Vocab Flashcards
passion, excitement
zeal
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
stolid
to lie or deviate from the truth
prevaricate
extreme mental and physical slugishness
torpor
conformity to facts; accuracy
veracity
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
implacable
to prevent; to make unnecessary
obviate
temporary, lasting a brief time
transitory
a mark of shame or discredit
stigma
impartial and honest in speech
candid
silent, reserved, holding something back
reticent
to calm or make less severe
mollify
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
disparate
effective writing or speaking
rhetoric
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
specious
argumentative
cantankerous
excessively decorated or embellished
florid
bright, brilliant, glowing
luminous
the art of public speaking
oratory
overly submissive and eager to please
obsequious
a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
metaphor
someone who shows off learning
pedant
convincing and well-reasoned
cogent
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
eclectic
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
dupe
mixed with foreign matter; adulterated
impure
causing sleep or lethargy
soporific
paper used for letter writing
stationary
to penetrate
permeate
very beautiful
pulchritudinous
intended to delay
dilatory
to overwhelm; to cover with water
inundate
mislead
misguide
to make more bearable
alleviate
prevent from functioning in a normal way; weakened
incapacitated
lacking interest or flavor
insipid
suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief
postulate
affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important
pompous
changing one’s mind quickly and often
capricious
to clear from blame; prove innocent
exculpated
(of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive
sedentary
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
vicissitude
deceit or trickery
guile
deception by means of craft or guile; using sly intelligence to get away with something
chicanery
fresh and clean, uncorrupted
pristine
stubborn, unyielding
obstinate
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
dilettante
lacking sophistication or experience
naive
lofty or grand
sublime
sociable, outgoing
gregarious
to grovel
fawn
honest and innocent
artless
tending to talk a lot
garrulous
great disorder or confusion
chaos
to set right, to free from error
disabuse
to clear from blame
exonerated
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
euphemism
carefree
insouciant
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
decorum
the quality of not expressing genuine feelings
insincerity
to perceive, to recognize
discern
to throw violently or bring about abruptly, lacking deliberation
precipitate
idea held to be true
tenet
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
eloquent
cause (someone) to have a wrong idea or impression about someone or something
misleading
a puzzle; a mystery
enigma
dictatorial in one’s opinion
dogmatic
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
dissonance
(v) to give unsparingly
(agj) extremely generous or extravagent
lavish
extremely careful about details
meticulous
to fluctuate between choices
waver
steadily increasing volume or force
crescendo
fearless and daring
audacious
a critical and aggressive speech
diatribe
a situation in which no progress is possible especially because of disagreement; a deadlock
impasse
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
condone
predictable, cliched, boring
banal
cheerful and full of energy
ebullience
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
analogous
harsh, jarring noise
cacophony
wandering and unpredictable
erratic
lack of variation
monotony
to soften; to lessen
mitigate
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
abate
sacred or inviolable
sacrosanct
ancient, old-fashioned
archaic
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
malinger
severe or harsh use of power
draconian
not controversial; undoubtedly true
incontrovertible
to arouse or incite
foment
never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored
inviolable
to soothe or pacify
placate
motionless
quiescent
to make worse
exacerbate
to speak in favor of
advocate
pompous in speech and manner; arrogant
bombastic
to make better; to improve
ameliorate
to combine; to mix together
amalgamate
to disapprove
discountenance
to put a message into code
encrypt
using few words; brief; to the point
laconic
done without using words
tacit
not capable of being disturbed
imperturbable
to copy; to try to equal or excel
emulate
shame or humiliation
ignominy
to evaluate, analyze, or test
assay
to purchase or obtain
annex
charity; a desire or an effort to promote goodness
philanthropy
to dry out thoroughly
desiccate
to provide supporting evidence
corroborate
to support; to prop up
bolster
shock or excite (someone) into taking action
galvanize
easily made angry
irascible
public disgrace
opprobrium
acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
lethargic
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
aggrandize
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high
exorbitant
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
ingenuous
lavish, wasteful
prodigal
to leave secretly
abscond
to decode
decrypt
silent, not talkative
taciturn
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead; avoid telling the truth
equivocate
not fully formed; disorganized
inchoate
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
arbitrate
stubborn
obdurate
to make larger; to expand
dilate
a sorrowful poem or speech
elegy
to express sorrow; to grieve
lament
intense and passionate feeling
ardor
unimportant
trivial
able to speak clearly and expressively
articulate
speech in praise of someone
eulogy
clear and easily understood
lucid
a person who dislikes others
misanthrope
quick to act without thinking
impetuous
something that brings about a change in something else
catalyst
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
explicit
to choose not to do something
abstain
intensely emotional; feverish
fervid
become tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic
flagging
to make impure
adulterate
urgent; requiring immediate action
exigent
excess
plethora
to praise
exalt
learned, scholarly, bookish
erudite
deviation from the common rule or from what is normal
anomaly
lasting a short time; short-lived
ephemeral
to annoy or provoke to anger
antagonize
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
whimsical
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
propriety
capable of being shaped
malleable
to reduce in strength
enervate
to make something unpleasant less severe
assuage
known or understood by only a few
esoteric
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
austere
done in a routine way; indifferent
perfunctory
effectiveness
efficacy
to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
dissemble
harmless
innocuous
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
desultory
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
dirge
admirable
estimable
concerning the appreciation of beauty
aesthetic
too trusting; gullible
credulous
people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject; experts
cognoscenti
to conciliate; to appease
propitiate
the building in which a legislative body meets
capitol
sharp and irritating to the senses
pungent
to satisfy fully or overindulge
satiate
easily deceived
gullible
practical as opposed to idealistic
pragmatic
to punish or criticize harshly
castigating
open to more than one interpretation; misleading
equivocal
impossible to see through, preventing the passage of light
opaque
undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution
subvert
to increase in number quickly
proliferate
respect, courtesy
deference
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
onerous
lacking self-confidence
diffident
to sway physically; to be indecisive
vacillate
talkative
loquacious
excessive showiness
ostentation
spokesperson
prolocutor
of a similar kind
homogeneous
lack of interest or emotion
apathy
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
fanatical
to make thinner or sparser
rarefy
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
intransigent
the complete loss or absence of hope
despair
model of excellence or perfection
paragon
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
attenuate
shun; eschew
repudiate
a contradiction or dilemma
paradox
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
impervious
hostile, unfriendly
inimical
willing to betray one’s trust
perfidious
seizing property
confiscatory
an extremely deep hole
abyss
to produce, cause, or bring about
engender
biting in wit
caustic
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
frugality
to stop up; to prevent the passage of
occlude
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
volatile
something out of place in time
anachronism
take eager advantage of; exploit for one’s own purposes
seize
able to be molded, altered, or bent
plastic
to count, list, or itemize
enumerate
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
chauvinist
derived genetically from one’s parents or ancestors
inherited
doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
ambiguous
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission
grovel
to sympathize
commiserate
a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
dogma
to give praise, to glorify
laud
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
iconoclast
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
tirade
a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion
antipathy
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
deride
intricate and complicated
convoluted
wisdom, caution, or restraint
prudence
optional
discretionary
unclear; hard to make out
unintelligible
aerodynamic
streamlined
the study of the properties of moving air and the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it
aerodynamic
argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner
debating
uncertainty
augmenting
producing many works (in regards to an artist, author, or composer)
prolific
producing many works (in regard to an artist, author, or composer)
prolific
difficult to understand, obscure
abstruse
flawlessness
impeccability
an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
resilience
to be sweet or pleasing
euphonic
health-giving
salubrious
publicly criticized by using ridicule
lampooned
mock; dismissive language or behavior
ridiculed
the action of making something accessible to everyone
democratization
trivial; worthless
picayne
cause to feel angry or excited
rouse
hyperactive or difficult to control
restive
continue to have (something); to keep in possession of
retain
of a crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else
pivotal
a lack of taste
gaudiness
humorous in a playful, mischievous or facetious manner
waggish
showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor
witty
(especially of a person or speech) who is passionate and loud
vociferous
advertised
touted
a place or building where things are or may be stored
repository
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring
perennial
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand
obtuse
exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way
tyrannical
denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace
venial
hard to control or deal with
intractable
understood by a few; mysterious or secret
arcane
difficult to understand; uncertain
obscure
obvious
pronounced
(of a quality or result) achieved or maintained by careful and deliberate effort
studied
not thorough or detailed
cursory
a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something
deterrent
random
arbitrary
not applied
waved
reduced
commuted
not fitting a pattern
anomalous
relevant
germane
sending someone or something to complete an action for a purpose
dispatch
quickly completing an action
celerity
untidy especially in the way someone is dressed
sloveliness
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
bellicose
willing to please others; obliging; agreeable
complaisant
to be hesitant, not firm
flimsy
obscure
cloud
distort, misrepresent, exaggerate
color
practicing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior
puritanical
to take being proper to an exaggerated or ridiculous degree
prudish
hidden; undercover
covert
boring or ordinary
mundane
minor or trivial
petty
accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant
inured
irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with
extraneous
mournful
lugubrious
sad
melancholy
make or become definite and clear; understanding
crystallize
something wavering and uncertain
ambivalent
discovered by an experiment or experience
empirical
overdone
overwrought
not relating to the main or most important part
peripheral
playful or humorous
jocose
hate
abhor
narrow-minded, prejudiced person
bigot
fake; false
counterfeit
give voting rights
enfranchise
hinder; obstruct
hamper
create difficulties for (someone or something)
hinder
to start a fire
kindle
harmful; poisonous; lethal
noxious
calm; peaceful
placid
payment for work done
remuneration
lucky charm
talisman
rough; coarse; harsh
abrasive
cheat; defraud
bilk
storage area (like garage) for a plane
hangar
complex; difficult to solve
knotty
something subtle; a fine shade of meaning
nuance
taking credit for someone else’s writing or ideas
plagiarism
fame
renown
going off the main subject
tangent
humiliation; degradation
abasement
swelling; fluttering; waving
billowing
recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
cower
improve; make better or clearer
enhance
noisy, attacking speech
harangue
a maze
labyrinth
to counter; make unimportant
nullify
petitioner (in court of law)
plaintiff
full
replete
can be touched
tangible
cancel; deny; repeal
abrogate
speech that offends religious sentiments
blasphemy
believable
credible
indicators; bringers of warnings
harbingers
complicated; highly convoluted
labyrinthine
cuddle; snuggle
nuzzle
statement giving strong praise
plaudit
shameful; very bad
reprehensible
slow; late; overdue; delayed
tardy
forgiveness; pardon; release
absolution
obvious
blatant
praiseworthy
creditable
establish firmly in a position
ensconce
hurry; accelerate; rush
hasten
a cut
laceration
can be believed; reasonable
plausible
a respite; postponement of a sentence
reprieve
of little value; gaudy
tawdry
deliberately avoid; abstain from
eschew
damaged; destroyed; ruined
blighted
cover
enshroud
arrogance; pride
haughtiness
tearful; sad
lachrymose
deliberately make something difficult to understand
obfuscate
boredom
tedium
self-denying; refraining from indulging
abstemious
free-spirited; carefree
blithe
active at dawn and dusk
crepuscular
clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
enunciation
stubborn; willful
headstrong
dull; monotonous; bland
lackluster
unbiased; not subjective
objective
flexible; not stubborn
pliable
retract; repeal
rescind
