Other Flashcards
aberrant/aberration
deviating from the norm
abscond
depart clandestinely (secretly)
alacrity
eager and enthusiastic willingness
anomaly
deviation from the normal order
approbation
an expression of approval or praise
arduous
taxing, strenuous
assuage
to ease or lessen
“the letter assuaged the fears of most members”
satisfy (an appetite or desire).
“an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge”
austere
without adornment, ascetic
axiomatic
possessing self evident truth
canonical
in agreement with accepted traditional standards
capricious
erratic, unpredictable
censure
criticize severely
chicanery
trickery
convoluted
complex
disabuse
to set right
discordant
conflicting / harsh in sound
presumptuous
failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
“it was presumptuous of you to call him”
enervate
to weaken
ennui
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or lack of excitement
equivocate
use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
erudite
learned
exculpate
to clear of blame
exigent
urgent + requiring immediate action
extemporaneous
done without preparation
filibuster
intentional obstruction
They engaged in a filibuster that lasted for over a week
fulminate
to loudly attack or denounce
ingenuous
lacking in sophistication / candid
inured
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
magnanimity / magnanimous
quality of being generously Nobel in mind and heart
nascent
in early development stages
nebulous
vague
noxious
harmful
obtuse
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
“he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse”
obviate
to make something unnecessary
onerous
troublesome
perennial
recurrent through the years
perfidy
intentional break of faith
perfunctory
done without care or interest
perspicacious
acutely perceptive
prattle
to babble meaninglessly
precipitate
acting with excessive haste / to cause or happen before anticipated
predilection
preference
prescience
foreknowledge of events
prevaricate
to mislead + avoid the truth
qualms
causes for hesitancy
“military regimes generally have no qualms about controlling the press”
recant
to retract a previously held belief
reticent
reluctant to express feelings
solicitous
concerned and attentive
“I appreciated his solicitous inquiry about my health”.
sordid
characterized with filth, involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.
stupefy
to baffle, amaze
stymie
to block
tortuous
excessively complicated
truculent
fierce + eager to fight
veracity
truthfulness
virulent
bitterly hostile
voracious
having an insatiable appetite for activity
waver
to sway + unsettled in opinion
Toady
act in an obsequious way.
“she imagined him toadying to his rich clients”
Herald
a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen.
“they considered the first primroses as the herald of spring”
Sycophant
a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage.
“because he is high-ranking, he’s surrounded by sycophants”
Blandishment
a flattering or pleasing statement or action used as a means of gently persuading someone to do something.
“the blandishments of the travel brochure”
Cajolery
coaxing or flattery intended to persuade someone to do something.
“she uses cajolery, deception, and manipulation to get what she wants”
Obloquy
strong public condemnation.
“he endured years of contempt and obloquy”
Prolixity
the quality of being long-winded, wordy, or tedious when speaking or writing
Inveterate
having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.
“an inveterate gambler”
Palliative
a medicine or form of medical care that relieves symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.
“at present, available treatments are only palliatives and no curative drugs are available yet”
Lascivious
feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire.
“he gave her a lascivious wink”
Picayune
of little value or significance; petty.
“the picayune squabbling of party politicians”
Insidious
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects.
“sexual harassment is a serious and insidious problem”
Pervasive
(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
“ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our society”
