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Vocab Junkie - Set 2 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:

remonstrate

(rih-mon-strehyt)

A

v. to protest

Many special-interest groups remonstrated against the new legislation.

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2
Q

Define:

remunerate

(rih-mew-nuh-rehyt)

A

v. to compensate monetarily for trouble or work done

Although they finally had to throw the computer out, Linda remunerated her friend for trying to fix it anyway.

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3
Q

Define:

render

(ren-der)

A

v. to take forcibly, result in, or cause to become

v. to do something for someone else

His harsh words rendered her speechless.

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4
Q

Define:

repose

(rih-poze)

A

n. peacefulness, rest

v. to be lying or stationary

In the summer, she would often lie under the willow trees in complete repose.

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5
Q

Define:

repudiate

(rih-pew-dee-ehyt)

A

v. to renounce ownership or disown

v. to refuse to recognize

v. to reject as true

The scientists who discovered the fossil were shocked when it was repudiated as a fake.

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6
Q

Define:

reticent

(rett-ih-sunt)

A

adj. not wanting to talk; reluctant

When asked about the stolen vase, the maid was reticent even though she had seen the thief take it.

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7
Q

Define:

retiring

(rih-tie-ring)

A

adj. shy; quiet

During high school, Mary became so retiring that people sometimes didn’t notice when they shared a class with her.

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8
Q

Define:

revere

(rih-veer)

A

v. to admire greatly; to honor

The mayor was so revered by the village that every single man, woman, and child attended his funeral.

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9
Q

Define:

platitude

(plat-ih-tewd)

A

n. a cliché, dull, or unenlightening saying

My father’s favorite platitude was, “Winners never quit, quitters never win”.

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10
Q

Define:

pliant

(ply-unt)

A

adj. easy to change or bend

adj. easy to convince

The professor needed a particularly pliant mind for his brainwashing experiments.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to protest

A

remonstrate

(rih-mon-strehyt)

synonyms: argue, challenge

The citizens gathered to remonstrate against the proposed legislation.

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to compensate monetarily for trouble or work done

A

remunerate

(rih-mew-nuh-rehyt)

synonyms: compensate, reimburse

The company will remunerate employees for their overtime hours.

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to take forcibly, result in, or cause to become

v. to do something for someone else

A

render

(ren-der)

synonyms: cause, become, execute; carry out, accomplish

The heavy rain will render the roads impassable.

She decided to render assistance to her elderly neighbor.

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. peacefulness

n. rest

A

repose

(rih-poze)

synonyms: rest, lack of work

After a long day, she found repose in the quiet of her garden.

He enjoyed a short repose before continuing his work.

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to renounce ownership or disown

v. to refuse to recognize

v. to reject as true

A

repudiate

(rih-pew-dee-ehyt)

synonyms: reject, decline, disown

She chose to repudiate the claims made against her character.

The government decided to repudiate the treaty after allegations of fraud.

He aimed to repudiate the rumors circulating about his involvement.

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. not wanting to talk; reluctant

A

reticent

(rett-ih-sunt)

synonyms: not talkative, reserved

She was reticent during the meeting, choosing to listen rather than speak.

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. shy; quiet

A

retiring

(rih-tie-ring)

synonyms: bashful, unassuming

His retiring nature made him prefer working behind the scenes.

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to admire greatly; to honor

A

revere

(rih-veer)

synonyms: adore, esteem, value

The community reveres the professor for her dedication to education.

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a cliché, dull, or unenlightening saying

A

platitude

(plat-ih-tewd)

synonyms: banality, cliché

His speech was filled with platitudes that failed to inspire the audience.

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. easy to change or bend

adj. easy to convince

A

pliant

(ply-unt)

synonyms: amenable, compliant, pliable

The pliant branches of the tree swayed gracefully in the wind.

Her pliant nature made her easily swayed by others’ opinions.

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21
Q

Define:

poignant

(poin-yunt)

A

adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful

Watching her daughter wake up was particularly poignant for her mother who had worried by her bedside the whole night.

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22
Q

Define:

polar

(poe-lur)

A

adj. related to opposite extremes or sides

The two were so different their personalities could be considered polar opposites.

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23
Q

Define:

polemic

(puh-lem-ik)

A

adj. controversial

n. a controversial argument

As soon as the graduate student obtained her doctorate, she published a polemic refutation of her mentor’s work.

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24
Q

Define:

ponderous

(pon-dur-us)

A

adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness

adj. requiring a lot of work

The ponderous task was completed in no time, thanks to the large number of volunteers we had.

