Prep Scholar 357 words Flashcards
1
Q
Word
A
Definition
2
Q
abate
A
v. to diminish in intensity
3
Q
aberrant
A
adj. diverging from the standard type
“Cells containing chromosomal mutations are considered aberrant cells.”
4
Q
abjure
A
v. to reject or renounce
The governor has been forced to abjure his most important achievement, his healthcare plan.
5
Q
abscond
A
v. to leave secretly, evading detection
6
Q
abstain
A
v. to voluntarily refrain from doing something
7
Q
acumen
A
n. keen judgment and perception
8
Q
admonish
A
v. scold or to advise firmly
My mother admonished me for eating dessert before my vegetables
9
Q
adulterate
A
v. to contaminate or make impure by introducing inferior elements
10
Q
advocate
A
v. to recommend, support, or advise
11
Q
aesthetic
A
adj. concerned with the nature of beauty and art
12
Q
affectation
A
n. fake or artificial behavior, often meant to impress or conceal the truth
Her manner at her future in laws house reeks of affectation.
13
Q
aggrandize
A
v. enlarge or increase, esp. wealth, power, reputation
14
Q
alacrity
A
n. promptness and eagerness
She accepted the money with alacrity
15
Q
alleviate
A
v. to relieve a problem or ease a burden
16
Q
amalgamate
A
v. to combine to or mix together
17
Q
ambiguous
A
adj. unclear
18
Q
ambivalent
A
adj. having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something
“some loved her, some hated her, few were ambivalent about her”
19
Q
ameliorate
A
v. to improve or mitigate a situation
20
Q
amenable
A
adj. easily convinced or persuaded
21
Q
anachronism
A
n. something old-fashioned
22
Q
analogous
A
n. comparable
23
Q
anoint
A
v. to choose for a particular office or position
24
Q
anomaly
A
n. an exception or unusual case
25
antipathy
n. strong dislike or hatred
26
antithetical
adj. contrary to the very nature of
Birth and death are antithetical
27
apathy
n. state of total disinterest or unenthusiasm
28
appease
v. to placate
29
arbitrary
adj. seemingly chosen or designated without reason or purpose
Did you have a reason for choosing your destination or was it arbitrary?
30
arcane
adj. secret or known only to a select group
He was the only person who understood all the arcane details of the agreement
31
archaic
adj. old-fashioned
32
arduous
adj. difficult, taxing, requiring considerable effort
33
articulate
adj. exhibiting considerable communication skills, well-spoken
34
artless
adj. simple and not wanting to deceive
The little boy had an artless response
35
ascetic
adj. austere or self-denying
They live a very ascetic life
36
assuage
v. to provide relief from an unpleasant feeling
37
astonishment
n. total surprise, shock
38
audacious
adj. very bold or presumptuous
39
austere
adj. severe, unadorned
40
avarice
n. Extremely strong desire to get or keep money/possessions
The children accepts their father's avarice
41
aver
v. to assert or allege
She averred that he was guilty
42
banal
adj. boring, cliché
43
belie
v. give a false impression (intentional or unintentional)
His gruff manner belies a gentle personality
44
benign
adj. gentle, harmless
45
biased
adj. prejudiced, displaying partiality
46
bolster
v. to shore up or support
47
bombastic
adj. overblown, theatrical
48
brazen
adj. bold or open to the point of shocking
He told me a brazen lie
49
bucolic
adj. relating to the countryside
The painting showed a typically bucolic scene
50
burgeon
v. flourish, bloom, expand or increase quickly
51
cacophony
n. loud and chaotic noise
52
calumny
n. lie or slander
She was subjected to the most vicious calumny on the pitch
53
candid
adj. honest, open
54
canon
n. accepted rules and tenets of a discipline
55
capacity
n. the capability to perform a particular action or fulfill a given function
56
capricious
adj. mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical
57
castigate
v. to scold or berate strongly
58
catalyst
n. something that speeds up a process or causes action
59
caustic
adj. corrosive
60
censure
v. to express intense condemnation
His dishonest behavior came under severe censure.
61
chauvinist
n. someone who believes prejudicially that their own group is the
62
chicanery
n. trickery or deception
63
chronological
adj. ordered by time
64
coalesce
v. to come together, esp. from disparate parts
65
cogent
adj. clearly laid out and persuasive
66
commensurate
adj. in accordance with, proportional
I am looking for a salary that is commensurate with my skills and experience.
67
compelling
adj. captivating
68
comprehensive
adj. complete and thorough
69
condone
v. to approve or allow
70
confound
v. to confuse or astonish
71
connoisseur
n. an expert in a particular subject matter area, usually relating to
72
consequential
adj. as a result of
73
construe
v. to interpret
He may construe the approach as a hostile act
74
consumption
n. utilization (esp. of a resource)
75
contend
v. assert or claim
76
contentious
adj. controversial
77
contrite
adj. remorseful
She seemed genuinely contrite when she apologized.
78
convoluted
adj. roundabout, not straightforward
79
copious
adj. plentiful or abundant
80
cosmopolitan
adj. of or relating to a city or urban area
81
covet
v. to desire something that does not belong to you
She always coveted her cousins gregarious personality
82
craft
n. cunning
83
craven
adj. cowardly to the point of being shameful
The man behaves in a craven manner towards his mother
84
credence
n. belief or trust
His bruises added credence to his statement that he had been beaten
85
credulous
adj. gullible, naïve
86
decorum
n. appropriate behavior or good manners
87
deference
n. respect or polite submission
88
deflect
v. divert
89
deftness
adj. skill, acumen
90
delineate
v. to describe very accurately
The main concepts are clearly delineated in the first chapter.
91
demur
v. to object or raise concerns
The children accepted their punishment without demur
92
denigrate
v. say negative things about, particularly in a defamatory way
You shouldn't denigrate people just because they have different beliefs from you.
93
deride
v. to mock or ridicule
94
derivative
adj. imitates another work in a way that is unoriginal or uninspiring
His painting is very derivative 16th century European work.
95
desiccate
v. to dry out completely
96
desultory
adj. halfhearted
97
detachment
n. objectivity or aloofness
98
determinant
n. a strong factor in an outcome
99
diatribe
n. a rant or angry speech denouncing someone or something
100
didactic
adj. educational or with an instructive purpose
"he composed the works for didactic purposes"
101
diffident
adj. shy, timid, or reserved due to a lack of confidence
102
dilettante
n. someone with an amateur, nonserious interest in something
103
dirge
n. funeral or mourning lament
104
disabuse
v. to dispel someone's illusions or false impressions about
105
discern
v. to perceive
106
discrepancy
n. inconsistency
107
disinterested
adj. objective, unbiased
108
disparage
v. to belittle
She disparages her teammates, saying they are all a bunch of amateurs compared to her.
109
disparate
adj. dissimilar to such a degree that comparison is not possible
110
dispassionate
adj. impartial or cool
111
disregard
v. to ignore or pay no attention to
112
dissemble
v. to mislead or conceal the truth, esp. with respect to one's
113
disseminate
v. to spread widely (esp. information)
114
dissonance
n. a clash between two elements that don't blend well
115
diverge
v. to split apart, esp. a road or path
116
dogma
n. the official beliefs or tenets of particular sect or group
117
dupe
v. to deceive or fool
118
ebullient
adj. cheerful, enthusiastic, excited
119
eccentric
adj. quirky or unusual
120
eclectic
adj. composed of a variety of styles, themes, motifs, etc.
121
efficacy
n. effectiveness
122
elegy
n. sad poem or song, often in remembrance of someone deceased
123
elicit
v. to provoke a response
124
eloquence
adj. persuasive and articulate speech
125
eminent
adj. well-known, respected, distinguished
126
empirical
adj. based on evidence
127
emulate
v. to imitate or attempt to equal in accomplishment
128
enervate
v. to exhaust or drain of energy
129
engender
v. to cause or give rise to
130
enhance
v. intensify, increase, augment
131
entitlement
n. belief that one deserves things one has not earned
132
ephemeral
adj. short-lived or transient
133
equable
adj. even-tempered
She has a fairly equable temperament - I haven't often seen her really angry.
