T

Question 1

Truculent

Answer 1

Adj

Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant:

He behaved in the most brutal and truculent manner.

Synonym: combative

Question 2

Torrid

Answer 2

Adj

Very hot and dry:

The torrid heat of afternoon

Synonym: scorching

Question 3

Trifling

Answer 3

Adj

unimportant or trivial:

a trifling sum

Synonym: trivial; insignificant

Question 4

Taciturnity

Answer 4

Noun

the state or quality of being reserved or reticent in conversation:

Her taciturnity on the topic suggested that it was an unwelcome one.

Question 5

Truncate

Answer 5

Verb

Shorten (something) by cutting off the top or the end:

The script was truncated to leave time for commercials.

Synonym: cut short

Question 6

Tenuous

Answer 6

Adj

Very weak or slight:

They protested no matter how tenuous the connection to homosexuality or other sins.

Synonym: insubstantial, dubious

Question 7

Tantalize

Answer 7

Verb

tease by arousing expectations that are repeatedly disappointed:

Shoppers have started to get irritated, rather than tantalized when they can’t find the deal that has been advertised.

Synonym: baffle

Question 8

Tacit

Answer 8

Adj

Done without using words:

Although not a word was said, everyone in the room knew that a tacit agreement had been made about what course of action to take.

Synonym: implicit; implied

Question 9

Talon

Answer 9

Noun

claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey:

A vulture holds its prey in its talons while it dismembers it with its beak.

Synonym: claw; nail

Question 10

Tangential

Answer 10

Adj

digressing, diverting:

Your argument is interesting, but it’s tangential to the matter at hand, so I suggest we get back to the point.

Synonym: digressive; extraneous; irrelevant; peripheral

Question 11

Tawdry

Answer 11

Adj

gaudy, cheap, showy:

The performer changed into her tawdry, spangled costume and stepped out onto the stage to do her show.

Synonym: flashy; loud; meretricious

Question 12

Terrestrial

Answer 12

Adj

earthly; down-to-earth, commonplace:

Many “extraterrestrial” objects turn out to be terrestrial in origin, as when flying saucers turn out to be normal airplanes.

Synonym: earthbound; quotidian; mundane

Question 13

Tirade

Answer 13

Noun

long, harsh speech or verbal attack:

Observers were shocked all the manager’s tirade over such a minor mistake.

Synonym: diatribe; fulmination; harangue; obloquy; revilement; vilification

Question 14

Toady

Answer 14

Noun

one who flatters in hope of gaining favors:

The king was surrounded by toadies who rushed to agree with whatever outrageous thing he said.

Synonym: sycophant; parasite

Question 15

Tome

Answer 15

Noun

a book (usually large and academic)

The teacher was forced to refer to various tomes to find the answer to the advanced student’s question.

Synonym: codex; volume

Question 16

Torpor

Answer 16

Noun

extreme mental and physical sluggishness:

After surgery, the patient’s torpor lasted several hours until the anesthesia wore off.

Synonym: apathy; languor

Question 17

Transitory

Answer 17

Adj

Temporary, lasting a brief time:

The reporter lived in transitory lodging, staying in one place only long enough to cover the current story.

Synonym: ephemeral; evanescent; fleeting

Question 18

Trenchant

Answer 18

Adj

acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective:

Tyrone’s trenchant observations in class made him the professor’s favorite student.

Synonym: biting; caustic; keen

Question 19

Turgid

Answer 19

Adj

swollen as from a fluid, bloated:

In the process of osmosis, water passes through the walls of turgid cells, ensuring that they never contain too much water.

Synonym: distended

Question 20

Tyro

Answer 20

Noun

beginner, novice:

San obvious tyro at salsa, Millicent received no invitations to dance.

Synonym: apprentice; neophyte