O,P,Q words Flashcards
obdurate
stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action
objurgate
to criticize sharply, rebuke vehemently, berate
obligate
to bind legally or morally
obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree, fawning
obsolete
no longer produced or used, out of date
obstinate
holding stubbornly to one’s own ideas or purposes, unwilling to change
obviate
avoid, prevent
opportunism
the taking of opportunities as and when they arise, regardless of planning or principle
opulent
having or displaying wealth or richness
outmoded
no longer in keeping with current standards or practices, obsolete
panacea
a remedy or solution for all diseases, ills or difficulties, cure all
palliative
treating the symptom but not the cure
panache
a confidently stylish, dashing or flamboyant manner (chutzpah)
partial
favoring one side in a dispute above the other
partiality
unfair bias in favor of one thing or person compared with another
partisan
devoted to or favoring a particular cause, group, political party or the like
pastoral
relating to the country or country life, rural
patent
easily recognizable or obvious
pejorative
expressing contempt or disapproval
pellucidity
lucid in style or meaning, easily understood
penchant
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
penetrate
be fully understood or realized by someone
penitent
feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong, repentant
perfunctory
done quickly as a matter or routine, performed without care
peripheral
of secondary or minor importance, marginal
pernicious
having a very harmful or fatal effect, injurious, deadly or destructive
personify
to be a perfect or typical example of, embody
perspicacity
keenness of mental perception or grasp, astuteness
phlegmatic
not given to shows of emotion or interest, slow to excite
pithy
exactly and concisely appropriate, effective, forceful
pivotal
critically important or crucial, on which something is contingent
placid
calm, smooth or tranquil
polemic
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
portend
be a sign or warning that something calamitous is about to happen
pragmatism
a practical approach to problems and issues
precarious
dependant on chance, uncertain
precedence
priority in importance, order or rank
precocious
of a child, having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected
predicament
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation
predominant
having or exerting control or power
preeminent
surpassing all others, very distinguished in some way
premonition
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant
presage
be a sign or warning of an imminent event
prescience
the fact of knowing something in advance, foreknowledge
pressing
requiring quick or immediate action or attention
prevaricate
speak or act in an evasive way
pristine
in its original condition
probity
the quality of having strong moral principles, honesty and decency
prodigal
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant
profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources
prolix
using or containing too many words, tediously lengthy
promulgate
promote or make widely known (an idea or cause)
synonym of propagate
propagate
spread and promote widely
synonym of promulgate
prosaic
commonplace
provincial
limited in outlook, narrow minded
proxy
a person authorized to act on behalf of another
prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future
pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
quandary
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
rallying
the action or process of coming together to support a person or a cause
recondite
little known
synonym of abstruse
recrudesce
to break out or appear again after a period of dormancy
redouble
make or become much greater, more intense or more numberous
remedial
giving or intended as a remedy or cure
repudiate
refuse to accept
synonym of reject
resolute
admirably purposeful, determined and unwavering
restive
unable to remain still, silent or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction
resurgent
increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity or occurrence
reverence
deep respect for someone or something
rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling
