Verbal Flashcards
dominant
most powerful
I had a dominant role in the drama club.
stance
position
I will not change my stance.
demure
reserved/shy
I have a demure stance when meeting new people.
strewn
scattered
The cards were strewn all across the floor.
cerebral
related to the brain
perspire
sweat
I perspire a lot after I play squash.
lingo
slang/dialect
My mom does not understand my texting lingo.
maxim
proverb/adage
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” is a famous maxim.
jettison
discard or throw something
During the crash the passengers were jettisoned out of the plane.
frugal
economical
She led a frugal life and did not indulge in extravagances.
accolade
award/distinction
My cousin received the presidential accolade for his outstanding performance in school.
burgeon
grow rapidly/thrive
The solar industry burgeoned under the Obama administration
recalcitrant
stubborn
We were all very recalcitrant in Sr. Sanford’s class.
aberration
departure from the normal/anomaly
Marina’s loss to Olivia in the Nationals was an abberation.
rigorous
thorough
I am committed to a rigorous training with Coach Malik during this winter break
derelict
neglected
Leaving the kids in the car while going shopping is a direlection of duty
abashed
embarrassed
My friend was abshed by my performance at the piano recital
stymie
prevent/thwart
We should not stymie medical research for political reasons
rhetoric
effective persuasion
Trump’s rhetoric is captivating but lacks substance.
conflagration
fire that destroys
The conflagration burnt down close to a 100 homes in the neighbourhood.
inferno
Large fire that is out of control
The inferno was caused by some teenagers looking for excitement during the holidays
precipice
steep rock/cliff
The country is on the precipice of change
ore
material from which metal is extracted
valor
great courage
swagger
confident/arrogant
lethargy
lazy
famine
scarcity of food
ascertain
find out/discover
slapdash
careless/disorganized
meticulous
careful/attention to detail
temperance
restrain from drinking alcohol
sequester
isolate/hide away
contemporaneous
occuring at the same period of time
anachronistic
belonging to an earlier time period
recurrent
occuring often
distemper
political disorder
serrated
Like a saw-tooth
pestilence
fatal disease
periscope
used to see out of sight objects in a submarine
voracious
eager approach/wanting to eat lot of food
insatiable
impossible to satisfy
incorrigible
unfixable
rapacious
excessively greedy
glutton
greedy eater
tumultuous
loud, confused, uproar
seditious
agitate, cause people to rebel
serene
calm,peaceful
imbibe
absorb
scrupulous
attention to details/thorough
rudder
a flat piece used to steer a boat/ship
inscrutable
not easy
animosity
hatred
teem
to be full of
consternation
dismay/anxiety
rouse
awaken
gorge
narrow valley between hills/mountains
nomadic
wanderers
adept
skillful
plaintive
sad
abstain
hold back
squander
waste
flair
special talent
gratify
satisfy
sallow
pale
curtail
to shorten
deteriorate
get worse
affluence
rich
temerity
excessive confidence
flagrant
glaring
girded
decorated
austere
simple
quell
crush
look a gift horse in the mouth
be suspicious of good fortune
defy
disobey
zest
great enthusiasm
arid
very dry
heed
listen
craven
cowardly
implicate
involve someone
headlong
haste/rush
deciduous
shredding leaves annually
vacuous
lack of intelligence
arbor
is a shady alcove formed by trees
douse
drench
compatriot
fellow citizen
apparition
ghost like figure
ransom
money to free a hostage
impound
sieze/take away
obsure
vague
temporal
relating to time
toggle
change/switch
august
respected and imporant
obliterate
vanquish/destroy
immaculate
flawless
bestow
impart/give
malign
evil/defame
laud
praise
exalted
excited,elevated,raised
`decimate
destroy
facetious
treating a serious issue with humor
insinuate
hint
clamber
scramble
negligent
careless
grating
annoying
strident
harsh sound/annoying
vie
compete
succumb
give in/ yield
ambiguous
unclear
imperative
necessary
deploy
spread out
assail
attack
peruse
scrutinize
saunter
walk in slow and relaxed manner
veer
