Magoosh Intermediate Vocab Flashcards
vociferous
(adj)
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
Mnemonic: think of a velociraptor cawing vociferously! >:D
exegesis
(noun)
critical explanation or interpretation of a text
regale
(verb)
entertain or amuse (someone) with talk
Mnemonic: think of Gale from Frozen 2. It is an elemental spirit of wind that pokes fun with characters. Also, gale rhymes with tale, which relates to speaking/telling stories.
approbation
(noun)
approval or praise
begrudge
(verb)
1) envy someone the possession or enjoyment of something
2) give reluctantly or resentfully
loath
(adj)
unwilling to do something contrary to your custom (usu. followed by ‘to’); reluctant
unstinting
(adj)
very generous; not restricting or holding back.
Mnemonics: “stint” itself means to a “fixed or allotted period of work” or “to supply an inadequate amount of something.” Can also relate it to “stunt” which means to shorten or hinder the progress.
pedantic
(adj)
1) marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning, especially its trivial aspects
2) unimaginative, dull
Synonyms: scrupulous, fastidious, fussy
recondite
(adj)
(of a subject or knowledge) little known
Synonyms: abstruse, obscure, arcane, recherché, esoteric
Mnemonic: think of CONceal in reCONdite
categorical
(adj)
unambiguously explicit and direct; pertinent, precise, or clear.
Mnemonic: think of the image of categories. They are very set in their own distinct boxes and clear to read.
obsequious
(adj)
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
Synonyms: ingratiating
aboveboard
(adj)
open and honest
adjudicate
(verb)
to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgement or conclusion
asperity
(noun)
1) harshness of tone or manner
2) rough edge on a surface
mnemonic: think of Jasper (similar to ASPERity) from Steven Universe. She is a rough, violent gem.
attrition
(noun)
1) wearing or grinding down by friction.
2) the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or the effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure; attenuation.
3) in theology, imperfect contrition (feeling remorse or penitence) or sorrow for one’s sins based on the fear of punishment. Note: contrition in Catholicism is the opposite of attrition. It is a sorrow for offending God’s love through one’s sins.
bombastic
(adj)
high-sounding but with little meaning.
synonyms: inflated, pompous, highfalutin (usu used to refer to the way someone speaks).
bravura
(noun)
1) great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity; virtuoso.
2) display of great daring.
bridle
(verb)
to react with anger or take offense; bristle
calumny
(noun)
slander; making of false and defamatory statements to drag someone down
capitulation
(noun) the action of surrendering or yielding.
synonyms: submission, relinquishment, cession, rendition.
mnemonic: think of Juliet CAPulet (similar sounding to the word) who surrendered her life for Romeo.
note: this word is diff from recapitulation, which means an act or instance of summarizing and restating the main points or themes of something.
categorical
(adj) unambiguously explicit and direct.
synonyms: pertinent, precise, clear.
conflate
(verb)
1) combine (two or more elements, ideas, etc.) into one.
2) confuse or mix together things that are not actually the same.
contention
(noun)
an assertion, especially one maintained in argument; claim
convalescence
(noun)
recuperation; time spent recovering from an illness
demure
(adj)
reserved, modest, or shy; unassuming
denouement
(noun) the final part of a play, movie, or story in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved
desultory
(adj)
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; half-hearted; cursory
Mnemonic: think of the word “story” within desultory and the prefix “de-“. This would make it into something that breaks down a story/plot, as though there is no plan.
discursive
(adj)
in a rambling manner; digressing from subject to subject
disinterested
(adj)
not influenced by considerations of personal advantage; unbiased, impartial
disquieting
(adj)
inducing feelings of anxiety and worry
dysphoric
(adj)
generalized feeling of distress
edifying
(adj)
enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
enjoin
(verb)
give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
flaccid
(adj)
lacking force or effectiveness; lackluster, ineffective
flagrant
(adj)
of something considered wrong or immoral, conspicuously or obviously offensive; atrocious
hard-pressed
(adj)
facing or experiencing trouble or difficulty; distressed
hauteur
(noun)
overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
heady
(adj)
1) of behavior, something or someone that is headstrong, rash, violent.
2) having a strong or exhilarating effect (like a perfume or liquor)
incorrigible
(adj)
impervious to correction by punishment
inexorable
(adj)
impossible to stop
ingenuous
(adj) naive or innocent.
note: this word is not the same/relevant to ingenuity, which means creativity or imagination. However, it does relate to disingenuous, which means to be dishonest or deceiving.
inimical
(adj)
tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly or hostile
mnemonic: think of the “NIM” in iNIMical as NIMue (Lady of the Lake) who tortured Merlin.
note: this word is diff from inimitable which means so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy or imitate (matchless, unique).
inure
(verb)
1) to accustom someone to something, especially unpleasant.
synonyms: harden, acclimatize, habituate.
mnemonic: think of the character Eri from Boku no Hero Academia. She is inured to the way she is being used by the Hassaikai yakuza.
2) to become of advantage.
jingoistic
(adj)
1) fanatically and bellicosely patriotic; aggressively chauvinistic.
2) given to expressing partisan sentiments in slogans, especially belligerently patriotic views.
lampoon
(verb) publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule or satire
litany
(noun)
1) a tedious recital or repetitive series.
2) a series of petitions for use in church services or processions.
mettlesome
(adj)
1) coping well and resilient.
2) of a person or animal, full or spirit or courage.
note: this word is not the same as meddlesome, which means bothersome.
