Manhattan Prep Text Completion Flashcards
indignant
feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment, aggrieved, affronted
“he was indignant at being the object of suspicion”
munificent
generous, magnanimous
ersatz
a substitute for a product, typically an inferior one
mimetic
pertaining to mimesis
clandestine
secret
sophomoric
pretentious or juvenile
quixotic
extremely idealistic, unrealistic and impractical
“a vast and perhaps quixotic project”
arresting
striking
undue
unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate
run the gauntlet
to have to deal with a lot of people who are criticizing or attacking you
run the gamut
to include the full range of possible things within a group or type
ape
copy
ponderous
slow and clumsy because of great weight;
dull or laborious (especially of speech or writing)
cabal
a secret political clique or faction
hoi polloi
the masses, the common people
incendiary
(of a device or attack) intended to cause fires (e.g. an incendiary bomb);
provocative, seditious;
very exciting
“an incendiary live performer
parochial
narrow-minded; related to a church parish
dulcet
(especially of sound) sweet and soothing (often used ironically)
facile
easy; simplistic, superficial
garish
obtrusively bright and showy, gaudy, meretricious
baneful
harmful or destructive
“baneful effects”
noxious
harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
“they were overcome by the noxious fumes”
outstrip
overtake
poultice
a soft, moist mass of material, typically consisting of bran, flour, herbs, etc., applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth
foible
weakness, shortcoming, flaw
mores
the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a society or community
peccadillo
a minor fault
prerequisite
qualification
ruminate
contemplate
deluge
inundate
pithy
(of a fruit) containing much pith; laconic, terse
addled
confused; (of an egg) rotten
acerbic
sharp
“acerbic wit”
doyenne
the most respected or prominent woman in a particular field
“the fashion doyenne”
vicissitude
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
“her husband’s sharp vicissitudes of fortune”
serendipity
happy chance
progeny
offspring
lackadaisical
carelessly lazy
akimbo
with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards
“she stood with arms akimbo”
abreast of
to stay up to date with
subservient
submissive
askance
with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
“the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition”
taciturn
quiet
addlepated
confused; eccentric
tepid
lukewarm; showing little enthusiasm
enigmatic
mysterious, inscrutable
cajole
inveigle, coax
roundly
emphatically, so thoroughly as to leave no doubt
pan
criticise (a play or movie)
inscrutable
enigmatic, mysterious
berate
scold or criticise angrily, rebuke, reprimand, admonish
simpatico
(of a person) likeable and easy to get on with
“the inspector was a charming man, so simpatico”;
compatible
maudlin
sentimental
“a maudlin self-pity”
effusive
showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner
agglomerate
to collect or form into a mass or group
syncopate
displace the beats or accents in (music or a rhythm) so that strong beats become weak and vice versa
“syncopated dance music”;
shorten (a word) by dropping sounds or letters in the middle, as in symbology for symbolology, or Gloster for Gloucester
amortise
pay in installations
recidivist
one who returns to committing crime
depredate
steal from, plunder
deft
skillful
consanguineous
relating to or denoting people descended from the same ancestor
“consanguineous marriages may give rise to recessive syndromes”
chary of
suspicious or slightly scared of, wary of
coltish
energetic but awkward in one’s movements or behaviour
“long, lean, coltish women”
fecund
fertile
imperious
arrogant and domineering, peremptory
forebear
an ancestor
hamper
hinder or impede
blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
“a blithe disregard for the rules of the road”;
happy or carefree
restive
restless
sanguine
optimistic
high-handed
using power or authority without considering the feelings of others
synonym: imperious, peremptory
odious
extremely unpleasant, repulsive, repugnant
potable
safe to drink, drinkable
risible
laughable
cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
verdant
green with grass, lush; new and inexperienced
jejune
naïve and superficial; (of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting
modish
conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable
mirth
amusement, especially as expressed in laughter
“his six-foot frame shook with mirth”
excoriation
harsh criticism
garland
a wreath of flowers and leaves; an accolade or mark of honour
obloquy
opprobrium
artifice
clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others
parsimony
miserliness
pulchritude
beauty
unstrung
unnerved, upset
cane
beat with a cane
lacuna
a gap; a missing portion in a book or manuscript
profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful; dissipated, dissolute, licentious; reprobate, libertine
seraph
angel
overture
prelude; an approach or proposal made to someone with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship
trenchant
incisive
inexorable
inevitable, unstoppable
metastasise
(of a cancer) spread to other sites in the body by metastasis
semiotic
relating to signs and symbols
parlous
dangerous
appose
side by side with or close to something else
eremitic
reclusive
bleated
speak or complain in a weak, querulous, or foolish way; to make the weak, wavering cry of a sheep, goat, or calf
turpitude
wickedness, depravity
scruple
qualm
gasket
a shaped sheet or ring of rubber or other material sealing the junction between two surfaces in an engine or other device
jalopy
old car in a dilapidated condition
careen
to turn a ship on its side for repair, cleaning, etc.; (of a ship) to tilt or lean over
trundle
move slowly and heavily
tarry
stay longer than necessary, to delay leaving a place, loiter, linger
transmute
change
sangfroid
composure, equanimity
intrepidity
fearlessness
vainglorious
