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English language - Big words > Negative connotations > Flashcards

Negative connotations Flashcards

1
Q

Altercation

A

a noisy argument, especially in public

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2
Q

Discordant

A

disagreeing / lack of harmony in sounds

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3
Q

Errant

A

straying from the accepted course or standards

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4
Q

Visceral

A

relating to deep inner feelings rather than intellect

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5
Q

Vehemence

A

great forcefulness or intensity of feeling or expression

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6
Q

Incendiary

A

designed to cause fires / stir conflict

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7
Q

Menial

A

work that lacks skill or prestige

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8
Q

Farce

A

a comic dramatic work, typically using ludicrously improbable situations

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9
Q

Eviscerate

A

disembowel

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10
Q

Belligerent

A

hostile or aggressive

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11
Q

Lackadaisical

A

lacking enthusiasm and determination, carelessly lazy

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12
Q

Nepotism

A

when people in positions of power give friends and relatives special benefits

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13
Q

Subterfuge

A

deceit used to achieve your goal

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14
Q

Vitriol

A

bitter criticism or malice

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15
Q

Conflagration

A

an extensive fire which destroys a huge amount of land or property

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16
Q

Petulant

A

childishly sulky or bad-tempered

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17
Q

Laceration

A

a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh

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18
Q

Prosaic

A

lacking imaginativeness or originality

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19
Q

Insipid

A

lacking flavour, weak or tasteless

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20
Q

Acerbic

A

sharp and forthright / tasting sour or bitter

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21
Q

Vicarious

A

experienced or gained by the loss or to the consequence of another person

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22
Q

Indolent

A

habitually lazy

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23
Q

Insolent

A

insulting in manner or words

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24
Q

Iniquity

A

wickedness, sin

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25
Q

Bridle

A

to show one’s resentment or anger

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26
Q

Hedonism

A

self-indulgence

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27
Q

Cloying

A

excessively sweet or sentimental, often to a sickening degree

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28
Q

Fester

A

suppurate or rot

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29
Q

Usurp

A

to take power or position illegally or by force

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30
Q

Decrepit

A

dilapidated, worn out or ruined due to age or neglect

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31
Q

Frivolous

A

not having any serious purpose or value

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32
Q

Perfunctory

A

carried out without real feeling, interest or effort

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33
Q

Vestige

A

a trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists

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34
Q

Asinine

A

extremely stupid or foolish

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35
Q

Litany

A

a tedious recital or repetitive series

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36
Q

Vacuous

A

empty / having a lack of thought or intelligence

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37
Q

Eschew

A

deliberately avoid using / abstain from

38
Q

Beleaguer

A

cause problems or difficulties for

39
Q

Ennui

A

a feeling of listlessness or dissatisfaction from a lack of excitement

40
Q

Malfeasance

A

wrongdoing, especially by a public official

41
Q

Stymie

A

prevent or hinder the progress of

42
Q

Inundate

A

to overwhelm someone with things or people to be dealt with

43
Q

Fetid

A

smelling extremely unpleasant

44
Q

Cede

A

give up power or territory

45
Q

Prevaricate

A

to speak or act in an evasive way

46
Q

Impetuous

A

moving forcefully or rapidly / acting quickly without thought or care

47
Q

Admonish

A

reprimand firmly

48
Q

Arduous

A

difficult and tiring

49
Q

Ineptitude

A

lack of skill or ability

50
Q

Malodorous

A

smelling very unpleasant

51
Q

Perturbed

A

anxious or unsettled

52
Q

Mercurial

A

subject to sudden and unpredictable mood changes

53
Q

Denigrate

A

criticise unfairly

54
Q

Culpable

A

deserving blame

55
Q

Querulous

A

complaining in a petulant or whining manner

56
Q

Mulish

A

resembling or likened to a mule in being stubborn

57
Q

Extemporaneous

A

spoken or done without preparation

58
Q

Temerity

A

excessive confidence or boldness / audacity

59
Q

Penitent

A

feeling / showing remorse and sorrow for wrongdoing

60
Q

Inter

A

place a corpse in a grave / tomb, usually with funeral rites

61
Q

Vexatious

A

causing annoyance, frustration or worry

62
Q

Irascible

A

having a tendency to be easily angered

63
Q

Supine

A

failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence

64
Q

Rankle

A

to cause continuing annoyance or resentment

65
Q

Recalcitrant

A

having an uncooperative attitude towards authority

66
Q

Anathema

A

something or someone that one vehemently dislikes

67
Q

Taciturn

A

reserved or uncommunicative in speech

68
Q

Aphotic

A

having no light, especially sunlight

69
Q

Admonishment

A

a firm warning or reprimand

70
Q

Contrite

A

feeling or expressing remorse at doing wrong (adjective)

71
Q

Languid

A

lazy / weak or faint from illness

72
Q

Sequester

A

isolate or hide away

73
Q

Pariah

A

an outcast

74
Q

Traduce

A

speak badly or tell lies about someone to ruin their reputation

75
Q

Chagrin

A

annoyance / distress at having failed or been humiliated (noun/verb)

76
Q

Uncouth

A

lacking good manners, refinement or grace. Wild

77
Q

Terse

A

sparing in the use of words / abrupt

78
Q

Diatribe

A

a forceful / bitter verbal attack

79
Q

Lugubrious

A

looking or sounding sad and dismal

80
Q

Acerbity

A

sharpness or directness in speech

81
Q

Inane

A

lacking sense or meaning - silly

82
Q

Foment

A

to instigate or stir up something undesirable or violent

83
Q

Dissolute

A

overindulging in sensual pleasures

84
Q

Compunction

A

a feeling of guilt that stops you from doing something bad

85
Q

Bereft

A

deprived or lacking something, or sad and lonely after someone’s departure

86
Q

Vociferous

A

Loud and forceful

87
Q

Aberration

A

An unwelcome departure from what is normal

88
Q

Paltry

A

Very small

89
Q

Rancour

A

Bitterness or resent

90
Q

Spurious

A

False or fake

91
Q

Garrulous

A

Excessively talkative

English language - Big words (3 decks)

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