Magoosh common words - IV Flashcards
pundit
noun: a person who knows a lot about a particular subject and is therefore often asked to give an opinion about it:
Steven Pinker’s credentials are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.
pragmatic
adjective: guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.
refute
verb: prove to be false or incorrect
No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in the philosophy department.
denigrate
verb: If you denigrate someone or something, you criticize them unfairly or insult them.
- Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.
- You shouldn’t denigrate people just because they have different beliefs from you.
intransigent
adjective: unwilling to change one’s beliefs or course of action
Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence.
decorum
noun: propriety in manners and conduct
“You will obey the rules of decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell,” said the judge to the prosecutor.
adamant
adjective: refusing to change one’s mind
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus–even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.
opaque
adjective: not clearly understood or expressed
The meaning of the professor’s new research was opaque to most people, so no one asked any questions.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
pedantic
adjective: If you think someone is pedantic, you mean that they are too concerned with unimportant details or traditional rules, especially in connection with academic subjects.
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
ostentatious
adjective: intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar
Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.
reconcile
verb: make (one thing) compatible with (another)
- It is sometimes difficult to reconcile science and religion.
- It’s difficult to reconcile such different points of view.
underscore
verb: give extra weight to (a communication)
While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
acerbic
adjective: harsh in tone
Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage.
myopic
adjective: lacking foresight or imagination
The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn’t predict the changes in their industry.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
tortuous
adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
Because the logic behind McMahon’s side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they’d been tricked.
exacting
adjective: requiring and demanding lot of effort, care, or attention:
Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.
soporific
adjective: inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.
unscrupulous
adjective: without scruples or principles
In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.
ignoble
adjective: dishonorable
In 1919, the World Series was rigged–an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.
copious
adjective: in abundant supply
In midsummer, there are copious popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.
provincial
adjective: characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Maggie’s enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team.
largess
noun: willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by rich people:
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.
burgeon
verb: grow and flourish
China’s housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
exalt
verb: praise or glorify
The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.