excessively proud of oneself, excessively vain
solace
comfort in a time of great distress
plaudit
an expression of praise or approval
didactic
instructive
protean
ever-changing, mutable; versatile
Arcadian
idealistic
squalid
extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect; showing or involving a contemptible lack of moral standards, sordid, unsavoury
penumbra
the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object; a peripheral or indeterminate area or group
hinterland
the remote areas of a country away from the coast or the banks of major rivers; the area beyond or around a major town or port; an area lying beyond what is visible or known
“the strange hinterland where life begins and ends”
tony
fashionable among wealthy or stylish people
Apollonian
relating to the rational, ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature
spartan
showing or characterized by austerity or a lack of comfort or luxury
faux-naif
pretending to be naive
dyed-in-the-wool
unwilling to change
callow
immature
stonewall
stall
regressive
backwards or hopelessly old-fashioned
prudish
having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; excessively concerned with sexual propriety
whet
stimulate
loggerhead
a type of turtle or bird
stymy/stymie
to present an obstacle to, to stand in the way
ululate
howl
sophistry
subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation
boosterism
enthusiastic support
muckrake
to search out and publicly expose real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business
incorrigible
resistant to correction
seemliness
the state of being proper and appropriate
plangent
mournful; marked by a high volume of sound
seething
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger; to be in a state of violent rolling motion (e.g. the water seethed)
bay
to speak so as to be heard at as distance; to let out a long loud mournful sound
“he bayed a plaintive, plangent cry”
farcical
causing or intending to cause laughter; so pointless or foolish as to be worthy of scornful laughter
ecumenical
representing a number of different Christian Churches
“he was a member of ecumenical committees”;
promoting or relating to unity among the world’s Christian Churches
“the ecumenical movement”
stature
height; position in society
umbrage
offense
redress
rectify
foster
encourage the development of (something desirable)
heralded
acclaimed; signaled
ratified
officially approved
adduce
cite as evidence
“a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation”
adumbrate
report in an outline
appropriate
take possession for one’s own use; confiscate
incensed
enraged
pander
gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or taste or a person with such a desire or taste)
“newspapers are pandering to people’s baser instincts”
fester
suppurate; rot; become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference
“below the surface, the old antagonisms festered”; deteriorate physically and mentally in isolated inactivity
arrant
complete, utter, downright
erstwhile
former or past
tantamount to
equivalent to
hinging on
dependent on
reciprocal
corresponding
contretemps
a minor dispute or disagreement; an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence
retch
gag, heave; vomit (retch up)
gaffe
blunder
pontification
a pompous expression of one’s dogmatic beliefs
peruse
read or examine carefully, thoroughly, or at length
garnish
decorate, embellish, adorn
glean
obtain (information) from various sources, often with difficulty, extract, collect gradually
pillory
attack or ridicule publicly
chide
scold, rebuke, chastise
loaf
do nothing
voluble
talking fluently, readily, or incessantly
“a voluble game-show host”;
(of speech) characterized by fluency and readiness of utterance
“an excited and voluble discussion”
inane
silly
spectre
ghost; something widely feared as a dangerous occurrence
“the spectre of nuclear holocaust”
skitter around
to move very quickly and lightly
pass over
disregard, ignore
regalia
the emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royalty; decorations or insignia indicative of an office or membership; royal rights or prerogatives; special dress
blather
voluble nonsensical or inconsequential talk or writing
puffery
exaggerated commendation especially for promotional purposes
confabulation
friendly informal conversation; discussion, conference
unctuous
phony, affected, dishonest, disingenuous; overly flattering
“unctuous puffery”
agonistic
aggressive
plum
good
chauvinism
the strong and unreasonable belief that your own country or race is the best or most important
hegemony
(especially of countries) the position of being the strongest and most powerful and therefore able to control others
dispensation
special permission, especially by the Church, to do something that is not usually allowed; a political or religious system controlling a country at a particular time; distribution, provision
by numbers
following simple instructions
crack
very good
extortionate
overly expensive
lummox
a clumsy, stupid person
rote
mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned
“a poem learnt by rote in childhood”
senescent
becoming old, and therefore in less good condition and less able to function well
conceit
a fanciful notion
debase
to reduce the quality or value of; lower the moral character of (someone)
“war debases people”
deface
to spoil the appearance of something by writing or marking on it (“deface a statue”)
defer
postpone
bedlam
disorderly situation
vitreous
made of or similar to glass
grizzled
grey or greying
doodad
anything whose name you cannot remember or do not know
tactful
careful not to say or do anything that could upset someone
“mentioning his baldness wasn’t very tactful”
rancorous
having or showing a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past
doting
showing that you love someone very much
sea change
profound transformation
putsch
overthrow of government
aleatory
due to luck
notional
existing only as an idea, or as an approximate amount
“notional value”
perquisite
perk
remuneration
payment for work or services
interlocutor