change direction/deviate
ornate
elaborately decorated
benefactor
a person who provides benefit
beneficiary
a person who receives benefits
confer
give
morose
sad
stoic
unemotional
mutinous
rebellious
meager
scanty/thin/inadequate
rudimentary
undeveloped
sparse
scanty/less
dilapidated
ruined/decayed
fallow
not in use/inactive
tepid
moderately warm
slovenly
unclean
slipshod
unclean
immaculate
spotlessly clean
sedate
calm down/ put to sleep
remunerate
to pay
appease
satisfy
mutilate
injure/disfigure (kachop)
reverence
respect
guile
cunning
wither
fade
avid
eager
reparation
to make amends for wrong or injury done
vindication
to clear someone name (i told you so)
remuneration
reward
jaded
worn out
admonish
scold, to caution
pluck
courage
purge
cleanse
cower
crouch
bedlam
confusion/uproar
fickle
undecided/unstable
perturb
agitate
ornery
stubborn/unpleasant/cranky
lament
regret
auspicious
good fortune
opportune
good fortune
cagey
cautious
incredulous
unbelievable (bad way)
emulate
to copy
ambiguous
unclear
annihilate
completely destroy
rescind
take away/revoke
knoll
hilltop
totemic
distinctive/symbolic
kindred
relationship by birth
holistic
looking at the whole picture
genesis
origin
visage
appearance
grimace
an ugly facial expression indicating pain
relinquish
give up control
hinder
stop
expedite
speed up
precipitate
speed up
eloquent
fluent
dominion
area that you govern/jurisdiction
statute
law
perforate
making a hole
replenish
refill
subsidized
discounted/reduced
distend
stretch
prodigal
wasteful
girth
circumference
entice
tempt
insipid
bland
provocateur
one who causes trouble
deluge
flooding
exacerbate
make things worse
hone
sharpened/perfect
intangible
unclear
palpable
clear
vulgar
indecent
obscene
indecent
prudent
wise
gullible
to easily deceive
evade
escape
livid
extremely angry
implicit
does not need to be stated/implied/Get ready in the morning
haphazard
disorganized
impertinent
rude
furtive
secretive
homage
pay respect
appraise
estimate/calculate
capsize
overturn
feign
fake (feign ignorance)
jargon
slang
daunt
fear
erratic
unpredictable
fanatic
extreme dedication
remorseful
regretful
repentant
regretful
brazen
shameless
unkempt
untidy
glib
insincere
frivolous
not serious
fraternal
brotherhood
trivial
insignificant
abstruse
hard to understand
boorish
insensitive
relent
give up
manifest
detail/obvious
redeem
get your good name back
altercation
fight/dispute
mundane
routine
manifest
details
blithe
happy
rendezvous
meeting point
oblique
not straight/ round about
drivel
nonsense
zany
clownish
lucid
clear/easily underrstood
tawdry
cheap
marred
damaged
debilitate
weaken
dearth
scarcity
aloof
distant
shirk
evade/ escape from a responsibility
conscientious
careful
enigma
puzzle
caustic
stinging
heinous
atrocious
perilous
dangerous
desiccate
dry
needle
prod
aggrandize
increase in size
thwart
stop successfully
expunge
destroy
scrutinize
look carefully
catalyst
something that causes the change
Fledgling
inexperienced
solace
peace/comfort
apathy
lack of passion
tact
skill in dealing with delicate situations
taciturn
silent
subdued
reduced intensity
revelation
to show
disclose
to show
breach
break
plebeian
common people
coveted
highly desired
sloven
messy
pertinent
relevant
explicit
clear
benign
harmless
pernicious
harmful
impetuous
violent
petulant
impatient
obligatory
responsibility
archaic
very old fashioned
reticent
not revealing ones thoughts
depreciate
reduce in value
intonation
change in pitch
inflection
change in pitch
compliant
agree
disparage
disrespect
disillusion
dissappointment
conceit
excessive pride
myriad
countless
invigorate
strengthen
metropolis
city/area
voluptuous
luxurious
ichthyology
study of fishes
ornithology
study of birds
benevolent
kindness
pretentious
flashy
Barker is a pretentious name for a dog
gilded
elaborate/wealthy
She put the picture in a frame gilded with gold.
dissipations
indulgence/expense
Having studied all day, I feel the dissipation of the energy with which I woke up in the morning.
quaint
old-fashioned
Solvang is a quaint Danish village.
unassuming
modest
My friend wore an unassuming dress to the party.
