Verbal Reasoning Vocab Flashcards
exacerbate
to make worse
syn: worsen, intensify, compound
Ex: The boy exacerbated the situation.
mitigate
to make less severe or painful
syn: extenuate, alleviate, attenuate
Ex: He attempted to mitigate the situation.
naive
- showing lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment
- innocent
syn: innocent, ingenuous, inexperienced
Ex: The rather naive child had been totally misled.
precocious
having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual
syn: advanced, gifted, forward
Ex: He was a precocious little boy.
impecunious
having little or no money
syn: penniless, impoverished, indigent
Ex: The family was titled but impecunious.
assiduous
showing great care and perseverance
syn: diligent, meticulous, sedulous
Ex: She was assiduous in pointing out every feature.
abtsruse
difficult to understand
syn: obscure, arcane, esoteric
Ex: It was an abstruse philosophical inquiry.
adverse
acting against or in contrary
syn: against, contrary
Ex: The vaccine can cause an adverse reaction in some patients.
hortatory
tending or aiming to exhort (strongly encourage someone to do something)
syn: didactic, moralistic, exhortative
Ex: The central bank relied on hortatory messages and voluntary compliance.
dissemble
conceal one’s true motives/feelings/beliefs
syn: dissimulate, ,masquerade, shame
Ex: He was an honest and sincere person, with no need to dissemble.
trifling
unimportant or trivial
syn: inconsequential, unimportant, petty
Ex: He is trifling it away, but no matter.
malign
evil in nature or effect
syn: harmful, slander, inimical
Ex: She had a strong and malign influence.
penchant
a strong or habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something
syn: fondness, partiality, inclination
Ex: He has a penchant for adopting stray dogs.
disseminate
spread throughout
syn: promulgate, disperse, propagate
Ex: Health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information.
banal
lacking in originality (obvious and boring)
syn: trite, hackneyed, cliche
Ex: This has banal and repeated words.
insipid
lacking flavor or interest
syn: bland, vapid, flavorless
Ex: Many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works.
serendipitous
occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way
syn: fortuitous, unexpected, fluky
Ex: It was a serendipitous encounter.
prescient
having or showing a knowledge of events beforehand
syn: clairvoyant, prognostic, foresight
Ex: He gave the people a prescient warning about the storm.
lucrative
producing a great deal of profit
syn: profitable, remunerative, rewarding
Ex: The lady had a lucrative career as a stand-up comedian.
commensurate
corresponding in size or degree, in proportion
syn: proportionate, equivalent, corresponding
Ex: Your salary will be commensurate with your years of experience.
kindred
- one’s family and relations
- similar in kind, related
syn: allied, clan, cognate
Ex: They had books on kindred subjects.
coalesce
come together to form one mass or whole
syn: unite, meld, consolidate
Ex: The puddles had coalesced into shallow streams.
iconoclast
- a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
- a destroyer of images used in religious worship
syn: skeptic, heretic, nonconformist
Ex: He remains an iconoclast even within his own party.
doctrinaire
seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances w/o regard to practical considerations
syn: dogmatic, rigid, uncompromising
Ex: I was a social reformer and doctrinaire first.
heterodox
not conforming w/ accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
syn: blasphemous, heretical, apostate
Ex: But people with heterodox beliefs were not always poor and persecuted.
dogmatic
inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true
syn: opinionated, peremptory, doctrinaire
Ex: He gives his opinion w/o trying to be dogmatic.
prolix
using or containing too many words
syn: lengthy, protracted, interminable
Ex: He found the narrative too prolix and discursive.
ameliorate
make something bad better
syn: mitigate, enhance, amend
Ex: The reform did much to ameliorate living standards.
outmoded
old-fashioned
syn: outdated, obsolete, defunct
Ex: This was an outmoded Victorian building
quotidian
occurring every day
syn: daily, diurnal, conventional
Ex: The car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic.
disparate
essentially different in kind, not allowing comparison
syn: contrasting, heterogeneous, divergent
Ex: They inhabit disparate worlds of thought.
