Vocab Junkie - Set 1 Flashcards

Learn this group of tough but common English vocab words - in chunks of 10 at a time. Just rate your confidence on each word, and it will repeat in an interval of time optimized for your brain's maximum retention.

1
Q

Define:

odium

(oh-dee-um)

A

n. blame

n. strong dislike

The popular odium of attorneys is often unmerited.

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2
Q

Define:

officious

(uh-fish-us)

A

adj. assertive of authority in a domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters

adj. prone to give unwanted advice

The security people at the concert were very officious.

I make a habit of giving honest opinions, but I try to avoid being officious with my friends.

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3
Q

Define:

opaque

(owe-peyk)

A

adj. blocking all light

adj. hard to understand

The windows became so dirty they were almost opaque.

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4
Q

Define:

opportune

(opp-er-tune)

A

adj. happening under fitting circumstances

The students waited for an opportune moment to surprise their teacher with the bouquet of flowers they had prepared.

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5
Q

Define:

superfluous

(suh-per-flu-us)

A

adj. more than necessary; unnecessary

The student’s essay was full of superfluous phrases that needed to be deleted.

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6
Q

Define:

supersede

(sue-per-seed)

A

v. to substitute; to take precedence over

It had been my understanding that the new tax code supersedes the old one, but actually both are in vigor simultaneously.

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7
Q

Define:

supplant

(suh-plant)

A

v. to replace

The higher-ups tried to supplant rebellious teachers with conformists.

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8
Q

Define:

supplicate

(sup-lih-kate)

A

v. to humbly ask

The churchgoers then bowed their heads and supplicated God to answer their prayers.

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9
Q

Define:

surmount

(ser-mount)

A

v. to overcome

v. to rise above

Through sheer determination, he was able to surmount his disadvantages and win the contest outright.

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10
Q

Define:

surreptitious

(ser-up-tish-us)

A

adj. secretive

Since they were not allowed to speak, the couple exchanged surreptitious glances from across the room.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. blame

n. strong dislike

A

odium

(oh-dee-um)

synonyms: shame, dishonor; disgust, detestation

She faced intense odium from the community for her controversial decision, deemed unjust and poorly thought out.

His actions sparked widespread odium due to his betrayal, creating deep animosity among friends.

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. prone to give unwanted advice

A

officious

(uh-fish-us)

synonyms: forward, meddlesome

Her officious comments on project management were well-meaning but often unwelcome.

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. blocking all light

adj. hard to understand

A

opaque

(owe-peyk)

synonyms: blurred, darkened, lusterless; baffling, cryptic

The opaque curtains in the room prevented any light from coming through, creating a dark and gloomy atmosphere inside.

The professor’s opaque explanations left many students confused, as the complex theories were difficult to grasp.

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. happening under fitting circumstances

A

opportune

(opp-er-tune)

synonyms: advantageous, favorable

The team’s decision to launch their product during the holiday season proved to be opportune, as demand surged with festive shoppers.

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. more than necessary; unnecessary

A

superfluous

(suh-per-flu-us)

synonyms: extra, excessive, overdone

The report was filled with superfluous details that distracted from the main points, making it harder for readers to grasp the essential information.

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to substitute; to take precedence over

A

supersede

(sue-per-seed)

synonyms: usurp, succeed

The new policy will supersede the outdated guidelines, providing a more effective framework for the organization.

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to replace

A

supplant

(suh-plant)

synonyms: substitute, usurp

Many technologies have supplanted traditional methods, transforming the way we communicate and access information.

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to ask humbly

A

supplicate

(sup-lih-kate)

synonyms: ask, pray for, desire

During the meeting, she chose to supplicate for assistance, humbly requesting support from her colleagues in completing the project.

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to overcome

v. to rise above

A

surmount

(ser-mount)

synonyms: vanquish, transcend

Despite numerous obstacles, the team managed to surmount the challenges and successfully completed the project on time.

