Top 500 Words

Question 1

Canard

Answer 1

n. a lie

The tabloid’s feature story about a goat giving birth to a human child was clearly a canard.

Question 2

Coterie

Answer 2

n. an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose

Angel invited a coterie of fellow stamp enthusiasts to a stamp-trading party.

Question 3

Jocular

Answer 3

adj. playful; humorous

The jocular old man entertained his grandchildren for hours.

Question 4

Pristine

Answer 4

adj. fresh and clean; uncorrupted

The new toothpaste I got made my teeth shiny-white and pristine.

Question 5

Elegy

Answer 5

n. a sorrowful poem or speech

Garry wrote an elegy for the death of his friend.

Question 6

Cupidity

Answer 6

n. greed; strong desire

The thief stared at the shining jewels with cupidity in his gleaming eyes.

Question 7

Précis

Answer 7

n. short summary of facts

Farah wrote a précis of her thesis on the epic poem to share with the class.

Question 8

Ardor

Answer 8

n. intense and passionate feeling

The musician’s ardor was evident by the way he played.

Question 9

Fractious

Answer 9

adj. unruly; rebellious

The general had a hard time maintaining discipline among his fractious troops.

Question 10

Ignoble

Answer 10

adj. having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean

The photographer was paid a princely sum for the picture of the self-proclaimed ethicist in the ignoble act of pick-pocketing.

Question 11

Occlude

Answer 11

v. to stop up; to prevent the passage of

Eatting too much fat in the long run may occlude blood flow in the arteries.

Question 12

Levity

Answer 12

n. an inappropriate lack of seriousness; an overly casual atmosphere

The joke added a jarring note of levity to the otherwise serious meeting.

Question 13

Whimsical

Answer 13

adj. acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

The play was whimsical, delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets.

Question 14

Onerous

Answer 14

adj. troublesome and oppressive; burdensome

The assignment was so onerous that barely anyone finished ontime.

Question 15

Prescient

Answer 15

adj. having foresight

Jonah’s decision to sell the apartment seemed to be a prescient one, as its value soon dropped by half.

Question 16

Plastic

Answer 16

n. able to be molded, altered or bent

The brain of a child is very plastic which enables them to learn things quickly.

Question 17

Dupe

Answer 17

v. to deceive; a person who is easily deceived

Many parents are able to dupe their children into believing Santa Clause.

Question 18

Repose

Answer 18

n. relaxation; leisure

After working hard every day in the busy city, Mike finds his repose on weekends playing golf with friends.

Question 19

Numismatics

Answer 19

n. coin collecting

Tomas’s passion for numismatics has resulted in an impressive collection of coins from all over the world.

Question 20

Estimable

Answer 20

adj. admirable

Most people consider it estimable that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India.

Question 21

Perspicacious

Answer 21

adj. having a ready insight into and understanding of things

Poirot used his perspicacious mind to solve mysteries.

Question 22

Peccadillo

Answer 22

n. a minor sin or offense

Gabriel tends to harp on his brother’s peccadilloes and never lets him live them down.

Question 23

Decorous

Answer 23

adj. proper; tasteful; socially correct

The countess trained her daughters in the finer points of decorous behavior, hoping they would make a good impression when she presented them at court.

Question 24

Lavish

Answer 24

v. to give unsparingly adj. extremely generous or extravagant

She lavished the puppy with so many treats that it soon became overweight and spoiled.

Question 25

Anachronism

Answer 25

n. something out of place in time

The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases like groovy and far out that had not been popular for years.

Question 26

Explicit

Answer 26

adj. clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

The professor was very explicit on how to do the homework.

Question 27

Potentate

Answer 27

n. a monarch or ruler with great power

Alex was much kinder before he assumed the role of potentate.

Question 28

Dilatory

Answer 28

adj. intending to delay

The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill.

Question 29

Lumber

Answer 29

v. to move slowly and awkwardly

The bear lumbered toward the garbage, drooling at the prospects of the leftovers he smelled.

Question 30

Cogent

Answer 30

adj. convincing and well reasoned

Swayed by the cogent argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant.

Question 31

Symbiosis

Answer 31

n. cooperation; mutual relationship

The rhino and the tick-eating bird live in symbiosis; the rhino gives the bird food in the form of ticks, and the bird rids the rhino of parasites.

Question 32

Cabal

Answer 32

n. a secret group seeking to overturn something

The boys on the street formed a cabal to keep girls out of their treehouse.

Question 33

Abdicate

Answer 33

v. to give up a position, right, or power

With the angry mob clamoring outside the palace, the king abdicated his throne and fled.

Question 34

Analgesia

Answer 34

n. inability to feel pain

After having her appendix removed, Tatiana welcomed the analgesia that the painkillers provided.

Question 35

Parry

Answer 35

v. to ward off or deflect, especially by a quick-witted answer

Kari parried every question the army officers fired at her, much to their frustration.

Question 36

Mannered

Answer 36

adj. artificial or stilted in character; unnatural; behave in a specific way

The portrait is an example of the mannered style that was favored in that era.

Question 37

Xenophobia

Answer 37

n. a fear of hatred of foreigners or strangers

Countries in which xenophobia is prevalent often have more restrictive immigration policies than countries that are more open to foreign influences.

Question 38

Redress

Answer 38

n. relief from wrong or injury

Seeking redress for the injuries she had received in the accident, Doreen sued the driver of the truck that had hit her.

Question 39

Frugality

Answer 39

n. tendency to be thrifty, cheap, or economical

The man’s frugality was so great, that he collected enough money to buy a mansion.

Question 40

Diurnal

Answer 40

adj. active or occurring during the day

Diurnal creatures tend to become inactive during the night.

Question 41

Wizened

Answer 41

adj. shriveled; withered; wrinkled

The wizened old man was told that the plastic surgery necessary to make him look young again would cost more money that he could imagine.

Question 42

Salubrious

Answer 42

adj. health-giving; healthy; pleasant place

Rita hoped that the fresh mountain air would have a salubrious effect on her health.

Question 43

Grievous

Answer 43

adj. causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing

Maude and Bertha sobbed loudly throughout the grievous event.

Question 44

Enigma

Answer 44

n. puzzling; mysterious

The hidden message in his painting is still an enigma to this day.

Question 45

Upbraid

Answer 45

v. to scold sharply

The teacher upbraided the student for scrawling graffiti all over the walls of the school.

Question 46

Paradox

Answer 46

n. a contradiction or dilemma

It is a paradox that the closer you live to work, the more likely you are to be late.

Question 47

Militate

Answer 47

v. to operate against; work against

Lenin militated against the tsar for years before he overthrew him and established the Soviet Union.

Question 48

Plucky

Answer 48

adj. courageous; spunky

The plucky young nurse dove into the foxhole, determined to help the wounded soldier.

Question 49

Erratic

Answer 49

adj. wandering and unpredictable

The crazy woman is known fo her erratic behavior.

Question 50

Fecund

Answer 50

adj. fertile; fruitful; productive

The fecund couple yielded a total of 20 children.

Question 51

Profligate

Answer 51

adj. corrupt; degenerate; recklessly extravagent or wasteful

Some historians claim that it was the Romans’ decadent, profligate behavior that led to the decline of the Roman Empire.

Question 52

Surfeit

Answer 52

n. excessive amount

Because of the surfeit of pigs, pork prices have never been lower.

Question 53

Impasse

Answer 53

n. a blocked path; a dilemma with no solution

The rock slide produced an impasse so no one could proceed further on the road.

Question 54

Curmudgeon

Answer 54

n. a cranky person, usually an old one

Ernest was a notorious curmudgeon who snapped at anyone who disturbed him for any reason.

Question 55

Tacit

Answer 55

adj. understood or implied without using words

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

Question 56

Desultory

Answer 56

adj. jumping from one thing to another; disconnected

Diane had a desultory academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years.

Question 57

Invective

Answer 57

n. abusive language

A stream of invective poured from Mrs. Pratt’s mouth as she watched the vandals smash her ceramic plates.

Question 58

Idiosyncrasy

Answer 58

n. peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity; odd

His numerous idiosyncrasies included a fondness for wearing bright green shoes with mauve socks.

Question 59

Abeyance

Answer 59

n. temporary suppression or suspension

The baseball game was held in abeyance while it continued to rain.

Question 60

Deride

Answer 60

v. to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock

The awkward child was often derided by his “cooler” peers.

Question 61

Impecunious

Answer 61

adj. poor; having no money

After the stock market crashed, many former millionaires found themselves impecunious.

Question 62

Quiescent

Answer 62

adj. motionless

Many animals are quiescent over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy.

Question 63

Libertine

Answer 63

n. a free thinker (usually used disparagingly); one without moral restraint

The libertine took pleasure in gambling away his family’s money.

Question 64

Repast

Answer 64

n. meal or mealtime

Ravi prepared a delicious repast of chicken tikka and naan.

Question 65

Sobriquet

Answer 65

n. nickname

One of Ronald Reagan’s sobriquets was “The Gripper.”

Question 66

Declivity

Answer 66

n. a downward slope

Because the village was situated on the declivity of a hill, it never flooded.

Question 67

Coffer

Answer 67

n. a strongbox; a large chest for money

The bulletproof glass of the coffer is what keeps the crown jewels secure.

Question 68

Apocryphal

Answer 68

adj. of questionable authority or authenticity

There is no hard or authoritative evidence to support the apocryphal tales that link the Roswell, New Mexico, incident to a downed UFO.

Question 69

Replete

Answer 69

adj. abundantly supplied; complete

The gigantic supermarket was replete with consumer products of every kind.

Question 70

Ingenuous

Answer 70

adj. showing innocence or childlike simplicity

She was so ingenuous that her friends feared that her innocence would be exploited when she visited the big city.

Question 71

Mendicant

Answer 71

n. beggar

“Please, sir, can you spare a dime?” begged the mendicant as the businessman walked by.

Question 72

Exacerbate

Answer 72

v. to make worse

Arguing with your parents will only exacerbate the issue.

Question 73

Sacrosanct

Answer 73

adj. extremely sacred; beyond criticism

Many people considered Mother Teresa to be sacrosanct and would not tolerate any criticism of her.

Question 74

Imperturbable

Answer 74

adj. not capable of being disturbed

The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed imperturbable, even when faced with the wildest tantrums.

Question 75

Chauvinist

Answer 75

n. someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs

The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male chauvinists.

Question 76

Vestige

Answer 76

n. a trace; a remnant

Vestiges of the former tenant still remained in the apartment, though he hadn’t lived there for years.

Question 77

Taciturn

Answer 77

adj. silent, not talkative

The clerk’s taciturn nature earned him the nickname “Silent Bob.”

Question 78

Pejorative

Answer 78

n. having bad connotations; disparaging

The teacher scolded Mark for his unduly pejorative comments about his classmate’s presentation.

Question 79

Corroborate

Answer 79

v. to provide supporting evidence

Fingerprints corroborated the witness’s testimony that he saw the defendant in the victem’s apartment.

Question 80

Equivocate

Answer 80

v. use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth

The car sales man equivocated his answers in order to make a sale.

Question 81

Propitiate

Answer 81

v. to conciliate; to appease

The management propiated the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members.

Question 82

Latent

Answer 82

adj. potentially available, but not readily apparent

Latent trait testing seeks to identify skills that the test takers may have but are not aware of.

Question 83

Pallid

Answer 83

adj. lacking color or liveliness

The old drugstore’s pallid window could not compete with the new megastore’s extravagant display next door.

Question 84

Deference

Answer 84

respect, courtesy

The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost deference.

Question 85

Soporific

Answer 85

adj. causing sleep or lethargy

The movie proved to be so soporific that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theater.

Question 86

Demagogue

Answer 86

n. a leader or rabble-rouser, usual one appealing to emotion or prejudice

He began his career as a demagogue, giving fiery speeches at political rallies.

Question 87

Abase

Answer 87

v. to humble; to disgrace

My intention was not to abase the comedian.

Question 88

Stentorian

Answer 88

adj. extremely loud

Cullen couldn’t hear her speaking over the stentorian din of the game on TV.

Question 89

Impervious

Answer 89

adj. impossible to penetrate, incapable of being affected

A good raincoat will be impervious to moisture.

Question 90

Obdurate

Answer 90

adj. hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion

The president was completely obdurate on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind.

Question 91

Pungent

Answer 91

adj. sharp and irritating to the senses

The smoke from the burning tires created an extremely pungent odor.

Question 92

Viscous

Answer 92

adj. thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid

Most viscous liquids, like oil or honey, become even thick as they are cooled down.

Question 93

Kinetic

Answer 93

adj. relating to motion; characterized by movement

The kinetic sculpture moved back and forth, startling the museum visitors.

Question 94

Intransigent

Answer 94

adj. uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled

The professor was intransigent on the deadline insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time.

Question 95

Misanthrope

Answer 95

n. a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society

The old man is such a misanthrope that even the sight of children singing makes him angry.

Question 96

Mercurial

Answer 96

adj. quick, shrewd, and unpredictable

Her mercurial personality made it difficult to guess how she would react to the bad news.

Question 97

Grovel

Answer 97

v.to humble oneself in a demeaning way

Thor groveld to his ex-girlfriend, hoping she would take him back.

Question 98

Ostensible

Answer 98

adj. apparent

The ostensible reason for his visit was to borrow a book, but he secretly wanted to chat with the lovely librarian.

Question 99

Specious

Answer 99

adj. deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious

The sudent’s specious excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when her teacher called her home.

Question 100

Pugilism

Answer 100

n. the art of fighting with fists; boxing

Pugilism has been defended as a positive outlet for aggressive impulses.

Question 101

Volatile

Answer 101

n. easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive

His volatile personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything.

Question 102

Zenith

Answer 102

n. the point of culmination; peak

The diva considered her appearance at the Metropolitan Opera to be the zenith of her career.

Question 103

Pragmatic

Answer 103

adj. practical as opposed to idealistic

The man had to be pragmatic at times in order to have enough time to finish his work.

Question 104

Ephemeral

Answer 104

adj. lasting a short time

The life of a flies seem ephemeral to us considering they live only for several hours.

Question 105

Maelstrom

Answer 105

n. whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind

The transportation system of the city had collapsed in the maelstrom of war.

Question 106

Lugubrious

Answer 106

adj. sorrowful; mournful; dismal

Irish wakes are a rousing departure from the lugubrious funeral services to which most people are accustomed.

Question 107

Mores

Answer 107

n. fixed customs or manner; moral attitudes

In keeping with the mores of ancient Roman society, Nero held a celebration every weekend.

Question 108

Fortuitous

Answer 108

adj. happening by chance; fortunate

It was fortuitous that he won the lotto just before he had to pay back his loans.

Question 109

August

Answer 109

adj. dignified; grandiose

The august view of the Grand Teton summit took my breath away.

Question 110

Dissemble

Answer 110

v. to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character

The villain could no longer dissemble from the police after he was caught in the act.

Question 111

Itinerant

Answer 111

adj. wandering from place to place; unsettled

The itinerant tomcat came back to the Johansson homestead every two months.

Question 112

Rhetoric

Answer 112

n. effective writing or speaking; persuasive

Lincoln’s talent for rhetoric was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address.

Question 113

Lethargic

Answer 113

adj. acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner

The clerk was so lethargic that even when the store was slow, he always had a long line in front of him.

Question 114

Yoke

Answer 114

v. to join together

As soon as the farmer yoked his oxen together, he began to plow the fields.

Question 115

Gestation

Answer 115

n. the growth process from conception to girth

The longer the gestation period of an organism, the more developed the baby is at birth.

Question 116

Jettison

Answer 116

v. to discard; to get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering

The sinking ship jettisoned its cargo in a desperate attempt to reduce its weight.

Question 117

Unequivocal

Answer 117

adj. absolute; certain

The jury’s verdict was unequivocal; the organized crime boss would be locked up for life.

Question 118

Arrogate

Answer 118

v. to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right

Gretchen watched in astonishment as her boss arrogated the credit for her brilliant work on the project.

Question 119

Raconteur

Answer 119

n. a witty, skillful storyteller

The raconteur kept all the passengers entertained with his stories during the six-hour flight.

Question 120

Anodyne

Answer 120

n. something that calms or soothes pain

The massage was an anodyne that helped remove the knots from the lawyer’s tense shoulders.

Question 121

Imprecation

Answer 121

n. a curse

Spouting violent imprecations, Hank searched for the person who had vandalized his truck.

Question 122

Chaos

Answer 122

n. great disorder or confusion

God created an ordered universe from chaos.

Question 123

Judicious

Answer 123

adj. sensible; showing good judgement

The wise and distinguished judge was well known for having a judicious temperament.

Question 124

Apathy

Answer 124

n. lack of interest or emotion

The apathy of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.

Question 125

Querulous

Answer 125

adj. inclined to complain; irritable

Curtis’s complaint letter received prompt attention after the company labeled him a querulous potential troublemaker.

Question 126

Stigma

Answer 126

n. a mark of shame or discredit

She was so concious of her weight that it became a stigma for her.

Question 127

Calumny

Answer 127

n. a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation

The unscrupulous politician used calumny to bring down his opponent in the senatorial race.

Question 128

Zealot

Answer 128

n. someone passionately devoted to a cause

The religious zealot had no time for those who failed to share his strong beliefs.

Question 129

Euphony

Answer 129

n. pleasant, harmonious sound

The experienced orchestra created euphony into the ears of all the listeners.

Question 130

Gradation

Answer 130

n. a degree or stage in a process; variation in color

The paint store offers so many different gradations of red that it’s impossible to choose among them.

Question 131

Decorum

Answer 131

n. presenting appropriate behavior or conduct; propriety

The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace.

Question 132

Lucid

Answer 132

adj. clear and easily understood

The explanations were written in a simple and lucid manner so that the students could easily apply what they learned.

Question 133

Torpor

Answer 133

n. extreme mental and physical sluggishness; a short form of hibernation

After surgery, the patient experienced torpor until the anesthesia wore off.

Question 134

Dirge

Answer 134

n. a funeral hymn or mournful speech

The boy wrote a dirge for his mother’s funeral.

Question 135

Liberal

Answer 135

adj. tolerant or broad-minded; generous or lavish; willing to discard traditional values

Cali’s liberal parents trusted her and allowed her to managed her own affairs to a large extent.

Question 136

Imbue

Answer 136

v. to infuse, dye, wet, or moisten

Marcia struggled to imbue her children with decent values, a difficult task in this day and age.

Question 137

Tirade

Answer 137

n. long, harsh speech or verbal attack

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

Question 138

Florid

Answer 138

adj. excessively decorated or embellished

The palace had been decorated in a florid style; every surface had been carved and gilded.

Question 139

Distaff

Answer 139

n. the female branch of a family

The lazy husband refused to cook dinner for his wife, joking that the duty belongs to the distaff’s side.

Question 140

Perfunctory

Answer 140

adj. done in a routine way; indifferent; carry out minimal work

The bank teller was so tired of his job that he gave his customers a perfunctory smile.

Question 141

Arbitrary

Answer 141

adj. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

When you lack the information to judge what to do next, you will be forced to make an arbitrary decision.

Question 142

Dissonance

Answer 142

n. a harsh and disagreeable combination, often sound

The beginner violin student created a lot of dissonance when he started to play.

Question 143

Debutante

Answer 143

n. a young woman making debut in high society

The debutante spent hours dressing for her very first ball, hoping to catch the eye of an eligible bachelor.

Question 144

Waver

Answer 144

v. to fluctuate between choices; to shake

If you waver for too long before registering for your courses, you may not have any options left.

Question 145

Coalesce

Answer 145

v. to grow together to form a single whole

The sun and planets eventually coalesced out of a vast cloud of gas and dust.

Question 146

Caustic

Answer 146

adj. severely critical or sarcastic; biting in wit; capable of burning

Dorothy gained her reputation for caustic with from her cutting, yet clever, insults.

Question 147

Nadir

Answer 147

n. lowest point

As Joey waited in line to audition for the diaper commercial, he realized he had reached the nadir of his acting career.

Question 148

Inculcate

Answer 148

v. instill (an attitude idea or habit) by persistent instruction

Most parents inculcate their children with their beliefs and ideas that are important to them.

Question 149

Lapidary

Answer 149

adj. relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them

Most lapidary work today is done with the use of highly sophisticated equipment.

Question 150

Fawn

Answer 150

v. to seek notice or favor by servile demeanor

The employee fawned over his boss in hopes of getting a raise.

Question 151

Cloying

Answer 151

adj. sickly sweet; excessive

When Enid and Jay first started dating, their cloying affection toward one another often made their friends ill.

Question 152

Bilk

Answer 152

v. to cheat; to defraud

When the greedy salesman realized that his customer spoke poor French, he bilked the tourist out of 20 euros.

Question 153

Innocuous

Answer 153

adj. harmless

Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are innocuous and pose no danger to humans.

Question 154

Sedition

Answer 154

n. behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state

Li was arrested for sedition after he gave a fiery speech in the main square.

Question 155

Deface

Answer 155

v. to mar the appearance of; to vandalize

After the wall was torn down, the student began to deface the status of Communist leaders of the former Eastern Bloc.

Question 156

Molt

Answer 156

v. to shed hair, skin or an outer layer periodically

The snake molted its skin and left it behind in a crumpled mass.

Question 157

Prevaricate

Answer 157

v. to lie or deviate from the truth

Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee prevaricated and claimed that heavy traffic had prevened him from arriving at work on time.

Question 158

Tawdry

Answer 158

adj. gaudy, cheap, or showy

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

Question 159

Malleable

Answer 159

adj. capable of being shaped

Gold is the most malleable of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape.

Question 160

Fanatical

Answer 160

adj. acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion

The actor was so fanatical in his expressions that his character did not seem authentic.

Question 161

Phalanx

Answer 161

n. a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things

A phalanx of guards stood outside the prime minister’s home day and night.

Question 162

Laconic

Answer 162

adj. using few words

She was a laconic poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible.

Question 163

Monotony

Answer 163

n. lack of variation, repetitious

The monotony of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy.

Question 164

Furtive

Answer 164

adj. secret; stealthy

Glenn was furtive when he peered out of the corner of his eye to see if anyone was looking as he tried to steal the woman’s purse.

Question 165

Sybarite

Answer 165

n. a person devoted to pleasure and luxury

A confirmed sybarite, the nobleman fainted at the thought of having to leave his palace and live in a small cottage.

Question 166

Stasis

Answer 166

n. a state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation

The rusty, ivy-covered World War II tank had obviously been in stasis for years.

Question 167

Vicissitude

Answer 167

n. a change or variation

Investors must be prepared for vicissitudes of the stock market.

Question 168

Nettle

Answer 168

v. to irritate

I don’t particularly like having blue hair– I just do it to nettle my parents

Question 169

Quotidian

Answer 169

adj. occurring daily; commonplace

The sight of people singing on the street is so quotidian in New York that passersby rarely react to it.

Question 170

Advocate

Answer 170

n. to speak in favor of

The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat.

Question 171

Fatuous

Answer 171

adj. stupid; foolishly self-satisfied

Ted’s fatuous comments always embarrassed his keen-witted wife at parties.

Question 172

Palatial

Answer 172

adj. relating to a palace; magnificent

After living in a cramped studio apartment for years, Siobhan through the modest one bedroom looked downright palatial.

Question 173

Verbose

Answer 173

adj. wordy; expressed in more words than are needed

The professor’s answer was so verbose that his student forgot what the original question had been.

Question 174

Indolent

Answer 174

adj. habitually lazy or idle

Her indolent ways got her fired from many jobs.

Question 175

Garrulous

Answer 175

adj. tending to talk a lot

The garrulous parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking.

Question 176

Effigy

Answer 176

n. a sculpture or model of a person (somestimes made with the intent of destroying as protest)

Protesters burned effigies of the unpopular leader.

Question 177

Ostentation

Answer 177

n. excessive showiness

The ostentation of some hollywood stars is a bit too much.

Question 178

Sycophant

Answer 178

n. a self-serving flatterer; a yes-man

Dreading criticism, the actor surrounded himself with admirers and sycophants.

Question 179

Expurgate

Answer 179

v. to censor

Government propagandists expurgated all negative references to the dictator from the film.

Question 180

Antipathy

Answer 180

n. extreme dislike

The antipathy between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warefare.

Question 181

Wraith

Answer 181

n. a ghost or specter; a ghost of a living person seen just before his or her death

Gideon thought he was a wraith late one night has he sat vigil outside his great uncle’s bedroom door.

Question 182

Lachrymose

Answer 182

adj. tearful

Marcella always became lachrymose when it was time to bid her daughter good-bye.

Question 183

Arbitrate

Answer 183

v. to judge a dispute between two opposing parties

Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to arbitrate thier divorce proceedings.

Question 184

Contumacious

Answer 184

adj. rebellious

The contumacious teenager ran away from home when her parents told her she was grounded.

Question 185

Ribald

Answer 185

adj. humorous in a vulgar way

The court jester’s ribald brand of humor delighted the rather uncouth king.

Question 186

Obviate

Answer 186

v. to prevent; to make unnecessary

The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which obviated the need for a bridge.

Question 187

Abscond

Answer 187

v. to leave secretly

The patron absconded from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door.

Question 188

Cartography

Answer 188

n. the science or art of making maps

Gail’s interest in cartography may stem from the extensive traveling she did as a child.

Question 189

Nuance

Answer 189

n. a subtle expression of meaning or quality; subtle

The scholars argued for hours over tiny nuances in the interpretation of the last line of the poem.

Question 190

Bolster

Answer 190

n. to support; to prop up

The presence of giant footprints bolstered the argument that Sasquatch was in the area.

Question 191

Gambol

Answer 191

v. to dance skip around playfully

From her office, Amy enviously watched the playful puppies gambol around Central Park.

Question 192

Hermitic

Answer 192

adj. tightly sealed

The hermetic seal of the jar proved impossible to break.

Question 193

Reticent

Answer 193

adj. silent, reserved

Physically small and reticent in her speech, she often went unnoticed by those upon whom she was reporting.

Question 194

Neophyte

Answer 194

n. novice; beginner

A relative neophyte at bowling, he rolled all of his balls into the gutter.

Question 195

Missive

Answer 195

n. a written note or letter

Priscilla spent hours composing a romantic missive for Elvis.

Question 196

Inure

Answer 196

v. to harden; accustom

Eventually, Hassad became inured to the sirens that went off every night and could sleep through them.

Question 197

Cacophony

Answer 197

n. harsh, jarring noise

The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable cacophony as they tried to tune their instruments.

Question 198

Zephyr

Answer 198

n. a gentle breeze; something airy or unsubstantial

The zephyr from the ocean made the intense heat on the beach bearable for the sunbathers.

Question 199

Knell

Answer 199

n. sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure

When the townspeople heard the knell from the church belfry, they knew that their mayor had died.

Question 200

Abjure

Answer 200

v. to reject; to abandon formally

The spy abjured his allegiance to the United States when he defected to Russia.

Question 201

Multifarious

Answer 201

adj. diverse; many types

Jerry opened the hotel room window, letting in the multifarious noises of the great city.

Question 202

Dilettante

Answer 202

n. someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

Jerry’s friends were such dilettantes that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.

Question 203

Phlegmatic

Answer 203

adj. calm and unemotional in temperament

Although the bomb could go off at any moment, the phlegmatic demolition expert remained calm and unafraid.

Question 204

Incarnadine

Answer 204

adj. blood-red in color

At his mother’s mention of his baby pictures, the shy boy’s cheeks turned incarnadine with embarrassment.

Question 205

Homogenous

Answer 205

adj. of a similar kind; uniform

The class was fairly homogenous, since almost all the students were biology majors.

Question 206

Hegemony

Answer 206

n. the domination of one state or group over its allies; power; authority

When Germany claimed hegemony over Russia, Stalin was outraged.

Question 207

Capricious

Answer 207

adj. changing one’s mind quickly and often; unpredictable in attitude or behavior

Queen Elizabeth I was quite capricious; her courtiers could never be sure which mood she would be in.

Question 208

Exonerate

Answer 208

v. to clear of blame

The fugitive was exonerated when another criminal confessed to committing the crime.

Question 209

Hapless

Answer 209

adj. unfortunate; having bad luck

I wish someone would give that poor, hapless soul some food and shelter.

Question 210

Ingrate

Answer 210

n. an ungrateful person

When non of her relatives thanked her for the fruitcakes she had sent them, Audrey condemned them all as ingrates.

Question 211

Exponent

Answer 211

n. one who champions or advocates

The vice president was an enthusiastic exponent of computer technology.

Question 212

Voluble

Answer 212

adj. talkative; speaking easily; glib

The voluble man and his reserved wife proved the old saying that opposites attract.

Question 213

Insurrection

Answer 213

n. rebellion

After the emperor’s troops crushed the insurrection, its leaders fled the country.

Question 214

Largess

Answer 214

n. generous giving (as of money) to other who may seem inferior

She’d always relied on her parent’s largess, but after graduation she had to get a job.

Question 215

Larceny

Answer 215

n. theft of property; stealing

The crime of stealing a wallet can be categorized as petty larceny.

Question 216

Alleviate

Answer 216

v. to make more bearable

Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache.

Question 217

Enumerate

Answer 217

v. to count, list, or itemize

The tablets of the commandments given to Moses were enumerated.

Question 218

Listless

Answer 218

adj. lacking energy and enthusiasm

Listless and depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend, Raj spent his days moping on the couch.

Question 219

Maudlin

Answer 219

adj. overly sentimental

The movie’s treatment of the mother’s death was so maudlin that, instead of making them audience cry, it made them cringe.

Question 220

Gullible

Answer 220

adj. easily tricked or persuaded to believe something

The kid was so gullible that he believed everything he heard.

Question 221

Venerate

Answer 221

v. to respect deeply

Everyone could not help but venerate the man for doing such a heroic act.

Question 222

Livid

Answer 222

adj. discolored from a bruise; pale; reddened with anger

André was livid when he discovered that someone had spilled grape juice all over his cashmere coat.

Question 223

Vernal

Answer 223

adj. relating to spring; fresh

Bea basked in the balmy vernal breezes happy that winter was coming to an end.

Question 224

Obstinate

Answer 224

adj. stubborn, unyielding

The obstinate child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked.

Question 225

Slake

Answer 225

v. to calm down or moderate

In order to slake his curiosity, Bryan finally took a tour backstage at the theater.

Question 226

Aberrant

Answer 226

adj. deviating from what is normal or expected

Since he had been a steady, cheerful worker for many years, his fellow postal workers did not expect his aberrant burst of rage.

Question 227

Impetuous

Answer 227

adj. quick to act without thinking

It is not a good idea to be impetuous when dealing with the stock market, since much thought should be given to all the possible options.

Question 228

Tyro

Answer 228

n. beginner; novice

An obvious tyro at salsa, Millicent received no invitation to dance.

Question 229

Peregrinate

Answer 229

v. to wander from place to place; to travel, especially on foot

Shivani enjoyed peregrinating the expansive grounds of Central Park.

Question 230

Guile

Answer 230

n. deceit or trickery

Since the boy was not skilled enough in a game of chess, he resorted to guile in order to win.

Question 231

Discern

Answer 231

v. to perceive or recognize

It’s difficult to discern the difference between two similar words.

Question 232

Machination

Answer 232

n. plot or scheme

Tired of his enemies’ endless machinations to remove him from the throne, the king had them executed.

Question 233

Assail

Answer 233

v. to attack; to assault

The foreign army will try to assail our bases, but they will not be successful in their attack.

Question 234

Dyspeptic

Answer 234

adj. suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable

The dyspeptic young man cast a gloom over the party the minute he walked in.

Question 235

Probity

Answer 235

n. complete honesty and integrity

George Washington’s reputation for probity is illustrated in the legend about his inability to lie after he chopped down the cherry tree.

Question 236

Licentious

Answer 236

adj. immoral; unrestrained by society

Religious citizens were outraged by the licentious exploits of the free-spirited artists living in town.

Question 237

Esoteric

Answer 237

adj. unknown or understood by only a few

Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the esoteric world of particle physics.

Question 238

Placate

Answer 238

v. to soothe, pacify, or appease

The burglar tried to placate the snarling watch dog by saying “nice doggy,” and giving it a treat.

Question 239

Endemic

Answer 239

adj. belonging to a particular area; inherent

The health department determined that the outbreak was endemic to the small village, so they quarantined the inhabitants before the virus could spread.

Question 240

Bonhomie

Answer 240

n. good-natured geniality; an atmosphere of good cheer

The aspects of her job that Dana loved the most were the flexible hours and the pleasant bonhomie in the office.

Question 241

Ethos

Answer 241

n. the beliefs or character of a group

It is the Boy Scouts’ ethos that one should always be prepared.

Question 242

Stolid

Answer 242

adj. unemotional; lacking sensitivity

The prisoner appeared stolid and unaffected by the judge’s harsh sentence.

Question 243

Diatribe

Answer 243

n. an abusive condemnatory speech

The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off.

Question 244

Precipitate

Answer 244

v. cause an event or situation (typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely

Upon learning the couple married after knowing each other for two months, friends and family members expected shuch a precipitate marriage to end in divorce.

Question 245

Ameliorate

Answer 245

v. to make better; to improve

The doctor was able to ameliorate the patient’s suffering using painkillers.

Question 246

Sardonic

Answer 246

adj. cynical scornfully mocking

Isabella was offended by the sardonic way in which her date made fun of her ideas and opinions.

Question 247

Parley

Answer 247

n. discussion, usually between enemies

“Can we meet for an informal parley to see if we can effect a compromise?”

Question 248

Iconoclast

Answer 248

n. one who opposes or attacks established beliefs, customs, and institutions

His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an iconoclast.

Question 249

Belfry

Answer 249

n. a bell tower; the room in which a bell is hung

The town was shocked when a bag of money was found stashed in the old belfry of the church.

Question 250

Mirth

Answer 250

n. Frivolity; gaiety; laughter

Vera’s hilarious jokes contributed to the general mirth at the dinner party.

Question 251

Dilate

Answer 251

v. to make larger; to expand

When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes dilate to let in more light.

Question 252

Panoply

Answer 252

n. impressive array

Her resume indicates a panoply of skills and accomplishments.

Question 253

Austere

Answer 253

adj. severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem austere to the civilian eye.

Question 254

Insipid

Answer 254

adj. lacking interest or flavor

The critic claimed that the painting was insipid containing no interesting qualities at all.

Question 255

Connoisseur

Answer 255

n. an expert judge in matters of taste

Dr. Crane was a connoisseur of fine food and wine, drinking and eating only the best.

Question 256

Philanthropy

Answer 256

n. charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

The museum displayed portraits of those who were famously known for expressing philanthropy.

Question 257

Penury

Answer 257

n. an oppressive lack of resources (as money); severe poverty

Once a famous actor, he eventually died in penury and anonymity.

Question 258

Contrite

Answer 258

adj. deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong

After three residents were mugged in the lobby while the watchman was away from his post, he felt very contrite.

Question 259

Rarefy

Answer 259

v. to make less dense; become sparser

The drought caused all the vegitation to rarefy.

Question 260

Meretricious

Answer 260

adj. gaudy; falsely attractive

The casino’s meretricious decor horrified the cultivated interior designer.

Question 261

Irascible

Answer 261

adj. easily made angry

The woman’s irascible behavior made her hard to work with.

Question 262

Abstain

Answer 262

v. to choose not to do something

She abstained from choosing a mouthwatering dessert from the tray.

Question 263

Monastic

Answer 263

adj. extremely plain or secluded, as in a monastery

The philosopher retired to his monastic lodging to contemplate life free from any worldly distraction.

Question 264

Kindle

Answer 264

v. to set fire to or ignite; to excite or inspire

With only damp wood to work with, Tilda had great difficult trying to kindle the campfire.

Question 265

Edify

Answer 265

v. to instruct morally and spiritually

Every intention of the pastor was to edify those who were corrupt.

Question 266

Investiture

Answer 266

n. the act of formally investing a person with honors or rank

At Napoleon’s investiture, he grabbed the crown from the Pope’s hand and placed in on his head himself.

Question 267

Pervade

Answer 267

v. to be present throughout; to permeate

Four spices– cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne– pervade almost every Indian dish, and give the cuisine its distinctive flavor.

Question 268

Bevy

Answer 268

n. a group

As predicted, a bevy of teenagers surrounded the rock star’s limousine.

Question 269

Hyperbole

Answer 269

n. purposeful exaggeration for effect

When the mayor claimed his town was one of the seven wonders of the work, outsiders classified his statement as a hyperbole.

Question 270

Permeate

Answer 270

v. to penetrate

The wonderful new cleaning fluid is able to permeate stains and dissolve them in minutes!

Question 271

Frenetic

Answer 271

adj. frantic; frenzied

The employee;s frenetic schedule left her little time to socialize.

Question 272

Foment

Answer 272

v. to arouse or incite

The protesters tried to foment feelings against the war through their speeches and demonstrations.

Question 273

Polemic

Answer 273

n. controversy; argument; verbal attack

The candidate’s polemic against his opponent was vicious and small-minded rather than convincing and well-reasoned.

Question 274

Abstemious

Answer 274

adj. moderate in appetite

Because Alyce is a vegetarian, she was able to eat only an abstemious meal at the Texas Steakhouse.

Question 275

Scintilla

Answer 275

n. trace amount

This poison is so powerful that no more than a scintilla of it is needed to kill a horse.

Question 276

Implacable

Answer 276

adj. unable to be calmed down or made peaceful

His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained implacable for weeks.

Question 277

Opprobrium

Answer 277

n. public disgrace

Once the officials found out about the political scandal, many politicians were forced to resign in opprobrium.

Question 278

Prudence

Answer 278

n. wisdom, caution, or restraint

The college student exhibited prudence by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resumé.

Question 279

Stratagem

Answer 279

n. trick designed to deceive an enemy

The trojan Horse must be one of the most successful military stratagems used in all of history.

Question 280

Paragon

Answer 280

n. model of excellence or perfection

She is the paragon of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, harworking, and just.

Question 281

Ossify

Answer 281

v. to change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern

The forensics ascertained the body’s age based on the degree to which the facial structure had ossified.

Question 282

Posit

Answer 282

v. to assume as real or conceded; to propose as an explanation

Before proving the math formula, we needed to posit that x and y were real numbers.

Question 283

Articulate

Answer 283

adj. able to speak clearly and expressively v. pronounce with clarity or distinction

She is such an articulate defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters.

Question 284

Sportive

Answer 284

adj. frolicsome; playful

The lakeside vacation meant more sportive opportunities for the kids than the wine tour though France.

Question 285

Eloquent

Answer 285

adj. fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

Lincoln’s eloquent words brought people together.

Question 286

Neologism

Answer 286

n. new word or expression

Aunt Mabel simply does not understand today’s youth; she is perplexed by their clothing, music, and neologisms.

Question 287

Ambiguous

Answer 287

adj. doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways

The directions she gave were so ambiguous that we disagreed on which way to turn.

Question 288

Sully

Answer 288

v. damage integrity of, defile; to tarnish; to taint

With the help of a public relations firm, he was able to restore his sullied reputation.

Question 289

Accretion

Answer 289

n. a gradual growth in size; an increase in amount

The committee’s strong fund-raising efforts resulted in an accretion in scholarship money.

Question 290

Trenchant

Answer 290

adj. acute, sharp or incisive; forceful; effective

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

Question 291

Apostate

Answer 291

n. one who renounces a religious faith

So that he could divorce his wife, the king scoffed at the church doctrines and declared himself an apostate.

Question 292

Attenuate

Answer 292

v. to reduce in force or degree; to weaken

The light begins to attenuate rapidly as you go deeper into the ocean.

Question 293

Toady

Answer 293

n. one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors

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

Question 294

Engender

Answer 294

v. to produce, cause, or bring about

I hope the warmer climate does not engender another strom.

Question 295

Mar

Answer 295

v. to damage or deface; to spoil

Telephone poles mar the natural beauty of the countryside.

Question 296

Salient

Answer 296

adj. most noticeable or important

His most salient characteristic is his tendency to dominate every conversation.

Question 297

Dictum

Answer 297

n. an authoritative statement

“You have time to lean, you have time to clean.” was the dictum our boss made us live by.

Question 298

Loquacious

Answer 298

adj. talkative

She was naturally loquacious, which was a problem in situations in which listening was more important than talking.

Question 299

Proliferate

Answer 299

v. to increase in number quickly

The most deadly forms of cancer proliferate most quickly throughout the body.

Question 300

Satiate

Answer 300

v. to satisfy fully or overindulge

His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could satiate it.

Question 301

Pare

Answer 301

v. to trim off excess; to reduce

The cook’s hands were sore after she pared hundreds of potatoes.

Question 302

Veracity

Answer 302

n. filled with truth and accuracy

She had a reputation for veracity, so everyone trusted her description of events.

Question 303

Epicure

Answer 303

n. a person with refined taste in food and wine

The man was an epicure who always throws the most splendid dinner parties.

Question 304

Ingratiate

Answer 304

v. to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to please somebody so as to gain an advantage

The intern tried to ingratiate herself with the managers so that they might consider her for a future job.

Question 305

Wanton

Answer 305

adj. undisciplined; unrestrained; reckless

The townspeople were outraged by the wanton display of disrespect when they discovered the statue of the town founder covered in graffiti.

Question 306

Kudos

Answer 306

n. fame, glory, or honor for an achievement

The actress happily accepted kudos from the press for her stunning performance in the film.

Question 307

Requite

Answer 307

v. to return or repay

Thanks for offering to lend me $1,000, but I know I’ll never be able to requite your generosity.

Question 308

Wan

Answer 308

adj. sickly pale

The sick child had a wan face, in contrast to her rosy-cheecked sister.

Question 309

Politic

Answer 309

adj. shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic

She was wise to curb her tongue and was able to explain her problem to the judge in a respectful and politic manner.

Question 310

Fallow

Answer 310

n. dormant; unused; idle

This field should lie fallow for a year so the soil does not become completely depleted.

Question 311

Dither

Answer 311

v. to act confusedly or without clear purpose

Ellen dithered around her apartment, uncertain how to tackle the family crisis.

Question 312

Eulogy

Answer 312

n. speech in praise of someone, typically of someone who has died

His best friend gave the eulogy, outlining his many achievements and talents.

Question 313

Lament

Answer 313

v. to express sorrow; to grieve

The children continued to lament the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise.

Question 314

Blithe

Answer 314

adj. joyful, cheerful, carefree

Summer finally came, and the blithe students spent their days at the beach.

Question 315

Collusion

Answer 315

n. a collaboration; complicity; conspiracy

It came to light that the police chief and the mafia had a collusion in running the numbers racket.

Question 316

Lassitude

Answer 316

n. a state of diminished energy; lack of energy; fatigued

The lack of energy that characterized patients with anemia makes lassitude one of the primary symptoms of the disease.

Question 317

Venerable

Answer 317

adj. respected because of age

All of the villagers sought the venerable old woman’s advice whenever they had a problem.

Question 318

Aggrandize

Answer 318

v. to increase in power, influence, and reputation

The supervisor sought to aggrandize herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own.

Question 319

Naïve

Answer 319

adj. lacking sophistication or experience

Having never traveled before, the students were most naive than thier experienced counterparts.

Question 320

Surly

Answer 320

adj. rude and bad-tempered

When asked to clean the windshield, the surly gas station attendant tossed a dirty rag at the customer and walked away.

Question 321

Luminous

Answer 321

adj. bright, brilliant, glowing

The park was filled with luminus sunshine which warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors.

Question 322

Amulet

Answer 322

n. an ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits.

Though she claimed it was not because of superstition, Vivian always wore an amulet around her neck.

Question 323

Vacillate

Answer 323

v. to sway physically; to be indecisive

The cusomer held up the line as he vacillated between ordering either chocolate or vanilla ice cream.

Question 324

Rococo

Answer 324

adj. very highly ornamented; relating to an 18th century artistic style of elaborate ornamentation

The ornate furniture in the house reminded Tatiana of the rococo style.

Question 325

Laud

Answer 325

v. to give praise; to glorify

Parades and fireworks were staged to laud the success of the rebels.

Question 326

Effrontery

Answer 326

n. impudent boldness; audacity; presumptuous

The receptionist had the effrontery to laugh out loud when the CEO tripped over a computer wire and fell flat on his face.

Question 327

Limpid

Answer 327

adj. clear; transparent

Fernando could see all the way to the bottom through the pond’s limpid water.

Question 328

Opaque

Answer 328

adj. impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

The windo became so dirty that it was almost opaque.

Question 329

Banal

Answer 329

adj. predictable, clichéd, boring

He used banal phrases like “have a nice day,” or “another day, another dollar.”

Question 330

Demur

Answer 330

v. to express doubt or objections

Galileo was forced to demur after he was threatened by authorities from his claim of the planets.

Question 331

Candid

Answer 331

adj. impartial and honest in speech

The observations of a child can be charming since they are so candid and unpretentious.

Question 332

Heterogeneous

Answer 332

adj. composed of unlike parts; different; diverse

The United Nations is by nature a heterogenous body.

Question 333

syncopation

Answer 333

n. temporary irregularity in musical rhythm

A jazz enthusiast will appreciate the use of syncopation in that musical genre.

Question 334

Tangential

Answer 334

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.”

Question 335

Inexorable

Answer 335

adj. inflexible; unyielding; adamant

The inexorable force of the twister swept away their house.

Question 336

Amalgamate

Answer 336

v. to combine; to mix together

The blue and yellow paint was amalgamated to form green paint.

Question 337

Martinet

Answer 337

n. strict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules

A complete martinet, the official insisted that Pete fill out all the forms again even though he was already familiar with his case.

Question 338

Acidulous

Answer 338

adj. sour in taste or manner

The acidulous taste of the spoiled milk made the young boy’s lips pucker.

Question 339

Oblique

Answer 339

adj. indirect or evasive; misleading or devious

Usually open and friendly, Reynaldo has been behaving in a curiously oblique manner lately.

Question 340

Blight

Answer 340

v. to afflict; to destroy

The farmers feared that the night’s frost would blight the potato crops entirely.

Question 341

Antagonize

Answer 341

v. to annoy or provoke to anger

The child discovered that he could antagonize the cat by pulling its tail.

Question 342

Inimical

Answer 342

adj. hostile, unfriendly

Even though the children had grown up together, they were inimical to each other at school.

Question 343

Interregnum

Answer 343

n. a period between reigns

When John F. Kennedy was shot, there was a brief interregnum before Lyndon B. Johnson became president.

Question 344

Usury

Answer 344

n. the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates

The moneylender was convicted of usury when it was discovered that he charged 50 percent interest on all his loans.

Question 345

Tome

Answer 345

n. a book, usually a large and academic one

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

Question 346

Panegyric

Answer 346

n. elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

The director’s panegyric for the donor was how he kept his charity going.

Question 347

Glib

Answer 347

adj. fluent in an insincere manner; superficial

The slimy politician managed to continue gaining supporters because he was a glib speaker.

Question 348

Augury

Answer 348

n. a prophecy; a prediction of events

Troy hoped the rainbow wan an augury of good things to come.

Question 349

Acme

Answer 349

n. the highest point; the summit; the highest level or degree attainable

Just when he reached the acme of his power, the dictator was overthrown.

Question 350

Eclectic

Answer 350

adj. selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

The architecture had an eclectic mix of Eastern and Western styles.

Question 351

Affected

Answer 351

adj. phony; artificial; pretentious

The affected hairdresser spouted French phrases, though she had never been to France.

Question 352

Gregarious

Answer 352

adj. outgoing, sociable

She was so gregarious that when she found herself alone, she felt quite sad.

Question 353

Audacious

Answer 353

adj. fearless and daring; extremely bold

Her audacious nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving.

Question 354

Orotund

Answer 354

adj. pompous

Roberto soon grew tired of his date’s orotund babble about material things and decided the date was over.

Question 355

Abate

Answer 355

v. to reduce in amount, or severity

As the hurricane’s force abated, the winds dropped and the sea became calm

Question 356

Officious

Answer 356

adj. too helpful; intrusive

While planning her wedding, Maya discovered just how officious her future mother-in-law could be.

Question 357

Embellish

Answer 357

v. to add ornamental or fictions details

Britt embellished her resume hoping to make the lowly positions she had held seem more important.

Question 358

Ersatz

Answer 358

adj. fake

The experienced designer instantly knew the purse was an ersatz version purchased on the street.

Question 359

Panache

Answer 359

n. flamboyance or dash in style and action; verve

Leah has such panache when planning parties, even when they’re last-minute affairs.

Question 360

Quixotic

Answer 360

adj. overly idealistic; impractical

The practical Danuta was skeptical of her roommate’s quixotic plans to build a roller coaster in their yard.

Question 361

Aerie

Answer 361

n. a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling

Perched high among the trees, the eagle’s aerie was filled with eggs.

Question 362

Prattle

Answer 362

n. meaningless, foolish talk

Her husband’s mindless prattle drove Her insane; sometimes she wished he would just shut up.

Question 363

Encomium

Answer 363

n. warm praise

She wrote an encomium in praise of the outgoing president.

Question 364

Nascent

Answer 364

adj. starting to develop; coming into existence

The advertising campaign was still in a nascent stage, and nothing had been finalized yet.

Question 365

Castigate

Answer 365

v. to punish or criticize harshly

Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore castigate perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States.

Question 366

Boor

Answer 366

n. a crude person; one lacking manners or taste

“That utter boor ruined my recital with his constant guffawing!” wailed the pianist.

Question 367

Palliate

Answer 367

v. to make less serious; to ease

The alleged crime was so vicious that the defense lawyer could not palliate it for the jury.

Question 368

Overwrought

Answer 368

adj. agitated; overdue

The lawyer’s overwrought voice on the phone made her clients worry about the outcome of their case.

Question 369

Vituperate

Answer 369

v. to abuse verbally; to berate

Vituperating someone is never a constructive way to effect change.

Question 370

Magnate

Answer 370

n. powerful or influential person

The entertainment magnate brought two cable TV stations to add to his collection of magazines and publishing houses.

Question 371

Myopic

Answer 371

adj lacking foresight; having a narrow view or shot-ranged perspective

Not wanting to spend a lot of money up front, the myopic business owner would likely suffer the consequences later.

Question 372

Doctrinaire

Answer 372

adj. rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic

The professor’s manner of teaching was considered doctrinaire for such a liberal school.

Question 373

Adulterate

Answer 373

v. to make impure

The chef made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water.

Question 374

Abyss

Answer 374

n. an extremely deep hole

The submarine dove into the abyss to chart the previously unseen depths.

Question 375

Cosset

Answer 375

v. to pamper; to treat with great care

Marta just loves to cosset her first and only grandchild.

Question 376

Malediction

Answer 376

n. a curse; a wish of evil upon another

The frog prince looked for a princess to kiss him and put an end to the witch’s malediction.

Question 377

Exculpate

Answer 377

v. to clear from blame; prove innocent

The legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to exculpate those who are innocent.

Question 378

Plebeian

Answer 378

adj. lacking refinement; crude or coarse; characteristic of Commoners

After five weeks of rigorous studying, the graduate settled in for a weekend of plebeian socializing and television watching.

Question 379

Opine

Answer 379

v. to express an opinion

At the “Let’s Chat” Talk Show, the audience member opined that the guest was in the wrong.

Question 380

Convoluted

Answer 380

adj. intricate and complicated

The professor’s ideas were so convoluted, it was hard to follow his ideas and theories.

Question 381

Proclivity

Answer 381

n. a natural inclination or predisposition

Her childhood love of acting, singing, and adoration indicated a proclivity for the theater in later life.

Question 382

Winsome

Answer 382

adj. charing; happily engaging

Lenore gave the doorman a winsome smile, and he let her pass to the front of the line.

Question 383

Inquest

Answer 383

n. an investigation; an inquiry

The police chief ordered an inquest to determine what went wrong.

Question 384

Disparate

Answer 384

adj. fundamentally different; entirely unlike

Although the twins appeard to be identical physically, their personalities are disparate.

Question 385

Inundate

Answer 385

v. to overwhelm; to cover with water

The tidal wave inundated Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water.

Question 386

Inchoate

Answer 386

adj. not fully formed or developed; disorganized

The author’s book expressed mature ideas, however years before it remained in an inchoate form.

Question 387

Crescendo

Answer 387

n. steady increase in volume or force

The crescendo of tension became unbearable as the man was about to perform a risky stunt.

Question 388

Sanguine

Answer 388

adj. ruddy; cheerfully optimistic

A sanguine person thinks the glass is half full, whereas a depressed person thinking it’s half empty.

Question 389

Philistine

Answer 389

n. a person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values

The philistine never even glanced at the rare violin in his collection but instead kept an eye on its value and sold it at a profit.

Question 390

Seraphic

Answer 390

adj. angelic; sweet

Selena’s seraphic appearance belied her nasty, bitter personality.

Question 391

Zeal

Answer 391

n. passionate about someone or something, excitement

She brought her typical zeal to the project, sparkling enthusiasm in the other team members.

Question 392

Assuage

Answer 392

v. to make something unpleasant less severe

She used aspirin to assuage her pounding headache.

Question 393

Sinecure

Answer 393

n. a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work

The corrupt mayor made sure to set up all his relatives in sinecures within the administration.

Question 394

Jingoism

Answer 394

n. belligerent support of one’s country

The professor’s jingoism made it difficult for the students to participate in an open political discussion.

Question 395

Antithetical

Answer 395

directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible

Job titles can sometimes be antithetical to ones potential and success in the work place.

Question 396

Pathogenic

Answer 396

adj. causing disease

Bina’s research on the origins of pathogenic microorganisms should help stop the spread of disease.

Question 397

Nominal

Answer 397

adj. existing in name only; negligible

A nominal member of the high school yearbook committee rarely attended the meetings.

Question 398

Condone

Answer 398

v. to overlook, pardon, or disregard

Some theorist believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as condoning an air of lawlessness.

Question 399

Vex

Answer 399

v. to annoy

The old man who loved his peace and quiet was vexed by his neighbor’s loud music.

Question 400

Divine

Answer 400

v. to predict or know by inspiration

The man divined from his good day that he would win the lottery.

Question 401

Craven

Answer 401

adj. lacking courage

The craven lion cringed in the corner of his cage, terrified of the mouse.

Question 402

Languid

Answer 402

adj. lacking energy; indifferent; slow

The languid cat cleaned its fur, ignoring the vicious, snarling dog chained a few feet away from it.

Question 403

Droll

Answer 403

adj. amusing in a wry, subtle way

Although the play couldn’t be described as hilarious, it was certainly droll.

Question 404

Glower

Answer 404

v. to glare or stare angrily and intensely

The cranky waiter glowered at the indecisive customer.

Question 405

Pulchritude

Answer 405

n. beauty

The mortals gazed in admiration at Venus, stunned by her incredible pulchritude.

Question 406

Impugn

Answer 406

v. to call into question; to attack verbally

“How dare you impugn my motives?” protested the lawyer, on being accused of ambulance chasing.

Question 407

Terrestrial

Answer 407

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.

Question 408

Alacrity

Answer 408

n. speed or qhuikness

The restaurant won a reputation for fine service since the wait staff responded to their client’s requests with alacrity.

Question 409

Wily

Answer 409

adj. clever; deceptive

Yet again, the wily coyote managed to elude the ranchers who wanted to capture it.

Question 410

Circumspect

Answer 410

adj. cautious; aware of potential consequences

She was very circumspect in her language and behavior when first introduced to her fiancé’s parents.

Question 411

Lionize

Answer 411

v. to treat as a celebrity

After the success of his novel, the author was lionized by the press.

Question 412

Bombastic

Answer 412

adj. pompous in speech and manner

The ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly bombastic; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.

Question 413

Supplant

Answer 413

v. to replace (another) by force; to take the place of

The overthrow of the government meant a new leader to supplant the tyrannical former one.

Question 414

Prodigal

Answer 414

adj. lavish, wasteful

The prodigal son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure.

Question 415

Rustic

Answer 415

adj. rural

The rustic cabin was an ideal setting for a vacation.

Question 416

Leery

Answer 416

adj. suspicious

After being swindled once, Ruth became leery of strangers trying to sell things to her.

Question 417

Credulous

Answer 417

adj. too trusting; gullible

Although some four-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most credulous nine-year-olds aslo believe in him.

Question 418

Forestall

Answer 418

v. to prevent or delay; to anticipate; obviate

The landlord forestalled the man’s attempt to avoid paying the rent by waiting for him outside the door.

Question 419

Obsequious

Answer 419

adj. overly submissive and eager to please

The obsequious new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor’s tie and agree with him on every issue.

Question 420

Chicanery

Answer 420

n. deception by means of craft or guile

Dishonest used car sales people often use chicanery to sell their beat-up old cars.

Question 421

Malinger

Answer 421

v. to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

A common way to avoid the draft was by malingering– pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the army.

Question 422

Umbrage

Answer 422

n. offense; resentment

The businessman took umbrage at the security guard’s accusation that he had shoplifted a packet of gum.

Question 423

Archaic

Answer 423

adj. ancient, old fashioned

Her archaic computer could not run the latest software.

Question 424

Mitigate

Answer 424

v. to make less severe; to soften

A judge may mitigate a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need.

Question 425

Pusillanimous

Answer 425

adj. cowardly; without courage

The pusillanimous man would not enter the yard where the miniature poodle was barking.

Question 426

Aesthetic

Answer 426

adj. concerning beauty or appreciating beauty

Followers of the aesthetic movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art.

Question 427

Lissome

Answer 427

adj. easily flexed; limber; agile

The lissome yoga instructor twisted herself into shapes that her students could only dream of.

Question 428

Noisome

Answer 428

adj. stinking; putrid

A dead mouse trapped in your walls produces a noisome odor.

Question 429

Talon

Answer 429

n. claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey

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

Question 430

Emulate

Answer 430

v. to copy; to try to equal or excel

The kid tried to emulate his big brother by copying his every move.

Question 431

Unconscionable

Answer 431

adj. unscrupulous; shockinglyunfair or unjust

After she promised me the project, the fact that she gave it to someone else is unconscionable.

Question 432

Burnish

Answer 432

v. to polish

He burnished the silver coffee pot until it shone brightly.

Question 433

Catalyst

Answer 433

n. something that brings about a change in something else

The imposition of harsh taxes was the catalyst that finally brought on the revolution.

Question 434

Legerdemain

Answer 434

n. trickery

The little boy thought his legerdemain was working on his mother, but in fact knew about every hidden toy and stolen cookie.

Question 435

Transitory

Answer 435

adj. temporary, lasting a brief time

He always had transitory position and was never able to land a permanent job.

Question 436

Approbation

Answer 436

n. approval and praise

The approbation that Jerry Lewis received in France included a medal from the Ministry of Culture.

Question 437

Mollify

Answer 437

v. to calm or make less severe

Their argument was so intense that is was difficult to believe any compromise would mollify them.

