Set 1 Flashcards
deduce
- to conclude by reasoning or logic
- cipher, decode
While short in geologic terms, that’s enough to deduce climatic trends
adduce
- to cite as proof or evidence
- cite, illustrate, point out
The burden of proof shall be on the state to adduce such evidence.
gainsay
- deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
- deny, contradict, disavow, disclaim
Evidence and witness testimony all gainsaid the defendant’s claim.
avocation
- an extracurricular activity; a hobby
- vocation, occupation, hobby
My favorite avocation is playing baseball in the summertime.
palliate
- to make something appear less serious; to mitigate; to alleviate
- mitigate, soothe, alleviate, ease
The student tried to palliate the significance of his plagiarism.
mitigate
- to make less severe, serious, or painful
- palliate, alleviate, allay, relieve
The hurricane’s effect was mitigated by the quick response from the national guard.
extenuate
- lessen the magnitude or seriousness of
- mitigate, palliate, allay, reduce, abate, relieve
The prisoner’s illness may extenuate the conditions of his captivity, but it shall not lead me to order his early release.
ameliorate
- to make something which is bad better
- improve, mend, alleviate, mitigate
The new medicine ameliorated her condition rather quickly.
abate
- to reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen
- reduce, lessen, decline, lower, subside
As we crossed over the mountains and headed towards the southern coast the rain gradually abated.
allay
- to make better or decrease something that is unpleasant
- abate, alleviate, mitigate, assuage
An example of something that allays pain is morphine.
assuage
- to relieve
- soothe, appease, allay, pacify, calm
Her anger was assuaged by her friend’s soothing words.
callous
- showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others
- insensitive, heartless
The callous remark upset the entire family.
froward
- intractable, stubbornly disobedient, difficult to manage
- obstinate, fractious, unmanageable
The froward mule sat down and refused to move.
obstreperous
- unruly, noisy and difficult to control
- clamorous, rumbustious, boisterous
The obstreperous two year old cried the entire train ride.
adumbrate
- to produce a faint outline or resemblance of something
- baffle, befuddle, delineate, obscure, obfuscate
The first volume merely adumbrates the basics of the story to be developed in the next two books.
plaintive
- expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful
- doleful, lugubrious, mournful, sad
The procession was led by the plaintive strains of the bagpipe.
dirge- a mournful song
We heard a chorus singing a dirge as the funeral procession began.
regale
- to entertain, to feast
Steve regaled his guests with exciting tales.
traduce
- to slander or speak maliciously of
- slander, calumniate, defame, malign, vilify, libel
I distrust politicians who habitually traduce the motivations of environmentalists.
calumny
- making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone’s reputation
- slander, aspersion, libel, obloquy
The desperate candidate abandoned reasoned arguments and resorted to calumnies against the front runner.
aspersion
- the act of defamation or maligning; a derogatory remark
- slander, calumny, defamation
The aspersions cast by his political opponent took weeks to eradicate.
obloquy
- strong public criticism or verbal abuse
- slander, opprobrium
His family were in sympathy with the methodist movement, and suffered obloquy in consequence.
denigrate
- to attack the reputation of
- blacken, slander, defame, vilify, asperse, malign
The columnist denigrated the baseball coach for his string of high-profile losses.
miscegenation
- interbreeding of different races; any mixture or hybrid
- amalgam, compound
The school cafeteria serves an obscure miscegenation of ingredients as meatloaf.
allude
- to refer to another concept indirectly
- imply, hint, refer
Joey would occasionally allude to Chandler and Monica being together, though nobody knew exactly what it was.
altruism
- selfless concern for others
- benevolence, humanitarianism, magnanimity, philanthropy
Many charities were formed thanks to Rajiv’s altruism and generosity.
sophistry
- fallacious reasoning; faulty, though plausible
- sophism, casuistry, sophistication
The students were quickly convinced by the professor’s sophistry and did not inquire further.
fallacious
- containing or based on a fallacy; unsound argument
- beguiling, deceiving, illogical
The idea that gratification is a completion of the wish is fallacious.
ambivalence
- mixed feelings or emotions
-
Ross’ ambivalence towards Rachel left his marriage with Emily in the balance.
puctilious
- showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
- scrupulous, meticulous, pedantic
A secretary who punctiliously records every detail.
amble
- to walk or move at a slow pace
- saunter, ramble
The old man ambled over to our table and started up a conversation.
wend
- to go, proceed, walk
We wended our way through the market.
epistle
- a written message, usually a formal letter
The epistle was hand-delivered by a confidant in order to avoid interception.
recreant
- one who is a coward, unfaithful or disloyal
- coward, renegade, traitor, apostate
apostate
- a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle
- renegade, turncoat
The apostate is dealt with very harshly in many religious traditions.
amenable
- open to suggestion or criticism; accountable
- liable, tractable
A good manager is amenable to his employee’s new ideas.
annul
- to declare invalid
- nullify, rescind, abrogate
Ross had his marriage annulled when he realized he had married a lesbian.
didactic
- overly instructive or preachy
- pedantic, instructive
He may mean well, but Leonard’s efforts to help Penny come across as fussy and didactic.
diffident
- modest or shy because of a lack of self confidence
- timid, coy, timorous
Since it was her first day, Lucy ventured only diffident answers to her superiors.
