Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Vocab > Vocab > Flashcards

Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

Disinterested

A

Unbiased, neutral

The jury consisted only of disinterested members.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Venality

A

Being open or susceptible to bribes or corruption

Even sacred sports events are open to venality, with officials accepting bribes to make biased calls.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Prodigal

A

Extravagant - in a wasteful way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Impertinent

A

Being disrespectful; improperly forward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Belie

A

To misrepresent, give a false representation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Amorphous

A

Shapeless

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Profligate

A

Spending resources extravagantly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Cupidity

A

Greed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Truculence

A

Belligerence, aggressive, quick to argue or fight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Braggadocio

A

Boastful or arrogant behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Inimical

A

Harmful, damaging. Or unfriendly hostile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Probing

A

Examining, exploring, investigating

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Polemical

A

Strongly critical, controversial or disputatious writing or speech

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Anachronism

A

A thing belonging to a period other than that in which it exists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Hew

A

Conform or adhere to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Catering

A

You can only cater to a person (not a thing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Equivocal

A

Open to more than one interpretation, ambiguous :: uncertain or questionable in nature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Sacerdotal

A

Priestly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Unambiguous

A

Not open to more than one interpretation - clear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Incontrovertible

A

Indisputable, undeniable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Diminutive

A

Small

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Ebullient

A

Cheerful, joyful

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Dysphoria, dyspeptic

A

Profound depression, anxiety

Opposite of euphoria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Redress

A

Remedy or set right; remedy or compensate for a wrong doing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Mavericks

A

Nonconformists known for revolutionary ideas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Doyenne

A

Woman holding senior position in her field

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Consigliere

A

Advisors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Potentate

A

Ruler with absolute power (monarch, etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Pugilists

A

Boxers, fighters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Antithetical

A

Directly contrasted to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Ingratiating

A

Intending to gain approval or favor, sycophantic

An ingratiating manner

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Base

A

Ignoble, without moral principles, unscrupulous, dishonest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Aboveboard

A

Legitimate, honest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Taciturn

A

Untalkative, reticent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Divine

A

Predict, foretell, guess/surmise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Effect (verb and noun)

A

To bring about, realize something (verb)

Result or consequence of an action or other course (noun)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Forsake

A

Abandon (someone or something)

Renounce or give up something valued

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Implacable

A

Unable to placated - unappeasable, unforgiving

Relentless or unstoppable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Stolid

A

Person who is calm, dependable, shows little emotion - impassive, phlegmatic unemotional, cool

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Phlegmatic

A

Unemotional, calm, cool

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Debonair

A

Confident, stylish, charming

Suave, sophisticated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Intransigent

A

Unwilling or refusing to change ones views or to agree to something
Uncompromising, inflexible, unbending

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Umbrage

A

Annoyance, offense (take offense)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Dander

A

Lose one’s temper (noun)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Repast

A

Feast, meal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Torrid

A

Hot and dry
Or
Full of difficulty and tribulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Provenance

A

The place of origin or earliest known history (origin), the beginning of somethings existence, a record of ownership

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Inferring

A

Burying a corpse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Thrills

A

Sudden feeling of excitement or pleasure (noun)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Vicarious

A

Experience something secondhand - through somebody else

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Genial

A

Happy, friendly, cheerful, pleasant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Immutable

A

Fixed, not changing

53
Q

Indulgent

A

Overly favorable

54
Q

Fastidious

A

Meticulous - overly focused on minor details

55
Q

Trenchant

A

Incisive and sharp commentary

56
Q

Poignant

A

Touching and emotional, evoking a sense of sadness or regret

57
Q

Disambiguate

A

Make clear

58
Q

Nettlesome

A

Causing annoyance or difficulty

Complicated and nettlesome regional disputes

59
Q

Countermand

A

Revoke an order - to repeal something

Rescind, reverse, undo

60
Q

Reticent

A

Not revealing ones thoughts or feelings

Reserved, withdrawn, diffident, shy

61
Q

Nadir

A

Lowest point

62
Q

Apogee

A

High point, climax or culmination

63
Q

Chauvinist

A

Elitist

64
Q

Philistine

A

Treats arts derisively, hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them

65
Q

Inquisitor

A

Someone who aggressively asks questions

66
Q

Staid

A

Boring and dull, quiet and serious

67
Q

Boorishness

A

Rough and bad-mannered, coarser uncouth, rude

68
Q

Diffidence

A

Shyness, resulting from lack of self-confidence

69
Q

Dialectical

A

Relating to the Logical discussion of ideas and opinions (dialectical ingenuity)

Concerned with or acting through opposing forces (a dialectical opposition between social convention and individual libertarianism)

70
Q

Lithe

A

Thin, supple, graceful, agile, lithesome

71
Q

Panacea

A

A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases ; a cure-all or universal cure, elixir

The panacea for all corporate ills / a panacea for the country’s economic problems.

72
Q

Philippic

A

A bitter attack or denunciation, especially a verbal one; tirade/diatribe/harangue

No publisher wanted to touch his scathing philippic.

73
Q

Paean

A

A song of praise; a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise

His books are paeans to combat

74
Q

Crescendo

A

Apex, acme, apogee

75
Q

Hale

A

Strong and healthy (person)

Healthy, fit, vigorous

76
Q

Lissome

A

Thin, supple and graceful - same as liithe

77
Q

Flagging

A

Indicate, identify

Draw attention to

Direct someone

78
Q

Deify

A

Worship, revere someone, treat them like a god, venerate

She was deified by the early Romans.

79
Q

Aver

A

State or assert to be the case

He averred that he was innocent of the allegations

80
Q

Probity

A

The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency

financial probity

81
Q

Leniency

A

The fact or quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected; clemancy

82
Q

Quixotic

A

Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

A vast and perhaps quixotic project

83
Q

Pithy

A

Concise and forcefully expressive; concise, Terse, epigrammatic

84
Q

Insidious

A

Treacherous, crafty

Proceeding in a gradual way with harmful effects
Stealthy, surreptitious, sly, underhanded

The insidious bond between big money and political decisions

85
Q

Vicissitude

A

A change of circumstances or fortune; reversal, change alteration

A change between opposite or contrasting things
The vicissitude of the seasons

86
Q

Munificent

A

Generous

87
Q

Ersatz

A

Fake

88
Q

Negatory

A

Without value

89
Q

Mimetic

A

Copying

90
Q

Mendacious

A

Lying

91
Q

Solipsism/solipsistic

A

Theory that only the self exists or can be known to exist // figuratively means super selfish (like a newborn baby)

92
Q

Ape

A

Mimic or copy

93
Q

Facile

A

Simplistic and superficial

Effortless or easy (he achieved a facile victory)

94
Q

Parochial

A

Narrow-minded; having a limited or narrow outlook or scope

His worldview seems incredibly naive and parochial

95
Q

Ambivalent and equivocal

A

Mixed feelings, not totally clear

96
Q

Ambiguous

A

Unclear, describes a situation or statement. Not really a person.

97
Q

Outstrip; overtake

A

Physically passing something

98
Q

Supersede

A

A more figurative word, mean to take over. Not physical

99
Q

Affected vs effected

A

Influenced vs bring/brought about

100
Q

Malign

A

Harmful (influence); evil in nature or effect; malevolent (adj)

Verb - speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner - defame, slander

101
Q

Indignant

A

Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived a unfair treatment; resentful, aggrieved, disgruntled

He was indignant at being the object of suspicion

102
Q

Ingenuity

A

Quality of being clever, original and inventive; inventiveness, creativity

103
Q

Sophomoric

A

Pretentious or juvenile, of or relating to being a sophomore.

Being immature or lacking judgement - sophomoric behavior

104
Q

Undue

A

Unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate

Excessive, immoderate

105
Q

Ponderous

A

Slow and clumsy because of great weight

Dull, laborious or excessively solemn (labored, awkward. Stilted)

106
Q

Cabal

A

Secret political clique or faction

107
Q

Cogent

A

Of an argument or case - clear, logical, convincing. Compelling, strong, etc.

Pertinent or relevant

108
Q

Incendiary

A

Combustible, flammable

Tending to stir up conflict, inflammatory ( incendiary rhetoric)

Very exciting

109
Q

Dulcet

A

Sweet and soothing. Mellow.

110
Q

Urbane

A

Suave, courteous, debonair, sophisticated

111
Q

Baneful

A

Noxious, deleterious, harmful

112
Q

Stolid

A

Calm, dependable, unemotional placid

113
Q

Officious

A

Assertive of authority in an annoying way

Intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering, meddlesome

An officious bystander

114
Q

Poultice

A

Medical dressing

115
Q

Foibles

A

Weakness, shortcoming, limitation, peccadilloes

116
Q

Peccadillo

A

Small mistake or fault, that isn’t too serious, petty offense, indiscretion

117
Q

Mores

A

Customs, convention, way of life

118
Q

Sangfroid

A

Complete, equanimity, equilibrium

119
Q

Protean

A

Like a prototype, not fully formed or realistic

120
Q

faux naif

A

naive

121
Q

dyed in the wool

A

unwilling to change

122
Q

callow

A

inexperienced, immature, unsophisticated

123
Q

portentous

A

1) ominous, warning, threatening
the envelop and it’s portentous contents

2) done in an overly pompous manner to impress
pompous, bombastic
the author’s portentous dialogue

124
Q

purblind

A

having impaired or defective vision

i. e. myopic
i. e. lacking in vision, understanding or insight (obtuse)

slow or unable to understanding (dimwitted)

125
Q

Astigmatic

A 
visually impaired (actual condition of astigmatism)
showing incapacity for observation or discrimination
126
Q

meretricious

A

attractive in a cheap or false way
-something that’s attractive but has no actual value
worthless, cheap, tawdry

the meretricious souvenirs

127
Q

lascvivious

A

feeling or showing sexual desire
usually it’s offensive
lecherous, lewd, licentious, lustful, libidinous, salacious

128
Q

prim

A 
super formal and respectable
feeling or showing disapproval of anything not proper
demure, proper, straight-laced
wasps
prim and proper lady!
129
Q

impugn

A

dispute the truth, validity of a statement
call into question
challenge

Vocab (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions