Random Flashcards
Disenchantment
The feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired
Charlatan
A person falsely claiming to have special knowledge or skill
Talisman
An object, typically inscribed in a ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck
Flummoxed
Bewildered, perplexed
Subterfuge
Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goals
Ekpyrosis
The death of an old order and the rebirth of something new
Sanguine
Cheerfully optimistic
Hubris
Excess pride or self confidence
Laconic
One who uses few words
Apostasy
Renunciation of ones beliefs
Omniscient
Knowing everything
Omnipotent
Having unlimited power
Satire
The use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose or criticise stupidity
Farcical
Ludicrous improbable situation
Ostentatious
Pretentious or showing display of wealth or luxury
Impetuous
Done quickly without thought or care
Cavalier
Showing lack of proper concern
Ruse
An action intended to deceive someone
Ruse
An action intended to deceive someone
Profligate
Recklessly extravagant, wasteful in resources
Iconoclastic
Person who attacks or criticises cherished beliefs and institutions
Ineffable
To great to be described in words
Parlance
A particular way of speaking or words common with job or interest
Vacuity
Lack of thought or intelligence
Zephyr
A soft gentle breeze
Proselytising
To impose one’s views on others
Intransigence
Unwilling to change one’s views
Aridity
Yielding nothing of value
Denigrate
Criticise unfairly
Surreptitious
Kept secret especially because it will not be approved of
Rapacious
Especially greedy or grasping
Assiduously
With great care and perseverance
Concomitant
The fact of existing or occurring together with something else
Diatribe
A forceful and bitter verbal attack
Obsequious
Obedient or attentive to an obsessive or servile degree
Solipsism solipsistic
The view or theory that the self is all that can be know to exist
Sedulous
(Of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence
Sedulous
(Of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence
Berate
Scold or criticise (someone) angrily
Console
Comfort (someone) at a time of grief or disappointment
Petulance
Childishly sulky, bad tempered
Sadism
The tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others
Disparage
Regard or represent as being of little worth
Genealogy
A line of decent traces continuously from an ancestor
Usurp
Take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force
Miasma
I highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapour
Dogmatic
To follow a set of rules no matter what
Dogma
A principal or set of principles laid down by authority as incontrovertible truth
Cynical
Believing people are motivated purely by self interest. Concerned only with ones own interests disregarding accepted or appropriate standards in order to achieve them
Contrarian
Person who opposes or rejects popular opinion
Quandary
State of complexity or uncertainty in what to do in a difficult situation. ‘In a quandary’
Pertinent
Relevant or applicable to a particular matter
Hubris
Excessive pride or self confidence
Astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this into ones advantage
Dissension
Disagreement that leads to discord
Ebullience
The quality of being cheerful and full of energy
Confluence
An act or process of merging
Irreconcilable
(Of ideas or statements) so different from each other they cannot be made compatible
Scapegoat
Person who is blamed for wrong doings, mistakes or faults of others
Archetype
Very typical example of a certain person or thing
Paradox
Seemingly absurd or self contradictory
Oxymoron
Figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear together
Dichotomy
Division or contrast between two things
Exhaustive
Including or considering all elements or aspects
Secular
Denoting attitudes, activities or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis
Vacuity
Lack of thought or intelligence. Empty headed
Iconoclast
A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Rambunctious
Uncontrollably exuberant. Boisterous
Rambunctious
Uncontrollably exuberant. Boisterous
Cognitive dissonance
In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance is described as the mental disturbance people feel their beliefs and concerns are inconsistent and contradictory
Lucid
Express clearly
Proselytising
Imposing on others their values
Sacrosanct
(Especially of a principle, place or routine) regarding as too important or valuable to be interfered with
Parlance
A particular way of speaking or using words
Regale
Entertain or amuse (someone) with talk
Diaspora
A group of people who spread from one original country to other countries. Or the act of spreading this way
Catastrophize
To conjure up worst case scenario
Malevolent
Having or showing a wish to do evil to others
Conspiracy
The action of plotting or conspiring
Apathetic
Showing or feeling of no interest, enthusiasm or concern
Immemorial
Originating in the distant past, very old
Anatta (Buddhism)
No self
Roil
Make (a liquid) turbid or muddy by disturbing the sediment
Roil
Make (a liquid) turbid or muddy by disturbing the sediment
Galvanise
Shock or excitement (someone) into taking action
Omnipotent
Having great power
Innocuous
Not harmful or offensive
Paradox
A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true
Adumbrate
Report or represent in outline. Indicate faintly. Foreshadow or symbolise
Adumbrate
Report or represent in outline. Indicate faintly. Foreshadow or symbolise
Diaspora
The dispersion or spread of people from their original home land
Duplicity
Deceitfulness
Juxtaposition
The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with a contrasting effect
Extemporaneous
Composed, performed or uttered in spur of moment, impromptu, carefully prepared but delivered without notes
Force majeure
(Law) unforeseeable circumstances that prevent one from fulfilling a contract
Irresistible compulsion or superior strength
Vicissitudes
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
Subterfuge
Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal
Euphemism
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
Euphemism
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
Preclude
Prevent from happening. Make impossible
Fulcrum
A thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event or situation
Axiomatic
Self evident and unquestionable