to moderate; soften
temper
(n) 1. ancient weapon (type of gun)
2. a clumsy person
blunderbuss
recoil; flinch; shy away
cringe
to cause bitterness and bad feeling
envenom
self indulgence; pleasure-seeking
hedonism
indirect; slanting
oblique
feathers of a bird
plumage
acceptance of fate
resignation
stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose
tenacious
tribute; honor; praise
accolade
puzzling; enigmatic
cryptic
a pleasure seeker
hedonist
expression of regret or sorrow
lamentation
destroy; demolish; eradicate
obliterate
fall suddenly and steeply
plummet
determination
resolution
not certain
tentative
to agree to; give in to
acquiesce
cut short
curtail
someone who appreciates good food and drinks
epicure
listen to
heed
totally unaware
oblivious
raised platform
podium
echoing
resonant
flimsy; not solid
tenuous
sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
acrid
ill-mannered
boorish
believing that people act only out of selfish motives
cynical
a letter (form of communication)
epistle
against orthodox opinion
heresy
spear; spike; javelin
lance
deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions
poignant
a break; intermission
respite
concise; to the point
terse
fear of heights
acrophobia
middle class
bourgeois
weakness; incapacity
debility
concerned with letters; through correspondence
epistolary
interruption; pause
hiatus
tired; slow
languid
hidden; covered; buried
obscured
calm; collected; self-possessed
poised
shining; glowing
resplendent
medicinal; curative
therapeutic
sharpness (mental or visual)
acuity
someone who boasts
braggart
exposing false claims or myths
debunking
typified; characterized; personified
epitomized
rigid in opinions
hidebound
decay; fade away; get weaker
languish
causing debate or argument
polemical
a tonic
restorative
a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being
tonic
prevent; frustrate
thwart
forceful; inflexible
adament
muscular
brawny
an athletic competition with ten events
decathlon
(n) 1. picture writing
2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic
hieroglyphics
theft; robbery; stealing
larcery
a dominating concern
obsession
weighty; slow and heavy
ponderous
preservation; withholding
retention
cowardly; fearful
timorous
skillful
adroit
being brief
brevity
make a mistake
err
obstruct
hinder
no longer valid
obsolete
peak pompously or dogmatically
pontificate
generosity
largess
strong admiration; worship
adulation
to show irritation
bristle
lure; trap; trick
decoy
theatrical; exaggerated
histrionic
noisy and boisterous
obstreperous
foretell (predict the future)
portend
withdrawal; cancellation of a statement
retraction
giggle quietly
titter
hardship
adversity
start to discuss; approach
broach
old
hoary
a warning sign; omen
portent
worship
revere
large book
tome
blunt; abrupt
brusque
cause leaves to fall off
defoliate
promote; take up; support
espouse
sharpen; increase; whet
hone
to sharpen a blade of a weapon or tool
whet
careless; not strict
lax
someone who puts on an act
poseur
full of (usually full of holes)
riddled
inactive; lazy; stagnant
torpid
fortification; barricade; wall
bulwark
no longer in existence
defunct
the study of word origins
etymology
grossly exaggerated speech
hyperbole
hateful
odious
future generations
posterity
common
rife
friendly; social; easygoing
affable
officialdom
bureaucracy
deprivation; poverty; debasement
degradation
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
hypochondriac
in large numbers
legion
domineering; intrusive meddlesome
officious
after death
posthumous
thoroughness
rigor
walk unsteadily
totter
eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness
alacrity
grow; flourish; put forth new shoots
burgeon
harmful
deleterious
insincere
hypocritical
stare at; observe in an obvious manner
ogle
strong; healthy; tough
robust
obedient; dutiful; polite
tractable
medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold
alchemy
polish
burnish
to think over deeply
deliberate
pleasant sounds
euphony
flippancy; joking about serious matters
levity
concerned with the sense of smell
olfactory
suitable for drinking
potable
round
rotund
peaceful
tranquil
an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene
alibi
strengtthen; support
buttress
demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining
delineation
vacate; empty; abandon
evacuate
a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual
idiosyncrasy
someone who opposes tyranny
libertarian
threatening
ominous
powerful; compelling; strong
potent
think over something; ponder
ruminate
think over something; ponder
ruminatecopy
copy
transcribe
to lessen
allay
the line that tells you who wrote an article
byline
hesitate; refuse
demur
shameful
ignominious
soothing lotion
liniment
all-powerful
omnipotent
trick
ruse
go astray; disobey; commit a sin
transgress
condemn; speak out against
denounce
frustrated; annoyed
exasperated
flexible; supple
lithe
all-knowing
omnicient
practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness
pragmatist
falsely sweet
saccharin
