TOUGHEST WORDS Flashcards
1
Q
LAMBASTE
A
denounce; strongly criticize
2
Q
QUIESCENT
A
marked by inactivity; a state of quiet repose
3
Q
PROVISIONAL
A
tentative; temporary; for the time being (like a PROVISIONAL driver’s license)
4
Q
LURID
A
sensational; shocking; ghastly
5
Q
TRUCULENT, PUGNACIOUS, BELLIGERENT
A
defiantly aggressive; eager to fight
6
Q
PROPITIATE
A
to appease; to conciliate; to regain the favor or goodwill of
7
Q
ÉLAN
A
a vigorous spirit; a great enthusiasm
8
Q
PERFUNCTORY
A
something performed in a spiritless, mech-anical, and routine manner
9
Q
APLOMB
A
self-assurance; confident composure; admirable poise under pressure
10
Q
OPACITY
A
hard to understand; impenetrably dense and obscure
11
Q
CRAVEN
A
characterized by acting in a cowardly manner
12
Q
VENAL
A
corrupt, dishonest, open to bribery
13
Q
LICENTIOUS
A
immoral; DISSOLUTE; debauched
14
Q
NOXIOUS
A
harmful; injurious to physical, mental or moral health
15
Q
SUPERFLUOUS and EXTRANEOUS
A
unnecessary; extra
16
Q
DUPLICITOUS
A
deliberately deceptive in behavior or speech
17
Q
PROFLIGATE
A
wasteful; someone who SQUANDERS (wastes) time and money by living for the moment
18
Q
EPIPHANY
A
a sudden realization; an insightful moment
19
Q
INSIDIOUS
A
causing harm in a subtle or stealthy manner; devious
20
Q
VACUOUS and INANE
A
empty; lacking serious purpose; VAPID
21
Q
HARBINGER, PORTENT, PRESAGE
A
indications or omens that something important or calamitous is about to occur
22
Q
BELEAGUER
A
to beset; to surround with problems
23
Q
BURGEON
A
to grow rapidly and expand
24
Q
IMPERIOUS
A
domineering and arrogant; haughty
25
PETULANT
peevish, irritable
26
COMPLAISANT
amiable; agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; AFFABLE
27
FAWN
to behave in a servile manner; SUBSERVIENT
28
OBDURATE and INTRANSIGIENT
very stubborn; obstinate; unyielding persistent; inflexible; INTRACTABLE
29
REDOLENT
exuding fragrance; full of a specified smell
30
CHICANERY
deception by subterfuge; deliberate trickery
31
CONUNDRUM
a difficult problem; a dilemma with no easy solution
32
SLIGHT
a disrespectful or disparaging remark
33
CAPITULATE
to surrender; comply without protest
34
DISHEARTENING
very discouraging; dismaying; dispiriting
35
APOCRYPHAL
of doubtful authenticity
36
MAGISTERIAL
learned and authoritative
37
PLASTICITY, MALLEABLE, PLIABLE
flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside influences or forces
38
CHAGRIN
the feeling of distress caused by humiliation, failure or embarrassment
39
OBSTREPEROUS
noisily and stubbornly defiant; unruly; boisterous
40
IDYLLIC
charmingly simple and carefree
41
DILAPIDATED
having fallen into a state of disrepair; broken-down; in deplorable condition
42
EXTEMPORIZE and IMPROVISE
both mean to lecture or speak without notes
43
MYRIAD
many; numerous
44
UNGAINLY
awkward; clumsy
45
DILATORY
habitually late; tardy
46
VITUPERATIVE
characterized by verbal abuse; bitter criticism
47
DISCORDANT
not in harmony; incompatible; at variance with, as in a DISCORDANT detail that doesn't fit a pattern
48
PERFIDIOUS
treacherous; traitorous; deceitful
49
PROLIFERATION
to rapidly increase
50
INDOMITABLE and RESOLUTE
very determined; unwavering
51
MORIBUND
approaching death; about to become obsolete
52
NUANCE
a SUBTLE shade of meaning or feeling; a slight degree of difference
53
FLIPPANT and FACETIOUS
treating serious matters with lighthearted humor or lack of respect
54
CREDULOUS
easily convinced; tending to believe too readily; GULLIBLE
55
FLORID
flowery in style; very ORNATE
56
EXCORIATING and SCATHING
expressing strong disapproval; condemning; to loudly DECRY
57
INTERLOPER
an intruder; a gatecrasher
58
CEREBRAL
intellectual rather than emotional
59
VISCERAL
instinctive rather than rational
60
NONPLUSSED and CONFOUNDED
utterly PERPLEXED; completely puzzled; totally bewildered
61
IGNOMINIOUS