134
equivocate
v. to use ambiguous language in order to mislead or deceive
135
erroneous
adj. incorrect
She made an erroneous assumption about her teamates ability
136
erudite
adj. learned
137
eschew
v. avoid or abstain from
The doctor request his patients to eschew from smoking ciggarettes
138
esoteric
adj. obscure, arcane
139
estimable
adj. deserving respect, esteem, and admiration
140
eulogy
n. memorial speech for one who has passed, normally given at a
141
exacerbate
v. to make worse
142
exacting
adj. challenging, demanding, grueling
The athlete was sujected to an exacting training schedule
143
exculpate
v. to exonerate or vindicate
144
exigent
adj. urgent or pressing
145
exonerate
v. to clear of charges of wrongdoing
146
expatiate
v. to elaborate on something in great detail
The father expatiated on his work for the duration of the meal.
147
explicate
v. to explain in detail
148
exposition
n. a thorough explanation
149
extraneous
adj. irrelevant or superfluous
All extraneous information has been removed from the report.
150
extrapolate
v. to estimate or conjecture about the future based on presently available information or facts
You can't really extrapolate a trend from such a small sample.
151
facetious
adj. not serious about a serious subject, in an attempt to be funny or to appear clever, glib or flippant
She is just being facetious.
152
facilitate
v. to make something easier or simpler
153
fallacious
adj. incorrect/misinformed
His argument is based on fallacious reasoning.
154
fastidious
adj. meticulous
155
fluctuate
v. to shift without apparent pattern
156
foment
v. to foster unrest or discontent
157
forestall
v. to hold off or try to prevent
158
fortuitous
adj. fortunate and lucky
159
frugal
adj. economical, thrifty
160
gainsay
v. deny or oppose
There is no gainsaying the fact that they choke during hard matches
161
galvanize
v. to prod someone into action
162
garrulous
adj. talkative
163
gauche
adj. socially inept, inappropriate, or awkward
She had grown from a gauche teenager to a self-assured young woman.
164
germane
adj. relevant to the matter at hand
165
glib
adj. talking confidently, but carelessly or insincerely
He's a glib, self-centered man.
166
gregarious
adj. sociable, genial
167
guile
n. craftiness and cunning
168
hackneyed
adj. cliché, trite, banal
The plot of the movie is just a hackneyed boy-meets-girl scenario.
169
harangue
n. diatribe or rant
170
hedonism
n. the pursuit of pleasure
she pursued a life of unbridled hedonism
171
hierarchical
adj. arranged in rank order or hierarchy
172
homogenous
adj. uniform, identical
173
hyperbole
n. obvious exaggeration for effect
174
iconoclast
n. a person who attacks traditional religious and cultural institutions
175
ideological
adj. relating to a particular belief system or theory
176
imminent
adj. about to happen
177
immutable
adj. unchangeable
An immutable law
178
impair
v. to hinder or weaken someone or something
179
impediment
n. barrier, hindrance, or obstruction
180
imperturbable
adj. remaining calm under any circumstance
181
implacable
adj. unforgiving
182
implicit
adj. implied or insinuated without being directly stated
183
imprudence
n. bad judgment
184
impudent
adj. disrespectful
The child made an impudent remark
185
inadvertent
adj. by accident or unintentional
186
inchoate
adj. rudimentary, in the beginning stages
187
inconclusive
adj. indeterminate or unresolved
188
indebted
adj. owing money
189
indefatigable
adj. cannot be made tired
190
indolent
adj. lazy
191
infer
v. to conclude from implicit evidence (as opposed to explicit facts)
192
ingenuous
adj. naïve or innocent
193
inimical
adj. harmful or hostile
194
innocuous
adj. harmless
195
inscrutable
adj. enigmatic, incomprehensible,difficult to understand or get to know
She believes that a certain portion of life must remain inscrutable
196
insipid
adj. bland, uninspired, inane
197
insular
adj. tight-knit and isolated; uninterested in matters outside one's own
198
intensive
adj. concentrated and in-depth
199
intermediary
n. a go-between
200
intimate
adj. close (as in a relationship)
201
intractable
adj. unmanageable
We are facing an intractable problem with family finances
202
intransigent
adj. uncompromising, obstinate
203
intrepid
adj. bold and adventurous
a team of intrepid explorers
204
inveterate
adj. ingrained, habitual
I never trust anything he says - the man's an inveterate liar.
205
invulnerable
adj. indestructible, impervious to harm
The command bunker is virtually invulnerable, even to a nuclear attack.
