p16 Flashcards
quibble
Make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important
quiescent
Quiet, still
quixotic
Extremely impractical but very romantic, chivalrous, or idealistic; impulsive
Instead of their usual quixotic quest, Utah Democrats declined to send a nominee to the ballot this year, clearing the way for a one-on-one contest between the Republican nominee and independent candidate Evan McMullin.
quotidian
Daily; everyday, ordinary
Many of the 17th-century artist’s paintings center on women engaging in quotidian tasks such as reading, writing and playing musical instruments.
raconteur
Wittystoryteller
tepid
only slightly warm; lukewarm
Chinese support for Russia’s war is increasingly tepid, though it is still happy to buy oil and gas at a considerable discount.
vindicate
prove to be right
Ukraine’s successful resistance against Russia vindicates U.S. military support for Kyiv, which is now making a decisive difference with the longer-range, precision rocket system.
rarefied
Lofty, very high up or elevated (in a metaphorical way); exclusive, select; thin, pure, or less dense (as air at the top of a mountain)
Investors have to decide if there really is a future in this rarefied market for Aston Martin.
reap
Harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one’s effort
recalcitrant
Not obedient, resisting authority, hard to manage
recant
to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly
The case had been built on the testimony of a sole eyewitness who later tried to recant her testimony.
recapitulate
Summarize, repeat in a concise way
But a major limitation of the study is that it was performed in mice, which do not adequately recapitulate all aspects of TB or COVID in humans.
The failure to do so will simply recapitulate the myriad mistakes of past.
recluse
marked by withdrawal from society
he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse
recondite
Not easily understood, hidden, dealing with an obscure topic
… recondite fact about the origin of the holiday
recrudescent
Revival, breaking out into renewed activity
… recrudescence of the disease is a real possibility
redound
To have a good or bad effect, esp. as a result of a person’s efforts or actions (usually used with to, on, or upon)
The Election Day controversies are most likely to redound to the Democratic party’s benefit.
The benefit would redound worldwide, shaping a far larger share of global climate pollution.
redress
Setting something right after a misdeed, compensation or relief for injury or wrongdoing (noun); correct, set right, remedy (verb)
The prestigious school will set aside $100 million to study and redress its historic ties to slavery following the release of a committee report on the topic.
refractory
Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage
Believing that rules only apply to others, he has been refractory his entire life
refulgent
Shining, radiant
the refulgence of a full moon on a clear autumn night
rejoinder
Response or reply, esp. a witty comeback
The ambitious work is intended as a rejoinder to the campaign by India’s governing party to rewrite the nation’s history books, including by excising sections on Muslim rulers.
rend
Tear violently, esp. to tear one’s clothing or hair out of grief; pull apart, split, or tear away
His ideas would rend a global deal that has been hailed as historic, throwing into question the fate of global climate policy
render
Give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become
The sight of her rendered him speechless.
repast
A meal (noun); to eat or feast (verb)
She offered us a light repast before we set out on our trip.
replete
filled or well-supplied with something
The country’s history is replete with stories of people who became successful by working hard.
repose
The act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying dead in a grave
enjoyed the repose of a serene summer evening
reproach
Blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)
A bug in the logic of a design, though discovered and fixed in the lab, stands as a slight reproach to the designer.
Accusations and reproaches from both parties made it difficult to pursue discussions
reprobate
express or feel disapproval of (verb); an unprincipled person (noun); unprincipled (adj)
a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens
a reprobate judge who could be bribed
without hesitation she reprobated such an indecent idea
repudiate
Reject, cast off, deny that something has authority
Voters in Myanmar appeared today to have sharply repudiated their military rulers and to have given a landslide victory to the main opposition part
requite
Reciprocate, repay, or revenge
the future writer would later requite the abuse he suffered at the hands of his classmates by creating scathing portraits of them in his novels
the company requited the employee who had fallen on the ice while leaving work by promptly paying all his medical bills, hoping that would stave off a lawsuit
restive
Impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled
Some of the most closely monitored employees in the country have become some of the most restive — warehouse workers attempting to unionize, truckers forming protest convoys.
resurgent
Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again
The I.M.F. said economic prospects had darkened significantly in recent months as war in Ukraine, inflation and a resurgent pandemic inflicted pain on every continent.
reticent
Not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved
the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations.
Historically during recessions, the U.S. government has been very slow and reticent to come.
revamp
Renovate, redo, revise (verb); a restructuring, upgrade, etc. (noun)
the automaker is revamping a number of its cars in an effort to make them more appealing to younger consumers
reverent
Feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe
The reverent silence which followed was, for many seconds, broken only by a smattering of approving hums from the audience.
ribald
Using or relating to obscene or vulgar humor
some of the movie’s most ribald, and thus funniest, scenes were cut for showing on broadcast television
rife
Happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported
Speculation about who would be fired ran rife for weeks.
The country was opening up to the outside world and seemed rife with business opportunities.
rift
A gap or fissure (such as in rock), a break in friendly relations
The polling shows a deepening rift between the parties over climate change and the government’s role in limiting the greenhouse gasses
