reverse common words - 3 Flashcards
adjective: working in a subtle but destructive way
- Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems.
- High blood pressure is an insidious condition which has few symptoms.
insidious
verb: make something bad better
“Three Cups of Tea” tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan.
ameliorate
noun: an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form.
travesty
noun: fanatical patriotism
North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality.
jingoism
adjective: tending to betray
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murderer.
adjective: dangerously unstable and unpredictable
The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.
treacherous
verb: place side by side for contrast
- The appeal of her paintings comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.
- The exhibition juxtaposes Picasso’s early drawings with some of his later works.
juxtapose
adjective: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.
precocious
adjective: unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally happening:
- The new computer looked incongruous in the dark book-filled library.
seem incongruous - It seems incongruous to have a woman as the editor of a men’s magazine.
incongruous
adjective: being essentially equal to something
In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence.
tantamount
adjective: discontented as toward authority
After watching his superior take rations from the soldiers, he quickly became disaffected and rebelled.
disaffected
adjective: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
The haughty manager didn’t believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant as his own.
haughty
verb: make clearer and easier to understand
Youtube is great place to learn just about anything–an expert elucidates finer points so that even a complete novice can learn.
elucidate
verb: take the place or move into the position of
For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don’t even have a traditional phone anymore.
supplant
adjective: stubbornly resistant to authority or control
Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.
refractory
noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day.
apathy
verb: to make someone who is angry less angry; placate
In the morning, Janine was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he’d had his cup of coffee.
mollify
noun: distinctive and showy elegance
Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat and cane.
panache
adjective: found in the ordinary course of events
Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle’s arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly.
quotidian
adjective: so small as to be meaningless; insignificant
The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a negligible impact on your score.
negligible
adjective: not able to be changed
Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them.
immutable
adjective: firm and dependable especially in loyalty
No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now will openly question whether its goals are worthwhile.
staunch
verb: describe in detail
After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of each stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke.
delineate
adjective: stubbornly unyielding
Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present.
tenacious
verb: be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes “stop” to all motorists in America.
denote
verb: cleverly find a way out of one’s duties or obligations
One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores.
circumvent
verb: 1) to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
2) to invent and/or make a device or other object in a clever and possibly unusual way:
- Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.
- Do you think you could contrive something for hanging my clothes on until the new closet is ready?
contrive
adjective: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
The President’s first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was careful to make his position completely unequivocal.
unequivocal
adjective: marked by or showing hopelessness
After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.
forlorn
verb: come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example
Many words in the English language are derived from Latin, including the word “derive.”
verb: reason by deduction; establish by deduction
From the multiple set of footprints in the living room, the investigator derived an important clue: Sheila was not alone in the room at the time of the murder.
derive
adjective: traveling from place to place to work
Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients’ homes.
noun: a person who travels from one place to another, usually to work
- He lived as an itinerant, earning or begging his bread as he went.
itinerant
adjective: comprised of a variety of styles
Malala was known for her eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next “air conducting” along to Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
eclectic
adjective: being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.
rudimentary
adjective: lasting a very short time
The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.
ephemeral
adjective: not original but drawing strongly on something already in existence, especially in reference to a creative product (e.g. music, writing, poetry etc.).
Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office.
derivative
verb: contain or include
- The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.
- Soldiers from many different countries have been subsumed into the United Nations peace-keeping force.
verb: consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.
subsume
adjective: full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success
My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.
jubilant
verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
verb: to make someone feel annoyed or less confident because they cannot achieve what they want:
frustrate
noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.
heretic
adjective: of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
- The widespread belief that Inuit have forty different words for “snow” has been considered fallacious, based on a single report by Anthropologist Franz Boas.
- His argument is based on fallacious reasoning.
fallacious
adjective: excessively greedy
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust–sins of excess–it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.
avaricious
verb: spread negative information about
Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.
vilify
adjective: standing above others in quality or position
Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic.
eminent
adjective: not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the house.
languid
adjective: plausible but false
When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.
spurious
adjective: wishing to fight or argue
Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue.
belligerent
adjective: noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful
He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complimentary and in victory he was magnanimous.
magnanimous
adjective: marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
vehement
verb: choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)
Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar–even chocolate.
abstain
adjective: free of deceit
At first I thought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.
guileless
adjective: practicing self-denial
His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.
noun: one who practices great self-denial
Historically, ascetics like Gandhi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.
ascetic
