PCAT Vocab-2 Flashcards
Baleful
Malignant
bale·ful
/ˈbālfəl/
Adjective
Threatening harm; menacing: "Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction". Having a harmful or destructive effect.
Synonyms
evil - sinister - bad - baneful - harmful - pernicious
Banal
Commonplace
ba·nal
/ˈbānl/
Adjective
So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
Synonyms
trite - commonplace - hackneyed - trivial - platitudinous
Bask
To make warm by genial heat
bask
/bask/
Verb
Lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure. Revel in and make the most of (something pleasing).
Synonyms
sun - warm
Beatify
To make supremely happy
be·at·i·fy
/bēˈatəˌfī/
Verb
(in the Roman Catholic Church) Announce the beatification of. Make (someone) blissfully happy.
Bedaub
To smear over, as with something oily or sticky be·daub /biˈdôb/ Verb Smear or daub with a sticky substance. Synonyms besmear - daub - besmirch - smear - soil
Bellicose
Warlike
bel·li·cose
/ˈbeliˌkōs/
Adjective
Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
Synonyms
warlike - combative - militant - pugnacious - martial
Belligerent
Manifesting a warlike spirit bel·lig·er·ent /bəˈlijərənt/ Adjective Hostile and aggressive. Noun A nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law. Synonyms warring - militant - bellicose
Benefactor
A doer of kindly and charitable acts ben·e·fac·tor /ˈbenəˌfaktər/ Noun A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause. Synonyms patron - donor
Benevolence
Any act of kindness or well-doing benevolence Web definitions disposition to do good. wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Benign
Good and kind of heart
be·nign
/biˈnīn/
Adjective
Gentle; kindly. (of a climate or environment) Mild and favorable.
Synonyms
benignant - kind - kindly - gentle - good - mild - genial
Berate
To scold severely
be·rate
/biˈrāt/
Verb
Scold or criticize (someone) angrily: “my son berated me for not giving him a Jewish upbringing”.
Synonyms
scold - chide - upbraid - rebuke - rate - rail
Bewilder
to confuse the perceptions or judgement of
be·wil·der
/biˈwildər/
Verb
Cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused: “she seemed frightened and bewildered”; “a bewildering array of desserts”.
Synonyms
confuse - puzzle - perplex - baffle - confound
Blandishment
Flattery intended to persuade
bland·ish·ment
/ˈblandiSHmənt/
Noun
A flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something.
Synonyms
flattery - cajolery - blarney - cajolement - adulation
Blatant
Noisily or offensively loud or clamorous
bla·tant
/ˈblātnt/
Adjective
(of bad behavior) Done openly and unashamedly: "blatant lies". Completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious.
Synonyms
noisy - loud - obstreperous
Blithe
Joyous
blithe
/blīT͟H/
Adjective
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper. Happy or joyous.
Synonyms
merry - cheerful - jolly - joyful - blithesome - jocund
Boisterous
Unchecked merriment or animal spirits
bois·ter·ous
/ˈboist(ə)rəs/
Adjective
(of a person, event, or behavior) Noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy. (of wind, weather, or water) Wild or stormy.
Synonyms
noisy - tempestuous - tumultuous - stormy - obstreperous
Bolster
To support, as something wrong bol·ster /ˈbōlstər/ Noun A long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support. Verb Support or strengthen; prop up: "the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence". Synonyms noun. pad - pillow - cushion verb. support - uphold - back
Bombast
Inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects
bom·bast
/ˈbämbast/
Noun
High-sounding language with little meaning.
Synonyms
grandiloquence
Boorish
Rude boorish Web definitions ill-mannered and coarse and contemptible in behavior or appearance; "was boorish and insensitive"; "the loutish manners... wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Brittle
Fragile
brit·tle
/ˈbritl/
Adjective
Hard but liable to break or shatter easily.
Noun
A candy made from nuts and set melted sugar.
Synonyms
adjective. fragile - frail - breakable - frangible - crisp - friable
noun. brittleness
Breach
Violation of official duty, lawful right, or legal obligation
breach
/brēCH/
Noun
An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct.
Verb
Make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense): “the river breached its bank”.
Synonyms
noun. break - violation - gap - infringement - infraction
verb. break through - break
Broach
To mention, for the first time
broach
/brōCH/
Verb
Raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion: "he broached the subject". (of a ship with the wind on the quarter) Veer and pitch forward because of bad steering or a sea hitting the stern, causing it to...: "we had broached badly, side on to the wind and sea"
Noun A sudden and hazardous veering of a ship having such consequences. Synonyms verb. tap noun. spit - skewer - auger - brooch
Bumptious
Full of offensive and aggressive self-conceit
bump·tious
/ˈbəmpSHəs/
Adjective
Self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree.
Synonyms
conceited - arrogant - overweening - assuming - cocky
Buoyant
Having the power or tendency to float or keep afloat
buoy·ant
/ˈboi-ənt/
Adjective
Able or apt to keep afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas. (of a liquid or gas) Able to keep something afloat.
Synonyms
floating - cheerful
Burnish
To make brilliant or shining
bur·nish
/ˈbərniSH/
Verb
Polish (something, esp. metal) by rubbing: “burnished armor”.
Noun
The shine on a highly polished surface.
Synonyms
verb. polish - furbish - buff - gloss - glaze
noun. polish - sheen - gloss - lustre - luster
Cabal
A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose
ca·bal
/kəˈbäl/
Noun
A secret political clique or faction: “a cabal of dissidents”.
Synonyms
intrigue - plot - machination - scheme - conspiracy
Cant
To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity
cant
/kant/
Noun
Hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature. A slope or tilt.
Verb
Talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously about something. Cause (something) to be in a slanting or oblique position; tilt: "he canted his head to look at the screen".
Synonyms
noun. slang - jargon - hypocrisy
verb. tilt
Capacious
Roomy
ca·pa·cious
/kəˈpāSHəs/
Adjective
Having a lot of space inside; roomy: “a capacious van”.
Synonyms
spacious - roomy - large - commodious - wide - ample
Capitulate
To surrender or stipulate terms
ca·pit·u·late
/kəˈpiCHəˌlāt/
Verb
Cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.
Synonyms
surrender - give in - yield - submit - succumb
Captious
Hypercritical cap·tious /ˈkapSHəs/ Adjective (of a person) Tending to find fault or raise petty objections. Synonyms carping
Castigate
To punish cas·ti·gate /ˈkastəˌgāt/ Verb Reprimand (someone) severely. Synonyms punish - chastise - chasten - scourge - discipline
Cataract
Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness
cat·a·ract
/ˈkatəˌrakt/
Noun
A large waterfall. A sudden rush of water; a downpour.
Synonyms
waterfall - cascade
Caustic
Sarcastic and severe caus·tic /ˈkôstik/ Adjective Able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action. Noun A caustic substance. Synonyms mordant - biting - acrid - acrimonious - sharp - pungent
Censure
To criticize severely, also, an expression of disapproval
cen·sure
/ˈsenSHər/
Verb
Express severe disapproval of (someone or something), typically in a formal statement.
Noun
The expression of formal disapproval.
Synonyms
verb. criticize - condemn - blame - denounce - decry
noun. criticism - reproof - blame - condemnation - reprehension
Centurion
A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army
Chagrin
Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one’s failures or errors
cha·grin
/SHəˈgrin/
Noun
Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated.
Verb
Feel distressed or humiliated.
Synonyms
noun. disappointment - grief - sorrow - annoyance - regret
verb. grieve - aggrieve
Chary
Careful, wary, cautious
char·y
/ˈCHe(ə)rē/
Adjective
Cautious; wary. Cautious about the amount one gives or reveals.
Synonyms
cautious - careful - wary - prudent - guarded - discreet
Chicanery
The use of trickery to deceive chi·can·er·y /SHiˈkānərē/ Noun The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. Synonyms chicane - deceit
Circumlocution
Indirect or roundabout expression cir·cum·lo·cu·tion /ˌsərkəmlōˈkyo͞oSHən/ Noun The use of many words where fewer would do, esp. in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive. Synonyms periphrasis - circumbendibus
Coddle
To treat as a baby or an invalid
cod·dle
/ˈkädl/
Verb
Treat in an indulgent or overprotective way: "I was coddled and cosseted". Cook (an egg) in water below the boiling point.
Synonyms
pamper - spoil - pet - mollycoddle - cosset - indulge
Coerce
To force
co·erce
/kōˈərs/
Verb
Persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats. Obtain (something) by such means.
Synonyms
force - compel - constrain - oblige - enforce
Cacophony
A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones
ca·coph·o·ny
/kəˈkäfənē/
Noun
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds: “a cacophony of deafening alarm bells”; “a cacophony of architectural styles”.
Cajole
To impose on or dupe by flattering speech
ca·jole
/kəˈjōl/
Verb
Persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery: “he cajoled her into selling the house”; “she cajoled to win his support”.
Synonyms
coax - wheedle - blandish - flatter - persuade - adulate
Callow
Without experience of the world
cal·low
/ˈkalō/
Adjective
(esp. of a young person) Inexperienced and immature.
Synonyms
inexperienced - green - raw - young - verdant
Calumny
Slander
cal·um·ny
/ˈkaləmnē/
Noun
The making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander. A false and slanderous statement.
Synonyms
slander - aspersion - libel - defamation - obloquy - slur
Candid
Straightforward
Collusion
A secret agreement for a wrongful purpose
col·lu·sion
/kəˈlo͞oZHən/
Noun
Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, esp. in order to cheat or deceive others. Such cooperation or conspiracy, esp. between ostensible opponents in a lawsuit.
Synonyms
conspiracy
Commemorate
To serve as a remembrance of
com·mem·o·rate
/kəˈmeməˌrāt/
Verb
Recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony. Serve as a memorial to.
Synonyms
celebrate - solemnize - remember
Comestible
Fit to be eaten co·mes·ti·ble /kəˈmestəbəl/ Noun An item of food. Adjective Edible. Synonyms noun. food adjective. edible - eatable - esculent
Complaisance
Politeness complaisance Web definitions a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others. wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Complement
To make complete com·ple·ment /ˈkämpləmənt/ Noun A thing that completes or brings to perfection. Verb Add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves it; make perfect. Synonyms noun. supplement - addition - adjunct verb. complete - supplement