206
irascible
adj. irritable, testy, touchy
207
irresolute
adj. wishy-washy, hesitant
208
laconic
adj. taciturn, reserved, succinct
209
laud
v. to praise
210
laudable
adj. praiseworthy
211
litigation
n. legal proceedings
212
loquacious
adj. talkative
213
lucid
adj. clear and coherent
214
luminous
adj. full of light
215
magnanimity
n. generosity and nobility of spirit
She is a person of great magnanimity and vision
216
maladroit
adj. clumsy, awkward, inept
She can be a little maladroit in social situations
217
malign
adj. evil or harmful
218
malleable
adj. pliant or pliable
219
maverick
n. an unorthodox person or rebel
She is more maverick while I am slightly more conventional.
220
mendacity
n. untruthfulness, dishonesty
221
mercurial
adj. easily changeable, fickle
Thegrandmother has a mercurial temperament
222
meticulous
adj. paying close attention to detail
223
misanthrope
n. person who hates humanity
224
mitigate
v. to improve a painful, unpleasant, or negative situation
225
modest
adj. not boastful
226
mollify
v. placate
227
monotony
n. boredom and repetition
The routine was the same every day, with nothing to break the monotony
228
mundane
adj. everyday, boring
229
munificent
adj. very generous
230
naïve
adj. inexperienced or gullible
231
nascent
adj. just beginning or in the early stages
Everyone in this nascent business is still struggling with basic issues.
232
neglect
v. to abandon or leave uncared-for
233
nonplussed
adj. confused and baffled
I was completely nonplussed by his thoughy process.
234
notoriety
n. fame for doing something negative or criminal
BS achieved notoriety for being difficult to work with as an baller
235
nuance
n. subtle shades of difference
236
obdurate
adj. stubborn, obstinate
237
obscure
adj. mysterious or not well-known
238
obsequious
adj. overly fawning and helpful in a way that is disingenuous
239
obstinate
adj. stubborn, uncompromising
240
obviate
v. to forestall the need for something
241
occlude
v. to block or obstruct
242
occult
n. the mystical and supernatural
She claims to have occult powers, given to her by some mysterious spirit.
243
offset
v. to counterbalance or counteract
244
olfactory
adj. relating to smell or the sense of smell
245
omniscience
n. the quality or state of being all-knowing
I do not claim omniscience, I am capable of making mistakes.
246
onerous
adj. difficult or burdensome
247
opaque
adj. not see-through; blocking light
248
opportunism
n. the practice of taking advantage of opportunities as they arise
249
opprobrium
n. criticism or condemnation
250
oscillate
v. to swing back and forth between two points, poles, or positions
251
ostentatious
adj. overly showy in a way that is gaudy or vulgar
252
outstrip
v. to overtake or outrun
253
overshadow
v. to literally cast a shadow over
254
painstaking
adj. attentive to detail, meticulous
It took months of painstaking research to write the book.
255
partial
adj. incomplete
256
partisan
n. a devoted supporter of a group, cause, or person
The audience was very partisan, and refused to listen to her speech.
257
patent
adj. blatant, obvious
258
paucity
n. scarcity, poverty
There is a paucity of information on the ingredients of many cosmetics.
259
pedantic
adj. overly concerned with irrelevant detail, fussy
260
pedestrian
adj. boring, monotonous, run-of-the-mill
261
perfidy
n. treachery or deceit
262
perfunctory
adj. done without much effort, care, or thought
263
peripheral
adj. on the edge or periphery; not centrally important
264
permeate
v. to pervade or penetrate throughout
265
perseverance
n. persistence in the face of obstacles
266
peruse
v. to read something carefully and closely
267
pervasive
adj. found everywhere, widespread; often has a negative
268
phenomena
n. things that happen
269
phlegmatic
adj. cool and unruffled
MSD'sgreatest asset was his calm and phlegmatic nature
270
pith
n. the essential substance of something
271
placate
v. to calm, esp. an angry or upset person
272
plastic
adj. easily shaped or molded
273
platitude
n. a trite or cliché statement
274
plausible
adj. believable, reasonable
275
plethora
n. a surplus or overabundance of something
276
plummet
v. to fall quickly and far
277
polarize
v. to cause a sharp division between two groups
278
polemical
adj. angry, hostile, harshly critical
279
pragmatic
adj. practical
280
precarious
adj. uncertain or unstable
The truck was lodged in a very precarious way, with its front wheels hanging over the cliff.