Question 438

Fetid

Answer 438

adj. foul-smelling; putrid

The fetid stench from the outhouse caused Francesca to wrinkle her nose in disgust.

Question 439

Impious

Answer 439

adj. not devout in religion

The nun cut herself off from her impious family after she entered the convent.

Question 440

Jargon

Answer 440

n. nonsensical talk; specialized language

You need to master technical jargon in order to communicate successfully with engineers.

Question 441

Eschew

Answer 441

v. to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)

The filmmaker eschewed artificial light for her actors, resulting in a stark movie style.

Question 442

Fervid

Answer 442

adj. intensely emotional; feverish

The fans of the famous singer were fervid, they all tried to catch a glimpse in awe of him.

Question 443

Mendacious

Answer 443

adj. dishonest

So many of her stories were mendacious that I decided she must be a pathological liar.

Question 444

Juncture

Answer 444

n. a point of time, especially one where two things are joined

At this juncture, I think it would be a good idea for us to take a coffee break.

Question 445

Pithy

Answer 445

adj. profound or substantial yet concise, succinct, and to the point

Martha’s pithy comments during the interview must have been impressive because she got the job.

Question 446

Dogmatic

Answer 446

adj. dictatorial in one’s opinions

The dictator was dogmatic– he and only he, was right.

Question 447

Sublime

Answer 447

adj. lofty or grand; impressing the mind

The music was so sublime that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place.

Question 448

Restive

Answer 448

adj. impatient, uneasy, or restless

The passengers became restive after having to wait in line for hours and began to shout complaints at the airline staff.

Question 449

Meticulous

Answer 449

adj. showing great attention to detail; careful and precise

To find all the clues at the crime scene, the investigators meticulously examined every inch of the area.

Question 450

Iniquity

Answer 450

n. a sin, an evil act

“I promise to close every den of iniquity in this town!” thundered the conservative new mayor.

Question 451

Turgid

Answer 451

adj. swollen as from a fluid; bloated

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

Question 452

Pastiche

Answer 452

n. a piece of literature or music imitating other works

The playwright’s clever pastiche of the well-known children’s story had the audience rolling in the aisles.

Question 453

Propriety

Answer 453

n. the quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals

The aristocracy maintained a high level of propriety, adhering to even the most minor social rules.

Question 454

Diaphanous

Answer 454

adj. allowing light to show through; delicate

These diaphanous curtains do nothing to block the sun.

Question 455

Analogous

Answer 455

adj. similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

Glad is analogous to happy.

Question 456

Anomaly

Answer 456

n. deviation from what is normal

We couldn’t explain the anomalies in the test results.

Question 457

Exigent

Answer 457

adj. urgent; requiring immediate action

The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was exigent to stop the source of the bleeding.

Question 458

Hoary

Answer 458

adj. very old; whitish or gray from age

The old man’s hoary beard contrasted starkly to the new stubble of his teenage grandson.

Question 459

Catholic

Answer 459

adj. universal; broad and comprehensive

His catholic musical taste included everything from opera to rap.

Question 460

Dogma

Answer 460

n. a firmly held opinion or belief, often a religious belief

The central dogma of Christianity is the Holy Trinity.

Question 461

Axiom

Answer 461

n. premise; postulate; self-evident truth

Halle lived her life based on the axioms her grandfather had passed on to her.

Question 462

Metaphor

Answer 462

n. a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol

One of the most famous metaphors is, “love is a red rose.”

Question 463

Lampoon

Answer 463

v. to ridicule with satire

The mayor hated being lampooned by the press for his efforts to improve people’s politeness.

Question 464

Spartan

Answer 464

adj. highly self-disciplined; frugal; austere

When he was in training, the athlete preferred to live in a spartan room, so he could shut out all distractions.

Question 465

Flag

Answer 465

v. to become tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic

The marathon runner slowed down as his strength flagged.

Question 466

Distend

Answer 466

v. to swell, inflate, or bloat

Her stomach was distended after she gorged on the six-course meal.

Question 467

Euphemism

Answer 467

n. an indirect word or phrase used in place of a more harsh or rude one

The funeral director usded the euphemism sleeping instead of dead.

Question 468

Garner

Answer 468

v. to gather and store

The director managed to garner financial backing from several different sources for his next project.

Question 469

Rejoinder

Answer 469

n. response

Patrick tried desperately to think of a clever rejoinder to Marianna’s joke, but he couldn’t.

Question 470

Keen

Answer 470

adj. sharp; intellectually sharp; perceptive; showing eagerness or enthusiasm

With her keen intelligence, she figured out the puzzle in ten seconds flat.

Question 471

Diffident

Answer 471

adj. lacking self-confidence

Steve’s diffident manner during the interview prevented him from getting the job.

Question 472

Sentient

Answer 472

adj. aware; conscious; able to perceive

The anesthetic didn’t work, and I was still sentient when the dentist started drilling!

Question 473

Perfidious

Answer 473

adj. deceitful and untrustworthy

The man’s perfidious friend could no longer be trusted.

Question 474

Inter

Answer 474

v. to bury

After giving the masses on last chance to pay their respect, the leader;s body was interred.

Question 475

Solecism

Answer 475

n. grammatical mistake

“I ain’t going with you,” she said, obviously unaware of her solecism.

Question 476

Verdant

Answer 476

adj. green with vegetation; inexperienced

He wandered deep into the verdant woods in search of mushrooms and other edible flora.

Question 477

Pariah

Answer 477

n. an outcast

Once he betrayed those in his community, he was banished and lived the life of a pariah.

Question 478

Desiccate

Answer 478

v. to dry out thoroughly

After a few weeks of lying on the desert’s baking sands, the cow’s carcass became completely desiccated.

Question 479

Plethora

Answer 479

n. large or excessive

The librarian owned a prlethora of books.

Question 480

Puerile

Answer 480

adj. childish, immature, or silly

Olivia’s boyfriend’s puerile antics are really annoying; sometimes he acts like a five-year old!

Question 481

Invidious

Answer 481

adj. envious, obnoxious, or offensive; likely to promote ill-will

It is cruel and invidious for parents to play favorites with their children.

Question 482

Polyglot

Answer 482

n. a speaker of many languages

Ling’s extensive travels have helped her to become a true polyglot.

Question 483

Burgeon

Answer 483

v. to grow and flourish

Faulkner neither confirmed nor denied stories about himself, allowing rumor to burgeon where it would.

Question 484

Erudite

Answer 484

adj. having or showing great knowledge or learning

The most erudite scientists were chosen for the top-secret research project.

Question 485

Ebullient

Answer 485

adj. exhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits

The ebullient child exhausted the baby-sitter, who lacked the energy to keep up with her.

Question 486

Peripatetic

Answer 486

adj. wandering from place to place, especially on foot

Eleana’s peripatetic meanderings took her all over the countryside in the summer months.

Question 487

Disabuse

Answer 487

v. to set right; to free from error

Galileo’s observations disabused scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the earth.

Question 488

Intrepid

Answer 488

adj. fearless; resolutely courageous

Despite freezing winds, the intrepid hiker completed his ascent.

Question 489

Sagacious

Answer 489

adj. shrewd; wise

Owls have a reputation for being sagacious, perhaps because of their big eyes, which resemble glasses.

Question 490

Enervate

Answer 490

v. to reduce in strength

The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would enervate the regular army.

Question 491

Efficacy

Answer 491

n. effectiveness

The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections.

Question 492

Repudiate

Answer 492

v. to reject the validity of

The old woman’s claim that she was Russian royalty was repudiated when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them.

Question 493

Intractable

Answer 493

adj. not easily managed or manipulated

Intractable for hours, the wild horse eventually allowed the rider to mount.

Question 494

Amortize

Answer 494

v. to diminish by installment payments

While college students are notorious for accumulating credit card debt, they are not as well known for amortizing it.

Question 495

Pedant

Answer 495

n. someone who shows off learning; pays excessive attention to detail

The graduate instructor’s tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a pedant.

Question 496

Variegated

Answer 496

adj. varied; marked with different colors

The variegated foliage of the jungle allows it to support thousands of different animal species.

Question 497

Bifurcate

Answer 497

v. to divide into two parts

The large corporation just released a press statement announcing its plans to bifurcate.

Question 498

Deleterious

Answer 498

adj. causing harm or damage

A divorce in the family is known to have deleterious effects on children.

Question 499

Vim

Answer 499

n. vitality and energy

The vim with which she worker so early in the day explained why she was so productive.

Question 500

Husband

Answer 500

v. to manage economically; to use sparingly

The cyclist paced herself at the start of the race, knowing that if she husbanded her resources she;d have the strength to break out of the pack later on.