Set 24 Flashcards
assail
make a concerted or violent attack on / criticize strongly
benevolent
well meaning and kindly / (of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose
berate
scold or criticize (someone) angrily
buoyant
able or tending to keep afloat or rise to top of a liquid or gas
cheerful and optimistic
(of an economy, business or market) involving or engaged in much successful trade or activity
buttress
provide (A building or structure) with buttresses
increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce
condone
accept (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive)
contravene
offend against the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty or code of conduct) / conflict with (a right, principle) especially to its detriment
denounce
publicly declare to be wrong or evil / inform against
despotic
of or typical of a despot; tyrannical
deviate
depart from usual or accepted standards
disinterested
not influenced by considerations of personal advantage
having or feeling no interest in something; uninterested
escalate
increase rapidly / make or become intense or serious
exorcise
completely remove (something unpleasant) from one’s mind or memory
rid (a person or place) of a supposed evil spirit
finicky
(of a person) fussy about their needs or requirements / showing or requiring great attention to detail
foil
prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding
frustrate the efforts or plans of
intertwined
twist or twine together / connect or link (two or more things) closely
inundate
overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with
flood
ironclad
impossible to contradict, weaken or change
jeopardize
put (someone or something) into a situation in which there is a danger or loss, harm or failure
mercurial
subject to a sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
of or containing the element mercury
oblivious
not aware of or concerned about what is happening around one
perpetrate
carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal or immoral action)
plaintive
sounding sad and mournful
poignant
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
quiescent
in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy
reiterate
say something again or a number of times typically for emphasis or clarity
subside
become less intense, violent or severe
(of water) go down to a lower or normal level
subsume
include or absorb (something) in something else
surmount
overcome (a difficulty or obstacle)
stand or be placed on top of
tangential
diverging from a previous course or line; erratic
hardly touching a mater; peripheral
relating to or along a tangent
