Semester 2 - Vocab 3 Flashcards
Paradox
noun
: something (such as a situation) that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually true or possible
: someone who does two things that seem to be opposite to each other or who has qualities that are opposite
: a statement that seems to say two opposite things but that may be true
Full Definition
1 : a tenet contrary to received opinion
2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true
b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true
c : an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises
3 : one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases
Examples
the paradox of fighting a war for peace
Synonyms: dichotomy, incongruity, contradiction
Pacifist
adjective
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of pacifism or pacifists
2 : strongly and actively opposed to conflict and especially war
Examples
the newspaper’s editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict
Synonyms: dovish, pacific, peaceful (or pacifistic), peaceable
Antonyms: bloodthirsty, hawkish, martial, warlike
Parody
noun
: a piece of writing, music, etc., that imitates the style of someone or something else in an amusing way
: a bad or unfair example of something
Full Definition
1 : a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule
2 : a feeble or ridiculous imitation
Synonyms: burlesque, caricature, put-on, rib, send-up, spoof, takeoff, travesty
transitive verb \: to imitate (someone or something) in an amusing way Full Definition 1 : to compose a parody on 2 : to imitate in the manner of a parody Examples It was easy to parody the book's fancy language. She parodied her brother's poetry.
Partisan
noun
1 : a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
2 a : a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy
b : a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines
synonyms see follower
noun
: a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade
Peccadillo
noun
: a small mistake or fault that is not regarded as very bad or serious
Full Definition
: a slight offense
Pecuniary
adjective \: relating to or in the form of money Full Definition 1 : consisting of or measured in money 2 : of or relating to money Examples that makes good pecuniary sense the judge recused himself from the case because he had a pecuniary interest in the company that was being sued Synonyms: dollars-and-cents, fiscal, monetary, financial, pocket Antonyms: nonfinancial
Pensive
adjective \: quietly sad or thoughtful Full Definition 1 : musingly or dreamily thoughtful 2 : suggestive of sad thoughtfulness Example: rainy days often put her in a pensive mood Synonyms: broody, cogitative, meditative, melancholy, musing, contemplative, reflective, ruminant, ruminative, thoughtful Antonyms: unreflective
Peremptory
adjective
—used to describe an order, command, etc., that you must obey without any questions or excuses
: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they should be obeyed without question
Full Definition
1 a : putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay; specifically : not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply <a>
b : admitting of no contradiction
2 : expressive of urgency or command <a>
3 a : characterized by often imperious or arrogant self-assurance
b : indicative of a peremptory attitude or nature : haughty <a>
Examples
the governor’s peremptory personal assistant began telling the crowd of reporters and photographers exactly where they had to stand
a peremptory summons to appear before the committee
she had such a peremptory approach to running the club that people started to avoid her
Synonyms: authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, bossy, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous
Antonyms: elective, optional, voluntary</a></a></a>
Pertinacious
adjective
1 a : adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design
b : perversely persistent
2 : stubbornly tenacious
Examples
a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles
a pertinacious salesman who would simply not take “No!” for an answer
Synonyms: dogged, insistent, patient, persevering, persistent, tenacious
Antonyms: acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding
Peruse
transitive verb
: to look at or read (something) in an informal or relaxed way
: to examine or read (something) in a very careful way
Full Definition
1 a : to examine or consider with attention and in detail : study
b : to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
2 : read; especially : to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner
Examples
perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors
Perverse
adjective
: wrong or different in a way that others feel is strange or offensive
Full Definition
1 a : turned away from what is right or good : corrupt
b : improper, incorrect
c : contrary to the evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law
2 a : obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded
b : arising from or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy
3 : marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky
4 : marked by perversion
Examples
how can you be so cheerful one day, and so perverse the next?
social conservatives who believe that Hollywood is a perverse world that exerts an unhealthy influence on the young
a fact so self-evident that not even the most perverse of opponents could deny it
Synonyms: choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, peevish, irritable, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish
Antonyms: pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted
Placate
transitive verb
: to cause (someone) to feel less angry about something
Full Definition
: to soothe or mollify especially by concessions : appease
synonyms see pacify
Examples
attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie
Plagiarism
noun \: the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person : the act of plagiarizing something Full Definition 1 : an act or instance of plagiarizing 2 : something plagiarized
Platitude
noun
: a statement that expresses an idea that is not new
Full Definition
1 : the quality or state of being dull or insipid
2 : a banal, trite, or stale remark
Examples
“blondes have more fun” is a silly platitude
Synonyms: banality, bromide, chestnut, cliché (also cliche), groaner, homily, commonplace, shibboleth, trope, truism
Plebeian
noun \: a member of the common people of ancient Rome \: a common person Full Definition 1 : a member of the Roman plebs 2 : one of the common people
adjective
1 : of or relating to plebeians
2 : crude or coarse in manner or style : common
adverb
Synonyms: baseborn, common, humble, inferior, low, lowborn, lower-class, low-life, lowly, lumpen, mean, ignoble, prole, proletarian, unwashed, vulgar
Antonyms: aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, high, highborn, highbred, lofty, noble, partrician, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn