Power Words Flashcards
Abstruse
(adj) difficult to understand
Obscure
hazy; unfamiliar; difficult to understand
Lucid
easy to understand; transparent; clear- thinking
Ambiguous
(adj) unclear; vague; having several interpretations
Equivocal
misleading; uncertain
Explicit
absolutely clear; free from ambiguity
Ameliorate
(verb) to make an unpleasant situation better; to improve
Assuage
to make less severe; to ease
Exacerbate
to make a bad situation worse
Animosity
(noun) a feeling of resentment, hostility, or enmity
Rancor
bitter, long-lasting resentment
Amity
friendship
Apathy
(noun) lack of interest or concern
Dispassionate
not emotionally involved; objective
Zealous
filled with or motivated by enthusiastic devotion
Apocryphal
(adj) of questionable authorship or authenticity
Dubious
doubtful; questionable
Authentic
having a claimed and verifiable origin or authorship
Ascetic
(noun) person who rejects physical comfort and luxury for self-discipline
Austere
stern; plain; without luxuries
Hedonism
the belief that only pleasure is worth pursuing
Avarice
greed
Cupidity
greed, especially for money
Philanthropy
charitable work; generosity
Banal
boring; trite; insipid
Pedestrian
dull; ordinary
Exotic
intriguingly unusual, different, or beautiful
Blatant
(adj) offensively conspicuous or undisguised
Brazen
rudely bold; insolent
Decorous
marked by decorum; proper
Capricious
unpredictable
Impetuous
making quick decisions and taking sudden action; hasty; impulsive
Steadfast
not movable; strong in belief; staunch
Circumlocution
the use of wordy and indirect language
Garrulous
tiresomely talkative; rambling
Succinct
short and to the point; concise
Clemency
mercy
Exonerate
to free from blame; to exculpate
Avenge
to take revenge for
Contrite
sorry; penitent
Repentant
remorse or contrition for the past conduct or sin
Incorrigible
impossible to correct, control, or discipline
Desecrate
to violate the sacredness; profane
Sacrilege
desecration, profanation, misuse, or theft of something sacred
Venerate
respect greatly; revere
Din
jumble of loud usually discordant sounds
Cacophony
harshness of sound; unharmonious
Euphony
agreement of sounds
Dogmatic
sticking widely- accepted beliefs, even when faced with contrary evidence; closed-minded
Categorical
being without exception or qualification; absolute
Obsequious
behaving like a meek, spineless servant; subservient; sycophantic
Elusive
hard to catch to understand; evasive
Evasive
tending to avoid giving direct answers
Candid
direct and frank, straightforward
Enigmatic
mysterious or puzzling
Conundrum
riddle or mystery
Manifest
clearly apparent to the sight or understanding
Ephemeral
temporary or short-lived
Transitory
existing only briefly
Perpetual
lasting for an indefinitely long time
Extricate
to free from a trap or difficult situation; to disentangle
Deliver
to set free
Encumber
to weigh down or burden
Fetid
having an offensive odor
Rancid
having the disagreeable odor or taste of decomposing oils or fats; rank
Aromatic
a usually pleasant odor
Fetter
to shackle or restrict the freedom of
Hinder
to obstruct or delay the progress of
Emancipate
to free from bondage, oppression, or restraint
Impervious
incapable of being penetrated, as by water
Impregnable
impossible to capture or enter by force
Vulnerable
able to be hurt
Incongruous
out of place
Disparate
different
Seemly
proper or suitable