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