noticeable. In biology, it is used to refer to an organ or part of the body that no longer serves a function and has degenerated.
Synonyms: remaining, residual.
Apologist
(Noun)
A person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial
Admonish
(Verb)
Warn or reprimand someone firmly; advise or urge someone earnestly
Amenable
(Adj)
Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled
Aphoristic
(Adj)
Something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle
Avail
(Noun or Verb)
1) Help or benefit.
2) Use or take advantage of an opportunity or resource.
Avatar
(Noun)
A physical embodiment of an idea or concept; a personification
Avuncular
(Adj)
Relating to an uncle; kind and friendly toward a younger or less experienced person
Axiomatic
(Adj)
Self-evident or unquestionable
Base
(Adj)
Lacking higher values; ignoble, degrading
Chagrin
(Noun)
Distress or embarrassment of having failed or been humiliated
Check
(Verb)
Stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable)
Connoisseur
(Noun)
An expert judge who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts, cuisine, and matters of taste
Contrarian
(Adj or noun)
A person who habitually takes a view opposite to that held by the majority
Aka a hipster :P
Corroborate
(Verb)
Confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)
Dearth
(Noun)
A scarcity or lack of something.
Mnemonic: think of Dirk (similar sound to this word) Gently, who is a holistic detective that bases his investigations no whims or a lack of complete information.
Delineate
(Verb)
Describe in detail
Dispensation
(Noun)
1) An exemption from a rule or obligation; exoneration.
2) A system of order, government, or organization of a nation, especially existing at a particular time.
3) The act of distributing or supplying something.
Disseminate
(Verb)
Cause to be widely known
Dissipation
(Noun)
1) Wasteful spending of money, energy, or resources; squandering.
2) Debauched living; decadence, dissolution, profligacy.
Entail
(Verb)
Involve something as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence
Ephemeral
(Adj)
Lasting a short time; transitory.
Mnemonic: the mayfly (Ephemeroptera) hatches, mates, and dies all within the span of a few hours.
Equivocation
(Noun)
Ambiguity; intentional vagueness and misleading speech; susceptible to double meaning.
Exhort
(Verb)
To strongly urge on; to give warnings or advice; encourage
Expansive
(Adj)
1) Covering a wide area in terms of space or scope; extensive or wide-ranging.
2) Of a person or manner, communicative and prone to talking in a sociable manner; gregarious, forthcoming.
Fanciful
(Adj)
overimaginative and unrealisic; existing only in the imagination or fancy; designed to be exotically ornamental rather than practical
Fastidious
(Adj)
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Synonyms: picky, finicky, meticulous.
Folly
(Noun)
1) Lack of good sense; weakness of judgement or character; foolishness.
2) Morally bad conduct; wickedness, wantonness.
3) A costly structure or undertaking left unfinished for want of means; too expensive to be properly maintained.
Garrulous
(Adj)
Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
Grandiose
(Adj)
1) Impressive from inherent grandeur; vulgarly showy or flaunting; grandiloquent.
2) Large and impressive in size, scope, or extent.
Gratuitous
(Adj)
Unwarranted or unnecessary
Gregarious
(Adj)
Fond of company; sociable
Gusto
(Noun)
Appreciative taste or enjoyment; zest, enthusiasm
Heterodox
(Adj) Unorthodox.
Etymology: “hetero” means “other” or “different” + “Dox” means “opinion.” For orthodox, “ortho” is “straight” or “correct”, thus meaning “straight opinion.”
Hubris
(Noun)
Exaggerated pride or self-confidence
Iconoclastic
(Adj)
Characterized by an attack on cherished beliefs or institutions; non-conformist, heretical
Illustrious
(Adj)
Well-known, respected, and admired for past achievements
Impasse
(Noun)
A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; deadlock
Implacable
(Adj)
Incapable of making less angry or hostile
Inadvertently
(Adverb)
Unintentionally or accidentally
Ingratiate
(Verb)
Bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them
Intimation
(Noun)
An indirect suggestion
Intrigue
(Noun)
Secret or underhand plotting or scheming; maze.
(Verb)
To entangle; to practice clandestine plots.
Languish
(Verb)
1) Of a person or other living thing, to lose or lack vitality; grow weak or feeble.
2) Suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation; rot, decay.
Languorous
(Adj)
Characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind; characterized by an oppressive stillness.
Machinations
(Noun)
Scheming or crafty actions to accomplish some usually evil end
Mercurial
(Adj)
Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind; volatile, capricious, fickle
Mutinous
(Adj)
Unruly and likely to rebel
Myopic
(Adj)
1) Near-sighted.
2) Lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.
Noxious
(Adj)
Harmful, pernicious
Opacity
(Noun)
Darkness or obscurity; want of clearness; inaccessible to understanding.
Openhanded
(Adj)
Generous
Opulent
(Adj)
Rich and superior in quality
Parse
(Verb)
Analyze into parts; to examine or analyze minutely
Paucity
(Noun)
Scarcity or dearth
Penitent
(Adj)
Showing sorrow and regret for doing something wrong; repentant, contrite
Perspicacity
(Noun)
Keenness of mental perception and understanding.
Synonyms: astuteness, discernment, penetration, shrewdness.
Character examples: Sherlock Holmes; House, M.D.
Philistine
(Adj or noun)
Smug and ignorant or hostile and indifferent towards artistic and cultural values
Plaintive
(Adj)
Sorrowful; sounding sad and mournful.
Mnemonic: think of the word “pain” in plaintive.
Platitude
(Noun)
A remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used so often that it is not interesting or thoughtful; cliche, bromide
Precipitous
(Adj)
1) Dangerously high or steep.
2) Of a change to a worse situation or condition, sudden and dramatic.
3) Of an action, done suddenly and without careful consideration; hasty.
Premise
(Noun)
A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.
(Verb)
Base an argument, theory, or undertaking on.
Primacy
(Noun)
The state of being first in importance
Prohibitive
(Adj)
Costly to the extreme; beyond budget; tending to discourage (esp. of prices)
Restive
(Adj)
Unable to keep still or silent and becoming increasingly difficult to control, especially because of dissatisfaction, impatience, or boredom; skittish
Retroactive
(Adj)
Especially of legislation, taking effect from a date in the past
Revile
(Verb)
Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner
Scruple
(Noun)
A feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to morality or propriety of a course of action
Sedate
(Adj)
Undisturbed by passion.
Synonyms: quiet, composed, placid, tranquil.
(Verb)
To calm or compose.
Sedulous
(Adj)
Showing dedication and diligence; thorough
Smattering
(Noun)
A slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something
Spartan
(Adj)
Austere; showing indifference to comfort of luxury associated with ancient Sparta
Stigmatize
(Verb)
Describe or regard as disgraceful; condemn, disparage
Subsist
(Verb)
Maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level
Subterfuge
(Noun)
1) Something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity.
2) Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal.
Synonyms: chicanery, deception, intrigue, trickery.
Etymology: Latin prefix “subter-” means “secretly” which comes from the adverb “subter-“ meaning “underneath.” The “fuge” comes from the Latin verb “fugere” which means “to flee” (think of refuge or fugitive).
Subvert
(Verb)
Undermine the power and authority of.
Synonyms: overthrow, overturn, destroy.
Mnemonic: break down the word into “sub” which means “from below” and “vert” which means “to turn.”
Supercilious
(Adj)
Haughty and disdainful; looking down on others
Superfluity
(Noun)
An unnecessarily or excessively large amount; state of being superfluous; surplus
Supplant
(Verb)
To replace someone or something that doesn’t fill a role anymore
Surmise
(Verb)
Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it; guess, conjecture
Taciturn
(Adj)
Habitually reserved and uncommunicative; reticent.
Note: similar to tacit, which means implied or silently indicated.
Tactless
(Adj)
Having or showing a lack of adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues; inconsiderate
Telling
(Adj)
Having a striking or revealing effect; significant (connotes some surprise?)
Tractable
(Adj)
1) Of a person, easy to control or influence.
2) Of a situation or problem, easy to deal with.
Transcendent
(Adj)
Transcending the universe of matter, not cosmic; a reality above the categories.
Transitory
(Adj)
Lasting a very short time; transient, ephemeral
Transmute
(Verb)
Change in form, nature, or substance; alter, transfigure
Pop culture examples: transmutation in Full Metal Alchemist, transfiguration in Harry Potter.
Travail
(Noun)
Use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish; tribulation
Unassuming
(Adj)
Not bold or forward; not arrogant; modest, retiring (to be shy and to be inclined to retract from company)
Undermine
(Verb)
1) Erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).
2) Lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability, especially gradually or insidiously; compromise, diminish.
Understated
(Adj)
Presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way
Unforthcoming
(Adj)
Uncooperative, not willing to give up information; retiring
Unqualified
(Adj)
1) Without reservation or limitation; complete, absolute.
2) Not fit; not having requisite qualifications.
Unseemly
Of a behavior or actions, not proper or appropriate
Unsolicited
(Adj)
Not asked for; given or done voluntarily
Vet
(Verb)
Make a careful and critical examination; investigate thoroughly
Vilify
(Verb)
Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner
Vindicate
(Verb)
1) Clear someone of blame or suspicion; absolve.
2) Show or prove to be right; justify.
Volubility
(Noun)
The quality of being able to speak or write continuously and easily
Wily
(Adj)
Crafty, sly, cunning
Winsome
(Adj)
Charming in a child-like or naive way; attractive or appealing in appearance or character