shrewd
having or showing sharp powers of judgment
syn: canny, sharp, astute
The woman was shrew enough to guess the motive behind his gesture.
cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
syn: perfunctory, superficial, halfhearted
Ex: He took a cursory glance at the figures.
herald
- an official messenger bringing news
- a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen
syn: harbinger, indicator, prelude
Ex: They considered the first primroses as the herald of spring
panacea
a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases
syn: cure-all, nostrum, catholicon
Ex: He thought the pill was a panacea for his cancer.
sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation
syn: bullish, buoyant, assured
Ex: He is sanguine about prospects for the global economy.
irresolute
showing or feeling hesitancy
syn: uncertain, tentative, vacillating
Ex: She stood irresolute outside his door.
equivocal
- having 2 or more possible meanings
- not easily understood
- Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something/someone
syn: ambivalent, questionable, ambiguous, dubious
Ex: The evidence that this latest diet really results in lasting weight loss is certainly equivocal.
opulent
rich and luxurious/lavish
syn: wealthy, sumptuous, palatial
Ex: The opulent comfort of a limousine was not foreign to her.
eclectic
deriving ideas, styles, or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources
syn: extensive, wide-ranging, encyclopedic
Ex: Universities offer an eclectic mix of courses.
enigmatic
hard to solve or figure out
syn: arcane, cryptic, uncanny, inscrutable
Ex: The discovery of the abandoned ship in mid-ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history.
bucolic
relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
syn: rustic, pastoral, agrarian, idyllic
Ex: The church is lovely for its bucolic setting.
adroit
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind
syn: adept, dexterous, competent
Ex: He was adroit at tax avoidance.
unpretentious
not attempting to impress others, pleasantly simple
syn: modest, unostentatious, sincere
Ex: He was a friendly and unpretentious person.
spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake
syn: bogus, specious, factitious
Ex: We had to separate the spurious and authentic claims from the witness.
impetus
- force or energy with which a body moves
- the force that makes something happen or happens more quickly
syn: momentum, incitement, propulsion, inducement
Ex: The crisis of 1800 provided the original impetus for the settlements.
vindicate
clear someone of blame or suspicion; prove to be right, reasonable, or justified
syn: acquit, ratify, substantiate
Ex: Hospital staff were vindicated by the inquest verdict.
boon
a thing that is helpful/beneficial
syn: godsend, asset, windfall
Ex: The navigation system will be a boon to both civilian and military users.
hidebound
unwilling/unable to change due to tradition/convention
syn: reactionary, orthodox, diehard, conventional
Ex: You are hidebound by your petty laws.
amiable
having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
syn: affable, amicable, cordial
Ex: He was an amiable, unassuming fellow.
prudent
acting w/ care and thought for the future
syn: wise, judicious, sagacious
Ex: No prudent money manager would authorize a loan w/o first knowing its purpose.
juxtaposition
the fact of 2 things being seen or placed close together w/ contrasting effect
syn: proximity, comparison, collocation
Ex: We analyzed the juxtaposition of these 2 images.
acerbic
sharp style of speaking; tasting sour or bitter
syn: sarcastic, sardonic, scathing
Ex: His acerbic wit got him in trouble often.
premonitory
giving the feeling that something is going to happen, especially something unpleasant
syn: admonishing, cautionary, exemplary, admonitory
Ex: She had a premonitory dream.
temperate
- region w/ mild temp
- showing moderation or self-restraint
syn: clement, agreeable, abstemious
Ex: Charles was temperate in his consumption of both food and drink.
laudatory
expressing praise and commendation
syn: extolling, adulatory, eulogizing
Ex: The news reported enthusiastic and laudatory articles.
provincial
an inhabitant of the regions outside the capital city of a country
syn: rustic, local, yokel, territorial
Ex: A town populated by money-grubbers, philistines, and self-satisfied provincials never prospers.
capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
syn: fickle, mercurial, inconstant, volatile
Ex: It is terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss.
obstinate
stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so
syn: stubborn, willful, intransigent, obdurate
Ex: Her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio made her successful.
abreast
- side by side and facing the same way
- up to date w/ the latest news, ideas, or info
syn: abeam, cheek by jowl, conversant w/, alongside
Ex: The path was long enough for 2 people to walk abreast.
She kept abreast of the developments regarding the new restaurant.
loquacious
talkative
syn: garrulous, voluble, gushing , effusive
Ex: Usually loquacious, Sarah was now at a lost for words.
diffident
modest or shy due to lack of self-confidence
syn: bashful, self-effacing, unpresuming
Ex: We were dealing w/ a diffident youth group today.
taciturnity
trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering more than necessary
syn: reserve, shy, reticence
Ex: If you comment on your best friend’s taciturnity, it means that he is usually very quiet and reserved.
alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
syn: eagerness, ardor, fervor
Ex: She accepted the invitation w/ alacrity.
rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic expression of feeling (highly emotional piece of work)
syn: ecstasy, euphoria, swoon
Ex: The mayor launched into a long rhapsody about his plans for the city.
quandary
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
syn: dilemma, plight, impasse, muddle
Ex: Kate is in a quandary.
zealot
person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
syn: extremist, millitant, bigot
Ex: Zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics.
sycophant
person who acts obsequious (obedient) toward someone important to benefit
syn: flunkey, fawner, toady
Ex: He is high-ranking so he is constantly surrounded by sycophants.
adulator
person who uses flattery
syn: flatterers, crawler, lackey
Ex: “The Glass” newspaper has many detractors, skeptics, and adulators.
mercurial
- someone subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
- containing/from mercury
syn: volatile capricious, temperamental, excitable
Ex: He had a mercurial temperament.
blithe
- showing a casual & cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
- happy or joyous
syn: headless, uncaring, lighthearted, jolly
Ex: He had a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.
phlegmatic
having an unemotional/calm disposition
syn: composed, placid, stolid, equanimous
Ex: He was a phlegmatic British character.
indignant
feeling or showing anger/annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment
syn: resentful, affronted, disgruntled, discontented
Ex: He was indignant at being the object of suspicion.
munificent
larger or more generous than is usually necessary (like a gift or money)
syn: bountiful, magnanimous, philanthropic,
Ex: He made a munificent gesture.
mendacious
Not telling the truth/lying
syn: disingenuous, deceitful dissembling, fictitious
Ex: The government spread mendacious propaganda.
nugatory
Of no value or importance
syn: useless, inconsequential, trivial, trifling, futile
Ex: The teacher shortages will render nugatory the hopes of implementing the new curriculum.
ersatz
Made or used as a substitute for something else (of a product)
syn: artificial, faux, spurious, pseudo
Ex: the driving her food company sells ersatz meat products.
clandestine
Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit (illegal)
syn: covert, surreptitious, furtive, underhand
Ex: She deserves better than these clandestine meetings.
iteration
- Repetition of a process
- The new version of a piece of computer or software
syn: repeating, replication, duplication, restatement
Ex: People are so excited about the next iteration of this product.
solipsistic
very self-centered/selfish
syn: ipseity, narcissists, egocentricity
Ex: Children are very solipsistic by nature.
sophomoric
- conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature
- lacking in maturity, taste, or judgment
syn: adolescent, jejune, puerile, juvenile, immature
Ex: They engaged in a pointless and sophomoric argument.
quixotic
exceedingly idealistic
syn: unrealistic, impractical, romantic, utopian
Ex: It was a vast and perhaps quixotic project.
undue
unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate
syn: extreme, immoderate, fulsome, superfluous
Ex: This figure did not give rise to undue concern.
ran the gauntlet
go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd or experience in order to reach a goal
Ex: They had to run the gauntlet of paparazzi cameras.
ran the gamut
to encompass an entire range of something
Ex: Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to despair.
ape
imitate the behavior or manner of (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way
syn: mimic, parrot, caricature, parody
Ex: New architecture can respect the old without aping its style.
ponderous
- slow and clumsy because of great weight
- dull, laborious, or excessively solemn
syn: clumsy, awkward, lumbering, laborious
cogent
of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing
syn: convincing, potent, weighty, efficacious
Ex: They put forward cogent arguments for British membership.
cabal
a secret political clique or faction
syn: group, coterie, caucus, league
Ex: They discovered a cabal os dissidents.
literati
well-educated individuals (interested in literature)
syn: clerisy, intelligentsia
Ex: In our view, serious books were not just for the literati, but for anyone with a hunger for brilliant writing.
hoi-polloi
the masses; the common people
syn: the commonality, the people, the third estate
Ex: Royalty should avoid mixing with the hoi-polloi.
incendiary
- tending to stir up conflict
2.(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires
syn: combustible, agitator, pyromaniac, provocative
Ex: He had an incendiary reputation which made him unpopular.
parochial
having a limited or narrow outlook or scope
syn: small-minded, provincial, insular, conventional
Ex: This worldview seems incredibly naive and parochial.
dulcet
(especially of sound) sweet and soothing
syn: sweet, mellifluous, euphonious, soothing
Ex: Record the dulcet tones of your family and friends.
urbane
courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man)
syn: suave, debonair, cultivated, glib
Ex: The supposedly urbane, restrained English gentleman was actually very shrewd.
painstaking
done with or employing great care and thoroughness
syn: meticulous, assiduous, sedulous, conscientious
Ex: Her work displayed a painstaking attention to detail.
bane
a cause of great distress or annoyance
syn: scourge, ruination, torture
Ex: The bane of the decorator is the long, narrow hall.
amenable
having or showing willingness to agree or to accept something that is wanted or asked for
syn: disposed, fain, game, inclined
Ex: She said her peers wanted her to bend the rules, but she wasn’t amenable.
pragmatic
dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
syn: practical, expedient, hardheaded, unsentimental
Ex: She had a pragmatic approach to business ethics.
stolid
(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation
syn: impassive, phlegmatic, placid, torpid, calm
Ex: He was a stolid bourgeois gent.
whimsical
- playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way
- acting or behaving in a capricious manner
syn: waggish, eccentric, quirky, capricious
officious
- intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering
- assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters.
syn: self-assertive, bumptious, overzealous
Ex: The security people were very officious.
supersede
to take the place or position of
syn: displant, supplant, replace
Ex: Former stars were being superseded by younger actors.
outstrip
move faster than and overtake (someone else)
syn: outdistance, surpass, eclipse
Ex: During the morning warm-up, he once again outstripped the field.
poultice
a soft usually heated and sometimes medicated mass spread on a cloth and applied to sores or other lesions
syn: cataplasm, dressing, plaster
Ex: Placed a poultice over the infected cut.
foible
a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character
syn: flaw, frailty, idiosyncrasy, shortcoming
Ex: They have to tolerate each other’s little foibles.
aptitude
a natural ability to do something
syn: talent, flair, knack, finesse
Ex: The aptitude of this society to assimilate new elements.
peccadillo
a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
syn: misdemeanor, delinquency, indiscretion
Ex: The sexual peccadilloes of celebrities aren’t necessarily news.
castigate
reprimand (someone) severely
syn: reprimand, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid
Ex: He was castigated for not setting a good example.
peddle
- try to sell (something, especially small items) by going from house to house or place to place
- promote (an unreliable or untrue idea or view)
syn: sell, hawk, tout, champion, preach
Ex: He peddled art and printing materials around the country.
husband
use (resources) economically; conserve
syn: steward, preserve, safeguard
Ex: He felt the need to husband his remaining strength.
procure
obtain (something), especially with care or effort
syn: acquire, secure, purchase
Ex: The food was procured for the rebels.
preternatural
Beyond what is normal or natural
syn: extraordinary, peculiar, inexplicable, remarkable
Ex: Autumn had arrived with preternatural speed.