Her ability to surmount personal difficulties and maintain a positive outlook inspired everyone around her.

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. secretive

A

surreptitious

(ser-up-tish-us)

synonyms: sneaky, secret, covert

The agent’s surreptitious movements through the building were designed to avoid detection and ensure the success of the covert operation.

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21
Q

Define:

symbiotic

(sim-bee-ott-ik)

A

adj. related to a relationship that is beneficial for all involved

The whale and the small fish that cling to its body have a symbiotic relationship.

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22
Q

Define:

synapse

(sin-apse)

A

n. the small gap between the cells of nerves

Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse between brain cells.

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23
Q

Define:

synchronous

(sing-kruh-nuss)

A

adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate

The film was notable for its synchronous premiere in 11 capital cities around the globe.

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24
Q

Define:

tacit

(tass-it)

A

adj. implied or unspoken

There was a tacit agreement between the two companies that neither would expand into the other’s city.

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25
Q

Define:

taciturn

(tass-ih-turn)

A

adj. tending to be silent; quiet

Some of the students were quite taciturn and had to be asked to participate more.

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26
Q

Define:

exacerbate

(ig-zass-er-bate)

A

v. to make worse

The children’s screaming exacerbated their father’s headache.

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27
Q

Define:

exact

(ig-zact)

A

v. to forcibly demand and obtain

The detectives finally exacted the truth from the witness.

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28
Q

Define:

exculpate

(ek-skull-pate)

A

v. to free from blame

The political prisoner was fully exculpated only when the dictatorship was overthrown and an independent truth commission established.

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28
Q

Define:

exhort

(ig-zort)

A

v. to urge by strong appeal

Taking the loudspeaker in her hand, the policewoman exhorted the kidnapper to release his hostage.

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29
Q

Define:

exigent

(ek-suh-djunt)

A

adj. requiring immediate attention

The show’s run was cut short by an exigent lack of funds.

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30
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to a relationship that is beneficial for all involved

A

symbiotic

(sim-bee-ott-ik)

synonyms: coactive, harmonious, joining

The relationship between the bee and the flower is symbiotic; the bee gains nectar while helping the flower with pollination.

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the small gap between the cells of nerves

A

synapse

(sin-apse)

synonyms: break, gap, divide

The transmission of nerve impulses occurs at the synapse, where chemical signals bridge the small gap between neurons.

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate

A

synchronous

(sing-kruh-nuss)

synonyms: concurrent, simultaneous

The dancers performed their routine with synchronous precision, moving in perfect harmony and at the same tempo.

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. implied or unspoken

A

tacit

(tass-it)

synonyms: suggested, unsaid, understood

Although no words were exchanged, there was a tacit understanding between the two friends that they would support each other through any challenge.

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. tending to be silent; quiet

A

taciturn

(tass-ih-turn)

synonyms: aloof, silent, mum

Despite his intelligence, his taciturn nature often led others to misinterpret him as unfriendly or disinterested.

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make worse

A

exacerbate

(ig-zass-er-bate)

synonyms: intensify, worsen

Failing to address the underlying issues will only exacerbate the situation, leading to more significant problems down the line.

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to demand, to require

A

exact

(ig-zact)

synonyms: claim, take

The project manager had to exact strict compliance with the safety regulations to ensure the well-being of all workers on the site.

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to urge by strong appeal

A

exhort

(ig-zort)

synonyms: warn, beseech

The coach would exhort his players to give their best effort, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and dedication.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to free from blame

A

exculpate

(ek-skull-pate)

synonyms: forgive, excuse

The new evidence served to exculpate the defendant, proving that he was not at the scene of the crime.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. requiring immediate attention

A

exigent

(ek-suh-djunt)

synonyms: urgent, pressing

The patient’s exigent condition required the doctors to act quickly in order to save his life.

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39
Q

Define:

exonerate

(ig-zawn-ih-rate)

A

v. to clear of blame or guilt

Though the defendant had clearly done something wrong, the court had no choice but to exonerate her on the present charges.

40
Q

Define:

expedient

(ek-spee-dee-unt)

A

adj. beneficial for one’s goal

n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem

The politician tended to bring up his humble origins when it was politically expedient.

41
Q

Define:

expedite

(ek-spuh-dahyt)

A

v. to speed up

For an extra fee, the post office can expedite your package’s delivery.

42
Q

Define:

expiate

(ek-spee-ate)

A

v. to atone for wrongdoing

After destroying his friend’s car, Jim hoped the fruit basket he sent would expiate his guilt.

43
Q

Define:

extemporaneous

(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)

A

adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed

To be a news anchor, she would have to improve her extemporaneous speaking skills.

44
Q

Define:

extol

(ik-stole)

A

v. to praise

Melinda was often heard extolling her daughter’s many talents.

45
Q

Define:

extrapolate

(ek-strap-ih-late)

A

v. to make a guess based on facts

Pete figured it was possible to extrapolate her personality from her Facebook profile.

46
Q

Define:

extricate

(ek-strih-kate)

A

v. to disentangle, to break free from

It was heartbreaking to watch the butterfly struggle in vain to extricate itself from the spider web.

47
Q

Define:

churl

(churl)

A

n. a rude person

n. a cheap person

I had been waiting in line for hours when some churl tried to cut in front of me.

48
Q

Define:

circuitous

(sir-cue-ih-tuss)

A

adj. roundabout

Because of the traffic accident, we had to take a circuitous route to the bank.

49
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clear of blame or guilt

A

exonerate

(ig-zawn-ih-rate)

synonyms: absolve, acquit, vindicate

The new DNA evidence was able to exonerate the wrongly convicted man, restoring his freedom and reputation.

50
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. beneficial for one’s goal

n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem

A

expedient

(ek-spee-dee-unt)

synonyms: worthwhile, advantageous; means

To maximize their profits, the company found it expedient to cut costs by streamlining their operations.

When the main power source failed, the team had to devise an expedient workaround to keep the project on track.

51
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to speed up

A

expedite

(ek-spuh-dahyt)

synonyms: accelerate, hasten

The manager implemented new procedures to expedite the approval process, ensuring projects moved forward more quickly.

52
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to atone for wrongdoing

A

expiate

(ek-spee-ate)

synonyms: amend, atone

He sought to expiate his mistake by making a public apology and offering to make amends.

53
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed

A

extemporaneous

(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)

synonyms: improvised, impromptu

Her extemporaneous speech was impressive, as she delivered it smoothly without any prior preparation.

54
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to praise

A

extol

(ik-stole)

synonyms: praise, celebrate, laud

The critics extolled the novel for its innovative narrative style and compelling characters.

55
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make a guess based on facts; to conjecture

A

extrapolate

(ek-strap-ih-late)

synonyms: assume, hypothesize

From the current data trends, the researchers were able to extrapolate future sales figures with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

56
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to disentangle, to break free from

A

extricate

(ek-strih-kate)

synonyms: clear, disburden, extract

The manager had to extricate himself from a difficult situation with a difficult client by diplomatically addressing their concerns.

57
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a rude person

n. a cheap person

A

churl

(churl)

synonyms: lout, oaf; miser, peasant

Despite his churl demeanor, the guest at the party was met with patience and courtesy by everyone around him.

His reputation as a churl was well-earned after he repeatedly avoided paying his fair share of the expenses.

58
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. roundabout

A

circuitous

(sir-cue-ih-tuss)

synonyms: indirect, labyrinthine

The circuitous route through the mountains added several hours to their journey, but the scenic views made it worthwhile.

59
Q

Define:

circumscribe

(sir-come-skrahyb)

A

v. to draw or contain in a circle

v. to limit or restrain

I believe our government’s actions are circumscribed by financial interests as well as moral imperatives.

60
Q

Define:

circumspect

(sir-come-spekt)

A

adj. prudent; cautious

Though her mother’s boyfriend attempted to win affection with toys and treats, Elise remained circumspect around him.

61
Q

Define:

circumvent

(sir-kum-vent)

A

v. to get around an obstacle

She managed to circumvent security and approached her favorite actor backstage.

62
Q

Define:

cleave

(kleev)

A

v. to cut off with force

v. to be loyal to

v. to develop an emotional bond with

She vowed that even when tempted she would cleave to her principles.

63
Q

Define:

cloister

(cloy-stur)

A

v. to isolate

n. a place for religious isolation

The boy’s parents tended to cloister him from the harsher realities of the world.

64
Q

Define:

coagulate

(koh-ag-yuh-late)

A

v. to clot or solidify

The poorly-made syrup began to coagulate on the pancakes after a few minutes.

65
Q

Define:

coalesce

(koh-ih-less)

A

v. to come together to form a single unit

Our county’s many poverty initiatives are too different to coalesce into an effective whole.

66
Q

Define:

cogent

(koh-djunt)

A

adj. clear and convincing

adj. relevant

We won the debate because the other team was unable to mount a cogent counterargument.

67
Q

Define:

cohere

(koh-heer)

A

v. to be logically connected to

v. to stick to each other

These short stories are quite charming when taken separately, but they will not cohere if published together as a collection.

68
Q

Define:

intransigent

(in-tran-suh-junt)

A

adj. unwilling to compromise

The government remained intransigent despite the people’s protest.

69
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to draw or contain in a circle

v. to limit or restrain

A

circumscribe

(sir-come-skrahyb)

synonyms: mark off, bound, confine

The committee decided to circumscribe the project’s budget, ensuring that expenses did not exceed their allocated funds.

The artist chose to circumscribe the main figure within a circle, emphasizing its importance in the composition.

70
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. prudent; cautious

A

circumspect

(sir-come-spekt)

synonyms: discreet, guarded

Her circumspect approach to investing ensured that she carefully evaluated all options before making a decision.

71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to get around an obstacle

A

circumvent

(sir-kum-vent)

synonyms: avoid, bypass

To avoid the lengthy construction delay, they decided to circumvent the blocked road by taking a different route.

72
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to cut off with force

v. to be loyal to

v. to develop an emotional bond with

A

cleave

(kleev)

synonyms: divide, split; devote, join; bond, affix

The lumberjack used his axe to cleave the thick log in half with a single powerful swing.

Throughout the challenges they faced, she chose to cleave to her principle.

Over time, the team began to cleave to each other, forming strong emotional bonds.

73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to isolate

n. a place for religious isolation

A

cloister

(cloy-stur)

synonyms: secluded; convent

He chose to cloister himself in his study to focus on his writing.

The monks chose to live in a cloister, dedicating their lives to prayer and contemplation.

74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clot or solidify (for liquids)

A

coagulate

(koh-ag-yuh-late)

synonyms: condense, concrete, thicken

After being exposed to air, the blood began to coagulate, forming a protective clot over the wound.

75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to come together to form a single unit

A

coalesce

(koh-ih-less)

synonyms: adhere, cling

The diverse group of activists managed to coalesce around a common goal, uniting their efforts for social change.

76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. believable

adj. relevant

A

cogent

(koh-djunt)

synonyms: apt, compelling, valid

Her cogent argument convinced the jury, as it was well-researched and clearly presented.

The professor appreciated the student’s cogent points during the discussion, as they directly addressed the topic at hand.

77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to be logically connected to

v. to stick to each other

A

cohere

(koh-heer)

synonyms: adhere, conform

The various sections of her essay cohere effectively, creating a strong overall argument.

The glue was designed to cohere quickly, allowing the materials to bond within minutes.

78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unwilling to compromise

A

intransigent

(in-tran-suh-junt)

synonyms: stubborn, unwilling, bullheaded

The negotiations broke down because both sides were intransigent.

79
Q

Define:

intrepid

(in-trep-id)

A

adj. courageous

The intrepid naturalist routinely braved storms and mudslides to document new species.

80
Q

Define:

intrinsic

(in-trin-zik)

A

adj. related to an object’s essence

Unfortunately, some degree of inefficiency is intrinsic to all democracies.

81
Q

Define:

inure

(in-your)

A

v. to accustom to something negative or unpleasant

Nearby residents soon became inured to the noise from the construction project.

82
Q

Define:

invective

(in-vek-tiv)

A

adj. verbally abusive
n. abusive or stern language

What this debate needs is a little less invective language and a little more substance

83
Q

Define:

irrevocable

(ih-rev-ih-kuh-bull)

A

adj. unable to be revoked; permanent

The laws the king decreed were irrevocable even after he left the throne.

84
Q

Define:

jocular

(jock-yuh-lur)

A

adj. related to jokes

The boy was popular with his classmates due to his cheerful, jocular nature.

85
Q

Define:

kernel

(kur-null)

A

n. the central part of a situation or seed

The kernel of the matter was that she didn’t even know where to begin looking for a new house.

86
Q

Define:

lackluster

(lack-luss-tur)

A

adj. not lively; not bright

Tired from a long day, Susan gave a very lackluster performance during the dress rehearsal.

87
Q

Define:

refractory

(rih-frack-tuh-ree)

A

adj. stubborn; difficult to treat or handle

The doctors did not know how to deal with such a refractory infection.

88
Q

Define:

regiment

(redj-ih-munt)

A

n. a military unit of troops

v. to enforce a strict order or conformity

Four army regiments occupied the city last week.

89
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. courageous

A

intrepid

(in-trep-id)

synonyms: brave, heroic

The intrepid explorer ventured into uncharted territory, undeterred by the dangers that lay ahead.

90
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to an object’s essence

A

intrinsic

(in-trin-zik)

synonyms: basic, inborn, fundamental

The value of the artwork lies in its intrinsic beauty, which captivates viewers regardless of its market price.

91
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to accustom to something negative or unpleasant

A

inure

(in-your)

synonyms: desensitize, familiarize, habituate

After years of living in a bustling city, he became inured to the constant noise and chaos around him.

92
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. verbally abusive

n. abusive or stern language

A

invective

(in-vek-tiv)

synonyms: berating, abuse, denunciation

His invective comments during the debate shocked the audience, as he resorted to personal attacks instead of focusing on the issues.

The speaker’s use of invective against his opponents undermined his credibility and turned the audience against him.

93
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unable to be revoked; permanent

A

irrevocable

(ih-rev-ih-kuh-bull)

synonyms: unchangeable, unalterable

Once the contract was signed, the decision became irrevocable, binding both parties to its terms.

94
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to jokes

A

jocular

(jock-yuh-lur)

synonyms: amusing, campy, jokey

His jocular demeanor made him the life of the party, as he effortlessly kept everyone entertained with his witty remarks.

95
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the central part of a situation or seed

A

kernel

(kur-null)

synonyms: core, crux

The scientist focused on the_ kernel_ of the problem, seeking to understand the fundamental issues at play in the experiment.

96
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. not lively; not bright

A

lackluster

(lack-luss-tur)

synonyms: dull, colorless, muted

His lackluster attitude during the meeting suggested he wasn’t invested in the project’s success.

97
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. stubborn; difficult to treat or handle

A

refractory

(rih-frack-tuh-ree)

synonyms: resistant, immune, unresponsive

The refractory nature of the disease required a specialized treatment plan, as standard medications were ineffective.

98
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a military unit of troops

v. to enforce a strict order or conformity

A

regiment

(redj-ih-munt)

synonyms: military unit, command, designate

The general commanded his regiment with precision, ensuring that every soldier understood their role in the upcoming mission.

The new manager sought to regiment the team’s workflow to enhance productivity.