281
preceded
adj. went before
282
precipitate
v. to cause
283
precursor
n. a forerunner
284
prescient
adj. knowing things before they happen,
the fortune teller gave a prescient warning
285
presumptuous
adj. overly familiar; invades social boundaries
It would be presumptuous of me to comment on the matter.
286
prevail
v. to succeed, esp. with respect to vanquishing an opponent
287
prevaricate
v. to evade or deceive without outright lying
288
pristine
adj. untouched, clean, pure
289
probity
n. integrity and honor
Her probity and integrity are beyond question.
290
prodigal
n. a reckless spender
291
prodigious
adj. enormous, immense, gigantic
292
profligate
adj. extravagant and wasteful, in a not wise way
She is well-known for her profligate spending habits.
293
proliferate
v. to multiply and spread rapidly
294
propitiate
v. to obtain special favor from someone, esp. a powerful person or
295
propriety
n. appropriateness, manners, decorum
296
prospective
adj. potential or likely
297
qualification
n. credential
298
quotidian
adj. relating to the everyday or mundane
Television has become part of our quotidian existence.
299
rationalize
v. to attempt to justify with reasons that are only superficially valid
300
reconcile
v. to bring into harmony
301
recondite
adj. arcane or obscure
302
refute
v. to rebut or disprove
the scientist refuted the theory
303
relentless
adj. never stopping, constant
304
relevant
adj. relating to the topic or issue at hand
305
reproach
v. to scold or express criticism, abscond
306
repudiate
v. to renounce or disown
307
rescind
v. to take back or retract (an offer or statement)
308
respectively
adv. in the sequential order previously given
309
reticent
adj. hesitant to speak
310
reverent
adj. respectful
A reverent silence fell over the crowd.
311
rhetoric
n. the art of effective communication (written or verbal)
312
salubrious
adj. health-promoting
He doesn't live in a very salubrious part of town
313
sanction
v. to give official order/action
Many nations have imposed sanctions on the Russia because of theinvasion
314
satiate
v. to completely satisfy (with respect to hunger or appetite)
315
secular
adj. of or relating to the world or worldly matters (as opposed to
316
sediment
n. material that settles at the bottom of a body of water
317
sedulous
adj. dedicated and careful
It was agreed that the few students sedulous enough to read the book deserved top marks for diligence.
318
simultaneous
adj. occurring at the same moment
319
solicitous
adj. considerate, attentive
320
soporific
adj. makes sleepy
321
sparse
adj. scattered or scarce
322
specious
adj. spurious; appearing true but actually false
323
sporadic
adj. occasional or scattered
324
spurious
adj. fake or false
325
stolid
adj. calm and dependable
326
subjective
adj. open to personal interpretation; not based in objective fact
327
substantiate
v. to corroborate or give evidence of something
328
subversive
adj. meant to undercut established institutions or norms
329
sufficient
adj. enough for a given purpose
330
superbly
adv. excellently
331
supine
adj. laying back with the face upward (opposite position to prone)
332
supplant
v. to overtake or replace
He may be supplanted with a younger man
333
sycophant
n. a fawning, insincere admirer
334
synthesize
v. to combine disparate parts into a coherent whole
335
tacit
adj. unspoken; implicit
336
taciturn
adj. reticent or reserved; tending towards silence
337
temperance
n. moderation and restraint,
Temperance is a vital aspect for all things in life
338
tenuous
adj. weak, flimsy, insubstantial
He has a tenuous grasp on reality.
339
timorous
adj. meek or timid
340
tirade
n. an angry rant
341
torpor
n. tiredness, lethargy
342
tortuous
adj. winding or twisty
343
tractable
adj. can be easily influenced or managed
344
transient
adj. passes quickly; short-lived
345
ubiquitous
adj. ever-present or universal
346
unadorned
adj. plain; unembellished
347
undermine
v. to weaken or compromise
348
underscore
v. to line underneath for emphasis
349
untenable
adj. weak or unsupportable,
This theory is untenable
350
vacillate
v. to shift between multiple options or opinions
351
venality
n. the state of being capable of being bribed
352
venerate
v. to give a high degree of respect; may border on worship
353
veracity
n. truth and factual accuracy
354
verbose
adj. long-winded; loquacious
355
vexation
n. state of being frustrated, irritated, or concerned.
356
volatile
adj. easily changeable or extreme; unstable
357
whimsical
adj. fanciful or capricious
358
zeal
n. passion or fervor