pithy
Brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning
syn: cogent, concise, laconic, terse
Ex: I was constantly pulling out pithy facts about how we’re not implementing solutions on the necessary scale.
lionize
Give a lot of public attention and approval to; treat as a celebrity
syn: glorify, fete, extol, eulogize
Ex: Modern athletes are lionized.
actuarial
relating to statistical calculation, especially of life expectancy
Ex: The industry wants to include actuarial projections of future losses and the costs of reinsurance in their premiums.
caustic
- Able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action
- Sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
syn: corrosive, sarcastic, alkaline, sardonic
Ex: The players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.
indemnify
- Compensate someone for harm or loss
- Secure someone against legal liability for their actions
syn: reimburse, remunerate, warrant assure
Ex: The amount of insurance that may be carried to indemnify the owner in the event of a loss is available.
paen
a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise
syn: anthem, plaudit, exaltation, encomium
Ex: The author wrote a paean of praise for the great poets.
polemic
Strongly critical attack or controversial opinion about someone or something
syn: hostile, polemical, virulent, waspish
Ex: The history of science has become embroiled in religious polemics
tirade
A long angry speech of criticism or accusation
syn: polemic, denunciation, invective, diatribe
Ex: He endured a tirade of abuse from his boss.
flagging
Becoming tired weaker or less enthusiastic
syn: languish, falter, fade, wane
Ex: If you begin to flag, there is an excellent cafe to revive you.
enervated
- To reduce the mental or moral vigor of
- To lessen the vitality or strength
syn: castrate, dampen, lobotomize, geld
Ex: A lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul.
hale
- Free from defect disease or infirmity (exceptional health)
- to compel to go
syn: hearty, robust, lug, tow
Ex: Still hale and strong at 80, often outdoing his younger golfing buddies.
lissome
Thin, supple, and graceful
syn: lithe, limber, spry, agile
Ex: This is the kind of outfit that should be left to lissome teenagers.
paucity
Smallest/scarcity
syn: dearth, lacuna, deficit, scanty
Ex: For my part, I find increasingly that I miss the simplicity, the almost willful paucity, of the English way of doing things.
medley
A varied mixture of people or things
syn: assortment, miscellany, melange, blend
Ex: The food had an interesting medley of flavors.
overt
Done or shown obviously or publicly, not hidden or secret
syn: apparent, manifest, observable, plain
Ex: They may now also raise unlimited amounts of money to fund such overt political messages.
tacit
Understood or implied without being stated
syn: implicit, insinuated, inferred
Ex: Your silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement.
vicissitude
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
syn: alteration, metamorphosis, transmutation, instability
Ex:
placate
make (someone) less angry or hostile
syn: pacify, appease, conciliate, propitiate
Ex: They attempted to placate the students with promises.
authoritative
- Able to be trusted as being accurate or true
- Commanding and self-confident
syn: reliable, accredited, magisterial, dogmatic
Ex: His voice was calm and authoritative.
tepid
- slightly warm
- unenthusiastic
syn: chambre, apathetic, perfunctory
Ex: The applause from the audience was tepid.
emaciated
very thin and feeble especially from lack of nutrition or illness
syn: cadaverous, gaunt, haggard, skeletal
Ex: The bird, emaciated and weak, was unable to recover.
prodigious
- impressively great in extent, size, or degree
- unnatural or abnormal
syn: huge, mammoth, monstrous, grotesque
Ex: The stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel.
flippant
Lacking appropriate respect or seriousness
syn: frivolous, glib, insouciant, impudent
Ex: The student made flippant remarks to his professor.
ostentatious
designed to impress or attract notice
syn: flamboyant, obtrusive, pretentious, garish
Ex: These are books that people buy and display ostentatiously but never actually finish.
aplomb
Self-confidence or assurance especially when in a demanding situation
syn: poise, collectedness, sangfroid, equanimity
Ex: Diana passed the test with aplomb.
esteem
Respect and admiration
syn: estimation, approbation, veneration
Ex: He was held in high esteem by his colleagues.
derision
Disapproving ridicule or mockery
syn: jeering, scoffing, denigration
Ex: My stories were greeted with derision and disbelief.
contemptuous
Feeling or expressing deep hatred or disapproval
syn: abhorrent, disdainful, scornful
Ex: People who are more contemptuous of that system or much more interesting to me.
stentorian
Loud and powerful (voice)
syn: booming, blaring, deafening, resonant
Ex: He introduced me to the staff with a stentorian announcement.
felicitous
Well-chosen/pleasing and fortunate
syn: pertinent, congruous, favorable, apt
Ex: The room was the only felicitous feature.
poignant
- Painfully affecting the feelings
- Pleasurably stimulating
- Pungently pervasive
syn: affecting, impactful, emotional, stirring
Ex: The photo was a poignant reminder of her childhood.
vociferous
vehement or clamorous (of a person or speech)
syn: forthright, frank, vigorous, strident
Ex: He was a vociferous opponent of the takeover.
dispassion
Being unemotional or emotionally involved
syn: detachment, disinterest, impartiality, objectivity
Ex: This dispassion, so difficult to reach, at last extends over all world forms.
trepidation
A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
syn: apprehension, misgivings, foreboding, perturbation
Ex: The man set off in fear and trepidation.
aberration
A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome
syn: anomaly, digression, eccentricity, deviation
Ex: They described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration.
confounding
Causing surprise or confusion in someone, especially by acting against their expectations
syn: defeat, astonish, dumbfound, perplex
Ex: The inflation figure confounded economic analysts.
incorrigible
Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed
syn: inveterate, habitual, irredeemable, intractable
Ex: He’s an incorrigible liar.
revile
Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner
syn: denounce, condemn, stigmatize, defame
Ex: He was now reviled by the party he had helped to lead.
florid
- Having a red or flushed complexion
- Elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated
syn: sanguine, rubescent, ornate, embellished
Ex: He was a stout man with a florid face.
indelible
Not able to be forgotten or removed
syn: ineradicable, ineffaceable, ingrained
Ex: His story made an indelible impression on me.
concomitant
Naturally accompanying or associated
syn: attendant, related, auxiliary
Ex: She loved to travel, with all its concomitant worries.
frangible
Readily or easily broken
syn: brittle, fragile, breakable, delicate
Ex: Frangible tea cups are totally inappropriate for a child’s birthday party.
truculent
Eager or quick to argue or fight
syn: belligerent, antagonistic, pugnacious, combative
Ex: His days of truculent defiance were over.
unctuous
flattering but in an insincere manner
syn: sycophantic, ingratiating, obsequious
Ex: He seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way.
insular
- Ignorant or uninterested in cultures ideas or people outside one’s own experience
- Relating to or from an island
syn: narrow-minded, blinkered, provincial, parochial
Ex: People live restricted and sometimes insular existences.
perfunctory
Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
syn: cursory, desultory, hasty, indifferent
Ex: He gave a perfunctory nod.
maritnet
Someone who demands exact conformity to rules
syn: disciplinarian, taskmaster, taskmistress
Ex: The woman in charge was a martinet who treated all those beneath her like children.
Gamin
Child who roams the streets
Ex: The gamin Bujold plays the enchanting Coquelicot with whom Bates falls in love.
Cynic
One who destroys human nature
syn: skeptic, incredulity, pessimism
Ex: Public cynicism about change is understandable.
duress
Imprisonment; the use of threats
syn: coercion, intimidation, exaction, compulsion
Ex: His confessions were extracted under duress.
forbear
To not do something
(sometimes spelled the same way) forebear: an ancestor
syn: refrain, abstain, desist, predecessor, progenitor, antecedent
Ex: He modestly forbears to include his own work.
Generations of his forebears have lived in London.
peculate
To steal another’s money or property
syn: embezzle, steal
Ex: No man ever paid a bribe for the handling of the public money, but to peculate from it.