someone who is involved in a conversation
“Abraham was able to act as interpreter and interlocutor for our group”
obtuse
stupid and slow to understand
genteel
polite and correct in manner, or trying to be polite and correct in order to appear to be of a high social class; typical of a high social class; calm and gentle
populist
trying to be popular with ordinary people and to represent their ideas and opinions or someone who is trying to be popular with ordinary people and to represent their ideas and opinions
juvenile
(relating to) a young person or child
allegorical
in or relating to a story, play, picture, or other work in which the characters and events represent moral, religious, or political qualities or ideas
heuristic
(one who teaches by) allowing students to learn by discovering things themselves and learning from their own experiences rather than by telling them things
hermeneutic
relating to the meaning of texts and the ways in which they are understood
avant-garde
novel
convoke
to call a meeting to order
excogitate
think out, plan, or devise
frantic
distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion
“she was frantic with worry”;
hurriedly and in a disorganised way
mordant
(especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality, biting, acerbic; an adhesive substance; a corrosive liquid used to etch the lines on a printing plate; impregnating or treating with a mordant
choleric
bad-tempered or irritable
nominal
in name only; (of a price or charge) very small, far below the real value or cost
rack and ruin
destruction
quotidian
everyday, ordinary, banal
costive
constipated; slow and reluctant in speech and action, reticent, unforthcoming
homely
(of a person) unattractive in appearance
dotage
a period of life in which a person is old and weak, declining years
jouissance
physical or intellectual pleasure, delight, or ecstasy
picayune
of little value or significance, petty
“picayune squabbles”
dole
distribute shares of something, give, apportion
cad
a man who behaves dishonourably, especially towards a woman, reprobate
floe
sheet of floating ice, e.g. the floes of Greenland
fib
(an unimportant) lie
draconian
harsh, strict, severe
vintage
the year or place in which wine, especially wine of high quality, was produced
“1982 is one of the best vintages of the century”;
relating to or denoting wine of high quality
mitigating
lessening the gravity of an offence or mistake
“he would have faced a prison sentence but for mitigating circumstances”
anathema
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
“racial hatred was anathema to her”;
a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine
patent
obvious or evident
spurious
false or fake; (of a line of reasoning) specious
dissimulation
concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or character; pretence
“an attempt at dissimulation”
flagrancy
the quality or state of being flagrant, obviousness
contrapuntal
having two or more independent harmonies
ballast
a heavy substance (such as rocks or water) placed in such a way as to improve stability and control (as of the draft of a ship or the buoyancy of a balloon or submarine); something that gives stability (as in character or conduct)
“she provided the ballast we needed during stressful times”;
gravel or broken stone laid in a railroad bed or used in making concrete;
a device used to provide the starting voltage or to stabilize the current in a circuit (as of a fluorescent lamp)
albatross
something that causes anxiety or guilt or that burdens and encumbers
hallmark
stamp; a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature
exorbitant
exceeding the appropriate limits; not coming within the scope of the law
wax
to grow or increase
detriment
(a cause of) injury or damage (e.g. a detriment to progress, a detriment to one’s health)
boon
a timely benefit, blessing
“a boon to new homeowners”;
favour, especially one done in response to a request; convivial
sop
a conciliatory or propitiatory bribe, gift, or gesture; to dip in or as if in liquid; soak; mop
daft
silly, foolish; mad, insane
asseveration
an emphatic assertion
avaricious
greedy
titillation
to excite pleasurably : arouse by stimulation
simulacrum
imitation
dilettante
dabbler
artisan
a worker who practices a trade or handicraft
idealogue
an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology; an impractical idealist
acumen
keenness of judgement
garner
accumulate, collect; earn
“garner praise”
rend (past tense: rent)
to remove from place by violence, wrest;
to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence;
to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair;
to lacerate physically or emotionally;
to pierce with sound; to divide (something, such as a nation) into contesting factions
faddish
fashionable but not likely to stay fashionable for a long time
tendentious
(of speech or writing) expressing or supporting a particular opinion that many other people disagree with
modishness
stylishness
conversance
the quality of being conversant or having knowledge of or experience with
“his conversance with modern history”
balkanise
to break up (a region, a group, etc.) into smaller and often hostile units; divide, compartmentalise
sequalae
unintended or secondary consequences
defeasible
capable of being annulled or made void
“a defeasible claim”
adjuvant
serving to aid or contribute, auxiliary; enhancing the effectiveness of medical treatment
“retinoids also seem to be useful as adjuvant therapy”;
one that helps or facilitates (of drugs substances, or ingredients)
myopic
near-sighted; lacking in foresight or discernment : narrow in perspective and without concern for broader implications
fissile
capable of or prone to being split or divided in the direction of the grain or along natural planes of cleavage (e.g. fissile wood, fissile crystals);
capable of undergoing fission
touchstone
a fundamental or quintessential part or feature
“a touchstone film of that decade”;
a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing
stanchion
an upright bar or post; support
pundit
expert
