Manhattan Prep 500 essential words randomized Flashcards
affable
(adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
Objective
(adj) factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased
deride
(v) mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously
Homogeneous
(adj) of the same kind; uniform throughout
Sanction
(n, v) permission or approval, something that gives support or authority to something else (noun); to allow, confirm, ratify (verb); OR a legal action against another country to get it to comply (noun); to place sanctions or penalties on (verb)
Paradigm
(n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
Render
(v) give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become
Onerous
(adj) burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure
Quandary
(n) uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma
cartography
(n) mapmaking
Eclectic
(adj) selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources
Torrid
(adj) very hot, parching, burning; passionate
Saturate
(v) soak or imbue thoroughly; cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance
Qualified
(adj) modified, limited, conditional on something else
Moreover
(adv) besides; in addition to what was just stated
clamor
(v) noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise
Specious
(adj) seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive
dismiss
(v) allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, esp. after only a brief consideration
Foment
(v) incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part
default
(n, v) failure to act, neglect (noun); fail to fulfill an obligation, esp. a financial one (verb)
conciliatory
(adj) reconciling, appeasing, attempting to make the peace
Exculpate
(v) clear from guilt or blame
Emulate
(v) copy in an attempt to equal or be better than
arbitrary (adj.)
based entirely on one’s discretion; capricious, unreasonable, or having no basis
Goosebumps
(n) the bumps created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.
Incipient
(adj) just beginning; in a very early stage
Empirical
(adj) coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory
Wary
(adj) watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger
Scant
(adj) not enough or barely enough
assuage
(v) make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
Ponderous
(adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored
crescendo
(n) steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a musical passage; a climactic moment or peak
convoluted
(adj) twisted; very complicated
Transitory
(adj) temporary, short-lived, not lasting
Peccadillo
(n) small sin or fault
Posthumous
(adj) happening or continuing after death
Enhance
(v) raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.
Stingy
(adj) not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give
Dubious
(adj) doubtful, questionable, suspect
antagonize
(v) make hostile or unfriendly
Facilitate
(v) make easier, help the progress of
daunt
(v) discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of
Satiate or Sate
(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
conversely
(adv) in an opposite way; on the other hand
Nuance
(n) a subtle difference in tone, meaning, and expression
counterpoint
(n) contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of contrast or interplay in a work of art
Implode
(v) burst inward
Landmark
(n, adj) object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; very important place, event, etc.
Profuse
(adj) abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely
Nascent
(adj) coming into existence, still developing
Gradation
(n) a progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages
Stark
(adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain
Divine
(v) discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight
antipathy (n.)
deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, somtimes without reason
denigrate
(v) belittle, attack the reputation of
counterproductive
(adj) defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal
Plausible
(n) believable; having the appearance of truth
Finesse
(n, v) extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (noun); use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb)
Tenuous
(adj) long and thin, slender; flimsy, having little substance
discrepancy
(n) difference or inconsistency
abjure
(v) give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)
avid
(adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
Incorporate
(v) combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
diverge
(v) differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path
Overshadow
(v) cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important
Skirt
(v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade
Malleable
(adj) able to be bent, shaped, or adapted
Hedonist
(n) person devoted to pleasure
Lampoon
(n, v) a harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb)
Net
(adj, v) remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit or to catch as in a net (verb)
Rhetoric
(n) the art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little
Phony
(adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine
Log
(v, n) keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (verb); a written record (noun)
Profligate
(adj) completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful
clinch
(v) make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
Proliferate
(v) increase or spread rapidly or excessively
dispatch
(n, v) speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy way
base
(adj) morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit
Keen
(adj) sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)
Lackluster
(adj) not shiny; dull, mediocre, lacking brilliance or vitality
desiccate
(v) thoroughly dried up, dehydrated
advocate
(v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun)
alleviate
(v) lessen, make easier to endure
Spate
(n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood
Zeal
(n) great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc.; tireless diligence in furthering that cause; passion, ardor
Occult
(n, adj, v) the supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view
Juncture
(n) critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together
Placate
(v) satisfy or calm down (angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures
Document
(v) support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of
buffer
(n) something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions
Mercurial
(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty
Retrospective
(adj, n) looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist’s work over a long period of time (n)
Quibble
(v) make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important
Hearken
(v) listen, pay attention to
Exponent
(n) person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative
Precursor
(n) something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way
Explicit
(adj) direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity
distill
(v) purify; extract the essential elements of
Pristine
(adj) in an original, pure state; uncorrupted
Subjective
(adj) existing in the mind or relating to one’s own thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings
arcane
(adj) known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret
Vacillate
(v) waver in one’s mind or opinions, be indecisive
Temperance
(n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol
Perfidious
(adj) disloyal, treacherous, violating one’s trust
Principled
(adj) having high moral standards
Tractable
(adj) easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded
Futile
(adj) producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial unimportant
Eschew
(v) shun, avoid, abstain from
derivative
(adj) derived from something else; not original
Standing
(n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)
Gainsay
(v) declare false, deny; oppose
Indifferent
(adj) not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial
Divest
(v) deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)
Jocular
(adj) joking or given to joking all the time; jolly, playful
Pretentious
(adj) claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off creating deceptive, false show of worth
Exacting
(adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention
Orthodox
(adj) adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted
Propriety
(n) conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness
constrict
(v) squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of
Hardy
(adj) bold, brave, capable of enduring hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.
Stoic or Stoical
(adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint (adj); person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun)
acme
(n) summit, peak, highest point
Egregious
(adj) extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring
Liberal
(adj, n) favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj); a person with such beliefs or practices (noun)
Whereas
(conjunction) while on the contrary, considering that
aggregate
(v, adj) gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)
concur
(v) approve, agree
Simultaneous
(adj) at the same time
Prologue
(n) introductory part to a book, play, etc.
Inconsequential
(adj) insignificant, unimportant; illogical
Novel
(adj) new, fresh, original
Veracity
(n) truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth
discriminating
(adj) judicious, discerning, having good judgment or insight
Fanciful
(adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality
Loquacious
(adj) talkative, wordy
Whimsical
(adj) marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable
Ingenuous
(adj) genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
Dormant
(adj) asleep, inactive, on a break
Spearhead
(v) be the leader of
Lull
(n, v) soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun)
abstain
(v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote
anoint
(v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that includes applying oil to someone
Eloquent
(adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving
Salubrious
(adj) healthful, promoting health
Sentient
(adj) conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses
decorous
(adj) behaving with propriety and good taste; polite
Exacerbate
(v) make worse (more violent, severe, etc.), inflame; irritate or embitter (a person)
converge
(v) move towards one another or towards a point; unite
Pedestrian
(adj) ordinary, dull, commonplace
disperse
(v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish
conversant
(adj) knowledgeable about or experienced with
dissent
(v, n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view
Static
(adj) fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality
bygone
(adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
Torpor
(n) sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a period of inactivity
Libertine
(n) morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)
Vintage
(adj, n) related to items of high quality from a previous era, old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a particular year (noun)
Penchant
(n) liking or inclination
Lucid
(adj) clear, easy to understand; rational, sane
contentious
(adj) controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones
Nevertheless/Nonetheless
(adv) however, even so, despite that
Placid
(adj) peaceful, calm, tranquil
ambiguous
(adj) not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations
Inasmuch
(adv) in like manner, considering that (contradiction of “in as much,” generally followed by “as”)
activism
(n) the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations
Elicit
(v) call forth, bring out, evoke
Pronounced
(adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated
Levy
(v, n) collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service (verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)
Polarized
(adj) divided into sharply opposed groups
Impede
(v) hold back, obstruct the progress of
defamatory (adj.)
slanderous, injurious to someone’s reputation
craven
(adj) very cowardly, lacking courage
admonish
(v) mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something
coalesce
(v) come together, unite; fuse together
Incentive
(n) something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward
Meticulous
(adj) taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy
articulate
(adj, verb) using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb)
debase
(v) degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality
Optimal/Optimum
(adj) best, most desirable or favorable
audacious
(adj) very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way; extremely original
Mollify
(v) calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften
chronological
(adj) arranged in or relating to time order
Philanthropy
(n) efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money
deterrent
(n) something that restrains or discourages
Pugnacious
(adj) inclined to fight, combative
Lavish
(adj, v) abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj); give very generously (verb)
Plastic
(adj) able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced
abate
(v) reduce, diminish
Paucity
(n) scarcity, the state of being small in number
Hyperbole
(n) deliberate exaggeration for effect
deface
(v) vandalize, mar the appearance of
confer
(v) consult, compare views; bestow or give
canonical
(adj) authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works
Tangential
(adj) only slightly relevant, going off topic
Supplicate
(v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way
Relegate
(v) send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
Judicious
(adj) using good judgment; wise, sensible
Table
(v) lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone discussion indefinitely
Prospective
(adj) potential, in the future
Potentate
(n) ruler, person of great power