humiliating; shameful; disgraceful
62
IDIOSYNCRASY
a trait or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual
63
CENSORIOUS and CAPTIOUS
highly critical; fault-finding
64
CONSTERNATION
a state of great dismay and confusion
65
DIDACTIC and EDIFY
designed or intended to teach and instruct
66
ELUCIDATE
to make clear or plain, especially by explanation
67
EFFUSIVE
unrestrained praise
68
PROLIFIC
very productive
69
FUROR
a general commotion; an uproar
70
PARANOIA
a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness; irrational fear
71
MARGINAL and PERIPHERAL
of secondary importance; NOT central
72
OBFUSCATE
to deliberately confuse; to make something so confusing that it is hard to understand
73
FLUMMOX
to confuse; perplex
74
SPATE
a large number or amount
75
INEFFABLE
a feeling that cannot be put into words; indescribable
76
HISTRIONIC and OVERWROUGHT
excessively dramatic; a deliberate display of emotion
77
PLACATE
to soothe or calm; appease
78
ESCHEW
to avoid; shun; stay clear of
79
STOPGAP
a temporary solution designed to meet an urgent need
80
FLOTSAM
the floating wreckage of a ship; debris
81
RESTITUTION
the act of making good or compensating for a loss, damage or injury
82
CHURLISH, SULLEN, SURLY
all three mean ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility
83
DISQUIETING
disturbing; upsetting; causing unease
84
ORNATE
characterized by elaborate and expensive decorations; LAVISH
85
EXECRABLE, ODIOUS, REPUGNANT
detestable, repulsive, extremely bad
86
PERSPICACIOUS, PRESCIENT, DISCERNING
all three words mean insightful and perceptive
87
ECLECTIC
choosing or using a variety of sources
88
HIATUS
an interruption in time or continuity; a break
89
VERTIGINOUS
characterized by or suffering from dizziness; having VERTIGO
90
ESOTERIC and ARCANE
characterized by knowledge that is known only to a small group of specialists; obscure
91
SUPERCILIOUS
haughty disdain, arrogant superiority
92
CUPIDITY
excessive greed, especially for wealth; covetous
93
UNDERWRITE
to assume financial responsibility for
94
DISCOMFITED
uneasy; in a state of embarrassment
95
TACITURN
habitually quiet; uncommunicative
96
SINECURE
an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income
97
LUGUBRIOUS
sad and mournful music
98
COSMOPOLITAN
worldly; sophisticated; open-minded and aware of the big picture
99
PROVINCIAL, PAROCHIAL, INSULAR
limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope and outlook
100
FECUND
intellectually productive or inventive
101
OSTENTATIOUS
showy; intended to attract notice; pretentious
102
GUILE
treacherous cunning; skillful deceit
103
SANGUINE
cheerfully confident; optimistic
104
SCINTILLATING
sparkling; shining; brilliantly clever
105
PRISTINE
remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization
106
RAMPANT
unrestrained; unchecked
107
PERNICIOUS
highly injurious; destructive; deadly
108
OBLIVIOUS
lacking conscious awareness; unmindful; unaware
109
REFRACTORY
obstinately resistant to authority or control
110
GARRULOUS, VERBOSE, LOQUACIOUS
annoyingly talkative; VOLUBLE
111
CONVIVIAL
fond of feasting, drinking, and good company
112
BRUSQUE and CURT
abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt
113
TEPID
lukewarm; mild; half-hearted
114
PROTEAN
readily taking on varied forms and meanings
115
SOLICITOUS
showing great care and concern; attentive
116
DISINGENUOUS
not straightforward or CANDID; insincere
117
VENERATE and REVERE
to regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem
118
CONTENTIOUS
quarrelsome; argumentative; likely to provoke a controversy; DISPUTATIOUS
119
PRECLUDE
to make impossible; to rule out; prevent
120
COMPUNCTION, CONTRITION, REMORSE
all describe feelings of sincere and deep regret
121
DEMOGRAPHY
the study of the characteristics of human populations
122
APHORISM and AXIOM
a statement universally accepted as true; a MAXIM
