Set 5 Flashcards
aloof
not friendly or forthcoming, cool and distant
e.g. He seemed aloof and detached
clangor
a continuous loud banging or ringing sound
e.g. Suddenly, the clangor and shouting ceased
conventional
based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed
e.g. .. a respectable married woman with conventional opinions
(of a bid) intended to convey a particular meaning according to an agreed convention
debunk
expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief)
e.g. Historian Michael Beschloss debunks a few myths
diminutive
extremely or unusually small
e.g. She noticed a diminutive figure standing at the entrance
(of a word, name or suffix) implying smallness, either actual, or imputed to convey affection, scorn, etc
discernible
able to be discerned; perceptible
e.g. Far away the outline of the island is just discernible
enigmatic
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
e.g. Haley studied her, an enigmatic smile on his face
estranged
(of a person) no longer close or affectionate to someone, alienated
e.g. Harriet felt more estranged from her daughter than ever
extravagant
lacking restraint in spending money or using resources
e.g. Jeff had shopped extravagantly for presents for the whole family
fanciful
over-imaginative and unrealistic
highly ornamental or imaginative in design
e.g. Designing silicon chip to mimic human organs sounds fanciful
frivolous
not having any serious purpose or value
e.g. I just decided I was a bit too frivolous to be a doctor
heterogenous
diverse in character or content
e.g. .. a rather heterogenous collection of studies from diverse origins
imperious
arrogant and domineering
e.g. His attitude is imperious at times
impertinent
not showing proper respect; rude
e.g. Would it be impertinent to ask where exactly you were?
not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant
e.g. Talk of ‘rhetoric’ and ‘strategy’ is impertinent to this process
invasive
tending to spread very quickly and undesirably or harmfully
e.g. They found invasive cancer during a routine examination
irresolute
showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain
e.g. The worst reason to launch an attack would be a fear of seeming irresolute
laudable
(of an action, idea or aim) deserving praise and commendation
e.g. One of Emma’s less laudable characteristic was her jealousy
lax
not sufficiently strict, sever or careful;
e.g. One of the problem areas is lax security for airport personnel
(of limbs or muscles) relaxed
marginalize
treat (a person, group or concept) as insignificant or peripheral
e.g. The effect of this has been to increasingly marginalize the local authority sector
panache
flamboyant confidence of style or manner
e.g. Her panache at dealing with the world’s media is quite astonishing
plodding
slow-moving and unexciting
e.g. Crowds of French and British families plodded around in yellow macs
prosaic
having or using a style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality
e.g. His instructor offered a more prosaic explanation for the surge in interest
remedial
giving or intended as a remedy or cure
e.g. He is already walking normally and doing remedial exercises
restive
(of a person) unable to remain still, silent or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction
e.g. The audience grew restive
sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated
e.g. The sound of sporadic shooting could be still heard
stigmatize
describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
e.g. Children in single-parent families must not be stigmatized
undermine
lessen the effectiveness, power or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously
e.g. Offering advice on each and every problem will undermine her feeling of being adult
erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation)
utterly
completely and without qualification; absolutely
e.g. Everything about the country seemed utterly different from what I’d experienced before
weary
feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion
e.g. I trudged wearily down Arthur Street
zealous
having or showing zeal( i.e. great enthusiasm )
e.g. He was a recent Catholic convert, and very zealous