Mnemonic: think of Matilda from Roald Dahl’s book Matilda. The character is mettlesome, despite the bullies around her.
middling
(adj, noun, or adverb)
moderate or average in size, amount, or rank; moderately or fairly
milieu
(noun)
a person’s social environment
misgiving
(noun) a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something, especially concerning a future event
moribund
(adj)
being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress
nascent
(adj)
especially of a process or organization, just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential; budding or developing
nettlesome
(adj)
causing irritation or annoyance.
mnemonic: think of a nettle, which is a shrub that has a stem covered in tiny, stiff hairs that release stinging chemicals when touched. One of these poking you would be annoying.
objurgate
(verb)
rebuke severely; scold
onerous
(adj)
of a task, duty, or responsibility, involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
opine
(verb)
hold and state as one’s opinion.
synonyms: suggest, propose, reckon.
ossified
(adj)
of ideas or attitudes, inflexible and old-fashioned; set in a rigidly conventional pattern of behavior, habits, or beliefs
ostensibly
(adverb)
apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually
obviate
(verb)
To remove a need or difficulty; prevent or avoid.
Mnemonic: think of the HP spell “obliviate,” which works to remove memories. Obliviating the man’s repetitive replay of tragic memories obviated the psychiatrist’s need to listen to the same troubles over and over again.
bungling
(noun)
The action or fact or carrying out a task clumsily or incompetently
polemical
(adj)
Relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech.
synonyms: vitriolic, caustic, trenchant, hostile.
note: usually seen in arguments about controversial topics.
portentous
(adj)
1) Done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress; bombastic.
2) Something that evokes foreshadowing and omen.
3) Eliciting amazement or wonder; prodigious.
4) Being a grave or serious matter.
5) Ponderously excessive.
supine
(adj)
Failing to act or protect as a result of moral weakness or indolence. Usually refers to someone who is weak, spineless, yielding, or submissive.
pall
(noun)
something that has become less appealing or interesting through familiarity
panache
(noun)
flamboyant confidence of style or manner
pat
(adj)
unconvincing or lacking in depth; simple or somewhat glib; facile, oversimplified
peccadillo
(noun)
a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin; misdemeanor
perfunctory
(adj)
Of an action or gesture, carried out with minimum effort or reflection; cursory
petulant
(adj)
easily irritated or annoyed.
Mnemonic: think of PET Peeve.
prevarication
(noun)
straying from the truth; deliberate concealment or misrepresentation; lie
promulgate
(verb)
to state or announce
prosaic
(adj)
dull and lacking imagination
protean
(adj)
1) tending to change frequently or easily; mutable.
2) able to do many different things; versatile.
Mnemonic: think of a PROfessional actor who is able to disappear into different characters. Also can think of Princess Allura, who is Altean (rhymes with the word) and has the ability to morph her shape and blend in with other species.
provisional
(adj)
under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
pundit
(noun)
an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give opinions about it to the public
pusillanimous
(adj)
cowardly or timid.
Etymology: “pusillus” meaning “very small” + “animus” meaning “spirit.”
querulous
(adj)
habitually complaining
quotidian
(adj)
ordinary, mundane
rancid
(adj)
1) rankly offensive to the senses.
2) repulsive to the moral sense; disgusting, loathsome.
recalcitrant
(adj)
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline; refractory, intractable.
Etymology: from Latin “recalcitrant” meaning “kicking out from the heels,” which stems from the verb “recalcitrare” based on “calc-“ or “heel.”
redoubtable
(adj)
1) causing fear or alarm; formidable.
2) illustrious or eminent; worthy of respect.
sclerotic
(noun)
a medicine which hardens and consolidates the parts to which it is applied.
(adj)
becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt; hard, firm, indurated.
specious
(adj)
superficially plausible, but actually wrong; misleadingly attractive
spurious
plausible but false
stolid
impassive; calm and not showing much emotion or animation
straitened
(adj)
squeezed or confined
stultifying
(adj) causing one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm
tenuous
(adj)
1) very weak or slight; insubstantial, flimsy, fragile.
2) very slender or fine; gossamer.
Note: not to be confused with tenacious, which means determined or adhering closely, or tendentious, which means intending to promote a certain cause or view esp. a controversial one.
topical
(adj)
of a subject that is of immediate relevance, interest, or importance owing to its relation to current events; contemporary
torpor
(noun)
inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy.
Mnemonic: sounds similar to sopor, which in pathology means lethargy.
treacly
(adj)
overly sweet; overly sentimental
trite
(adj)
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse; hackneyed
truculent
(adj)
eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant; belligerent.
umbrage
(noun)
1) offense or annoyance; a feeling or pique or resentment at a slight or insult.
2) shade or shadow (mnemonic: think of umbrella).
3) an indistinct indication; suggestion.
4) a reason for doubt; suspicion.
undemonstrative
(adj)
of a person, not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly
unduly
(adverb)
undeservedly, not warranted; inordinately, excessively
unprepossessing
(adj)
not particularly attractive or appealing
untoward
(adj)
1) unfavorable or inconvenient; unlucky.
2) difficult to manage, guide, or deal with. Synonyms: intractable, refractory, balky, recalcitrant.
unwitting
(adj)
not aware of the full facts; not done on purpose; unintentional
urbanity
(noun)
civility or courtesy of manners; politeness
vapid
(adj)
empty or uninspiring
venality
(noun)
the condition of being susceptible to bribery and corruption
veritable
(adj)
being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary – often used to stress the aptness/intensity of a metaphor
vitriol
(noun) abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will
