Princeton Vocab Words Flashcards
depict
v. Depiction-to portray
controversy
n,a prolonged public dispute, an argument
undermine
v. to weaken, sabotage, subvert, debilitate, destabilize
advocate
v. to support or urge by argument, especially publically
arrogant
adj. having exaggerated self opinion, egotistical or overproud
cynic
noun, one who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions
dispute
v. to engage in argument or debate, to argue vehemently, quarrel
provoke
v. to anger, or vex; to stir up or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity)
contradict
v. to challenge, confront, counter, deny or oppose
empathy
n. identification with and understanding of another’s situations, feelings, and motives
perceive
v. to become aware of by means of the sense, to recognize or understand
phenomenon
n. a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable; something remarkable or extraordinary
contempt
n. a feeling of disdain for anything considered mean or worthless
resolve
v. to come to a firm decision about, determine
speculate
v. to engage in thought, especially conjectural thought
intricate
adj. having many interrelated parts or facets; hard to understand, work, or make
skepticism
n. a questioning or doubting attitude; doubt regarding religion
assert
v. to state positively; declare
distinct
adj, not identical, seperate; different in nature or quality, dissimilar
divisive
adj. dissenting, at odds with, alienating; creating dissension or discord
consume
v. to expend by use, to use up
digress
v. to wander away from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing
innovate
v. to introduce (something new)
diminish
v. to make or become smaller, less, or less important
nostalgia
n. a sentimental longing for something in the past
practical
adj. involving or resulting from practice or action; adapted or suited for actual use
versatile
adj. capable of turning easily from one thing to another; having many uses or applications
profound
adj. showing deep insight or understanding; originating in the depths of one’s being
tenacity
n. persistence, strong character, perserverance
insight
n. intuitiveness, awareness, observation, understanding, wisdom
endure
v. to tolerate, withstand, sustain, undergo, bear hardship
perplex
v. to cause to be puzzled
denounce
v. to condemn openly, to attack, accuse, or criticize
plausibility
n. credibility, believability
vulnerable
adj. capable of or susceptible to being wounded; open to or defenseless against criticism or attack
pragmatic
adj. practical, sensible
rigor
n. the quality of being strict or inflexible, harshness as of attitude, severity; hardship
adept
adj. very skilled; expert
disparage
v. to speak of negatively; to belittle
aesthetic
n, adj. having to do with the appreciation of beauty
superficial
adj.being at, on, or near the surface; apparent rather than real
foster
v. to promote the growth or development of; to bring up
ambivalent
adj. simultaneously experiencing opposing feelings; uncertain
elaborate
adj. worked out in great detail, painstaking; ornate, showy or gaudy
beneficial
adj. producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful
embellish
v. to ornament or decorate, to exaggerate
imply
v. to indicate, suggest, refer, hint
esoteric
adj. intended or understood by only a small group
inevitable
adj. unable to be avoided or escaped
resent
v. to feel or show displeasure or indignation at
scarce
adj. insufficient to satisfy a need or demand; rarely encountered
ingenuity
n. the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful
substantiate
v. to support with proof or evidence; to verify
isolated
adj. detached or separated, alone
subtle
adj. difficult to perceive, fine or delicate; characterized by or requiring mental acuteness
presume
v. to take for granted, assume, or suppose; to undertake(do something without right or permission)
sentiment
n. an attitude, feeling, or opinion; refined or tender emotion
rhetoric
n. the art of using language effectively and persuasively
defiance
n. a bold resistance to authority or force; open disregard, contempt
abstruse
adj. difficult to understand
deliberate
adj. studied or intentional; careful or slow in deciding
bolster
v. to hearten, support, or prop up
eradicate
v. to get rid of as if by tearing up the roots, to abolish
contend
v. to struggle, to compete
indifferent
adj. without interest or concern; having no bias or preference
conventional
adj. conforming to accepted standards
autonomy
independence; self determination
discern
v. to catch sight of; to recognize and understand
futile
adj. incapable or producing a useful result; vain
trivial
adj. of very little importance
elitism
n. the practice of or belief in rule by an elite
endorse
v. to express approval or support of, especially publicly
resign
v. to give up (office/position), especially formally, to submit (oneself, one’s mind) without resistance
forbear
v. to refrain from; to be patient or self controlled
frivolous
adj. characterized by a lack of seriousness or sense; not worthy of serious notice, trivial
fundamental
adj. of or being a foundation or basis; basic; of great importance
inadequate
adj. insufficient, incompetent, incapable
erratic
adj inconsistent, unpredictable, wandering, irregular, unstable
persuade
v. to prevail on ( a person) to do something as by advising or urging to induce to believe, convince
exemplify
v. to illustrate by example
prevail
to be widespread or current; to occur as the most important of frequent element
exploit
v. to utilize, especially for profit; to take advantage of
hostility
n. meanness, bitterness, animosity, resentment
naïve
adj. having unaffected simplicity of nature; lacking in experience, judgement, or information
negligent
adj. guilty of or characterized by neglect
vindictive
adj. disposed to seek revenge; revengeful, spiteful
prestige
n. a reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, and/or rank
reconcile
v. to cause to accept something not desired; to cause to become friendly again; to settle a dispute
tolerate
v. to allow without hindrance, permit; to put up with, endure
accumulate
v. to gather or collect
adapt
v. to adjust or become adjusted to new requirements or conditions
complacency
n. a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often unaware of unpleasant possibilities
anachronism
n. the representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period
disdain
n. hate, contempt, scorn, dislike, or ridicule
antagonism
n. active hostility or opposition
connoisseur
n. an expert judge in an art or matters of taste
assume
v. to take for granted without proof; to suppose; to take upon oneself
baffle
v. to bewilder, perplex, astound, or confuse
benign
adj. kind and gentile
brevity
n. the quality or state of being brief in duration