disdain
disrespect
indifferent
don’t care/ neutral
reclusive
aloof/lonely
People who choose to live in the widnerness are usually reclusvive
miser
someone who does not spend money
My friend chooses to live a miserly life even though she has a lot of money.
cockeyed
impractical
I do not believe in the cockey stories that my sister tells me.
moderation
avoiding excess/self-control
My mom insists that I watch TV in moderation.
marsupial
mammals carried by their mommies(not fully developed)
pelt
skin/fur
The Koala’s pelt is sold for a lot of money.
foe
enemy
sustenance
nourishment
In poor countries people eat potatoes for sustenance.
hardier
stronger
I am hardier than my sister.
subsisted
maintain/support oneself
Homeless people subsist on food donations.
conjecture
conclusion from incomplete information
The theory that white rocks in Yosemite are part of an alien spaceship is based on conjecture.
dubious
doubtful
I am dubious if the 100 dollar iphone is an original.
contrived
unrealistic/artificially created
The story had an contrived ending.
indispensable
absolutely necessary
She is an indispensable member of the Miller band.
misconception
misunderstanding
It is a common misconception that you can catch a cold if you don’t wear a jacket.
abridge
take away/ reduce
No one can abridge freedom of speech in America.
hardihood
courage
I have the hardihood to stand up for what I believe in.
indignation
anger/dissatisfaction
I cried in indignation at the unfair call the refs made.
pervade
penetrate
The smell of shrimp pervaded the entire house.
ominous
threatening
My mom gave me an ominous look
invincible
undefeatable
comport
agree/behave
My actions do not comport with my wishes.
transcend
excel/overtake/go beyond
Giving women the right to vote transcends party membership.
surpass
overtake
annalist
classical writer
stagnant
lack of progress
My height has remained stagnant for a few months.
static
no change
My height has remained static for a few months.
ambivalence
uncertainity/doubtful
I am ambivalent about how this hair color would suit me.
revenue
income
California gets a lot of revenue from property taxes.
console
comfort
I consoled my friend whose dog died last weekend
synopsis
summary
I read the synopsis of the book and decided that it was not my cup of tea.
corroborate
confirm
My friend can corroborate my story
hubbub
noisy/confusing situation
I tried to bring some calmness to the hubbub in the music room.
instigate
begin/initiate
My sister instigated this fight.
obscure
vague/unclear
Even after a lot of studying Newton’s laws are still obscure to me.
sublime
excellence
Mozart’s sublime piano concerts were a treat for all the citizens
encumber
burden/restriction
I do not want to encumber my friend with my problems.
My movement wasd encumbered because of my toe surgery.
provisional
temporary
I got my provisional permit to start driving until my license arrived
tentative
temporary/hesitant
callow
immature
I am very callow 13 year old.
qualm
worry/doubt
I have no qualms about the amount of time I spend watching TV.
misgiving
worry/doubt
My mom has misgivings about the amount of time I spend watching TV.
acumen
sharpness,smartness
My friend has an acumen for selling her used clothes
vigor
strength,energy
My shots have a lot of vigor.
predicament
difficult/embarrasing situation
The incessant lies have gotten Trump into a difficult predicament.
quandary
awkward situation
I was in a quandry about helping my friend or laughing when she fell down.
vaunt
boast
My friend vaunted about her new iphone 11.
covert
secret
The police conducted a covert operation to catch the smugglers
idiosyncrasies
peculiar behaviour
One of Sanah’s idiosyncrasies is to turn on the seat heater at the same time.
transgression
mistake
The principal admonished us that further transgressions will be reported to our parents.
maven
expert
I am a maven at finding new youtube channels to watch
haughty
arrogant
reluctant
unwilling
My mom is reluctant to send me to the mall.
disinclined
unwilling
My mom is not inclined to send me to the mall.
edifice
building
The Trump Hotel is the latest edifice on Michigan Ave. in Chicago.
ruminate
think deeply
I ruminated about what clothes to wear.
ponder
think deeply
I pondered about what clothes to wear.
epoch
era
incumbent
holder of a position/ responsibility
Anika is the incumbet Leadership president
It is incumbent upon my mom to help me study.
memoir
biography
wayfarer
one who travels on foot
There are many shelters in the wilderness for wayfarers.
creditor
Person who gives money/credit
The creditor approved our request for a loan
bridge
commanding station of a ship
castigate
severe reprimand/scolding
I was castigated for performing poorly in the math test.
spurn
reject with disdain
I spurned the birthday invitation of my nemesis
bristle
react angrily
I bristled when my opponent argued that the score was 6-5 to her instead of 5 all.
annoy
mild anger
peddler
door to door salesperson
The peddler convinced us to go solar.
patron
supporter
We are patrons of Panda Express.
troubadour
medieval period singer
plaintiff
person who starts/brings a law suit
The plaintiff argued that the broken fence killed his dog.
tactile
connected with sense of touch
A small tactile act can convey what a thousand words cannot.
imperil
put in danger
jeopardy
in danger
barbell
disks attached to the end of a weightlifting bar
blueprint
design/technical drawing
weary
tired
I was weary after my gym session with Coach Malik.
drudgery
hard labor/work
Sylvia swore that her daughters would not live a life of drudgery.
immune
resistant
obligation
commitment
alibi
offer an excuse
Anvitha is my alibi for December 27 from 6-9 pm.
exonerate
clear someone’s name of wrongdoing
The court exonerated Obama of any wrong doing.
absolve
clear someone’s name of wrongdoing
The court absolved the Obama administration of any wrong doing.
testimonial
formal statement
His testimony proved that Trump was guilty.
endorse
approval
I endorse Ro Khanna for congress
steadfast
loyal
In Anya, I have a steadfast friend.
deceased
dead
docile
submissive
My mom expects us to be docile.
noxious
harmful
Some plants in our backyard are noxious.
debacle
complete failure/fiasco
My baking expedition was a complete debacle.
tempest
violent storm
The skies opened and a tempest erupted.
peeve
annoy/irritate
slander
defame
odyssey
long journey
Alaap’s odyssey from a playful young boy to a professional singer is remarkable
implore
beg someone
I implored my mom to get me a laptop.
trespass
enter someone else’s land without permission
abyss
deep/bottomless
She sank in an abyss of disappointment.
inept
incapable
My mom is inept at drawing.
rue
bitterly regret
I rue the day I decided to get braces.
antidote
something that neutralizes
Laughter is a good antidote to stress.
cogent
logical/convincing
Your argument if very cogent.
discern
recognize/understand
I could not discern anything from this passage.
subversive
rebellious
We were subversive in Ms. Sanford’s class.
incessant
non-stop
I have gotten used to my sister’s incessant chatter.
potable
drinkable
The sparkling lemonade was not potable.
cease
stop
I ceased watching movies in the theater.
nuance
subtle difference
She wore very light makeup but I was able to observe the nuances in her appearance.
tangent
different line of thought
While studing I quickly went off on a tangent on Pura Vida bracelets.
digress
deviate/distract
My mom doesn’t like digressing from the topic while studying.
elusive
difficult to find
I am still working hard to get the elusive trophy.
belligerent
hostile/unfriendly
I had to deal with a group of belligerent 6th graders.
obsolete
out-dated
The flip phone is now obsolete.
impeccable
faultless
She gave an impeccable performance.
circumspect
cautious
My mom is circumspect in her dealings with Mark.
plight
predicament/unfortunate situation
idle
lazy
acrid
pungent
summit
conference
complimentary
free
inhibit
restrict/bound/withdrawn
nascent
young,evolving
abhor
hatred,disgust
sedentary
inactive
accost
approach someone/confront
fabricate
made up/not true
concoct
made up/fabricate
avert
prevent/avoid
arbitrate
decide
reproach
scold in dissappointment/disapproval
pithy
brief
circumspect
careful
effervescent
lively
laconic
brief
reiterate
repeat
inadvertent
accidental
ostracize
exclude
transient
temporary
pensive
thoughtful
plausible
believable
quell
calm/soothe
indulgent
easy-going
ingenious
innovative
discern
detect
botch
failure/wreck
exasperate
irritate/frustrate
allay
diminish/put to rest
subside
become less intense
fetter
handcuffs for the feet
astute
smart
imprudent
not smart
garish
showy
repressed
hold back
abominable
detestable
legion
large
pilfer
swipe
casualty
death
ubiquitous
pervasive/readily available