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25
# Define: portend | (pore-**tend**)
v. to foretell ## Footnote The witch claimed that the stormy weather _portended_ the ruler's downfall.
26
# Define: posit | (**poz-**it)
v. to assume as fact ## Footnote Some physicists _posit_ that the universe will expand forever.
27
# Define: postulate | (**poss**-chuh-lehyt)
v. to assume a basic truth ## Footnote Economic theory _postulates_ limits on essential resources as the basis of human behavior.
28
# Define: bolster | (**bole**-stur)
v. to support ## Footnote The candidate's campaign was _bolstered_ by endorsements by several former military leaders.
29
# Define: bombastic | (bom-**bass**-tick)
adj. inflated, arrogant ## Footnote The _bombastic_ way in which the author described his new novel repulsed me.
30
# Define: brood | (**brewd**)
n. a group of offspring v. to worry over ## Footnote The hen protected her new _brood_ from the farmer's inspection.
31
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
poignant | (**poin**-yunt) ## Footnote synonyms: agonizing, bitter; sharp, keen The film's _poignant_ ending left the audience in tears.
32
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. related to opposite extremes or sides
polar | (**poe**-lur) ## Footnote synonyms: opposite, contrary, counter The debate revealed _polar_ views on the controversial issue.
33
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. controversial n. a controversial argument
polemic | (puh-**lem**-ik) ## Footnote synonyms: refutation, dispute The author's _polemic_ article sparked heated discussions among readers. The _polemic_ stirred intense debate among scholars and critics.
34
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness; or adj. requiring a lot of work
ponderous | (**pon**-dur-us) ## Footnote synonyms: burdensome, unwieldy The _ponderous_ book was too heavy to carry for long. The _ponderous_ task of organizing the archives took several weeks to complete.
35
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to foretell
portend | (pore-**tend**) ## Footnote synonyms: foreshadow, harbinger The dark clouds _portend_ an approaching storm.
36
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to assume as fact
posit | (**poz-**it) ## Footnote synonyms: propose an explanation based upon assumptions, postulate The scientist _posited_ that the results were due to an error in measurement
37
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to assume a basic truth
postulate | (**poss**-chuh-lehyt) ## Footnote synonyms: assert, premise, suppose Researchers _postulate_ that regular exercise improves mental health.
38
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to support
bolster | (**bole**-stur) ## Footnote synonyms: assist, aid, help She used statistics to _bolster_ her argument during the debate.
39
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. inflated, arrogant
bombastic | (bom-**bass**-tick) ## Footnote synonyms: grandiose, egotistical His _bombastic_ speech was filled with grand claims but lacked substance.
40
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a group of offspring v. to worry over
brood | (**brewd**) ## Footnote synonyms: cluster, breed; grieve, dwell upon The mother bird tended to her _brood_, keeping them warm and fed. He tended to _brood_ over his past mistakes, unable to move on.
41
# Define: burgeon | (**burr**-djun)
v. to grow ## Footnote The _burgeoning_ mass of bees was heading straight for the picnic.
42
# Define: exacting | (ig-**zak**-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements adj. requiring great care ## Footnote The _exacting_ professor wanted a 15-page paper due the next day in class.
43
# Define: rebuke | (rih-**byook**)
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply ## Footnote The child was _rebuked_ for stealing candy.
44
# Define: dulcet | (**duhl**-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking ## Footnote The _dulcet_ tone of the musical parody contrasted sharply with its offensive lyrics.
45
# Define: toady | (**toh**-dee)
n. a flatterer, a yes man ## Footnote The president was surrounded by _toadies_ rather than people with honest criticisms.
46
# Define: gall | (**gawl**)
n. audacity, impudence ## Footnote He had the _gall_ to request a raise after it was discovered that he was calling in sick in order to play golf.
47
# Define: cloying | (**kloi**-ing)
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental ## Footnote Unfortunately, _cloying_ romantic comedies are sure box-office hits, and so Hollywood continues to churn them out.
48
# Define: sully | (**suhl**-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of ## Footnote Joe's reputation as an ethical CEO was _sullied_ by his selfish actions during his company's merger.
49
# Define: defile | (dih-**fahyl**)
v. to dirty, spoil, or dishonor v. to violate the chastity of ## Footnote The holy site was unwittingly _defile_ when the invaders, for whom it held no special meaning, used it as a stable.
50
# Define: pithy | (**pith**-ee)
adj. concise and relevant ## Footnote Satya's _pithy_ keynote speech was more enlightening than the endless lectures that had preceded it.
51
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to grow
burgeon | (**burr**-djun) ## Footnote synonyms: blossom, grow, expand The small startup began to _burgeon_ after receiving new funding.
52
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. making severe demands or requirements adj. requiring great care
exacting | (ig-**zak**-ting) ## Footnote synonyms: claim, command; difficult, formidable The _exacting_ professor required meticulous attention to detail in all assignments. The _exacting_ task demanded great care and precision from the team.
53
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
rebuke | (rih-**byook**) ## Footnote synonyms: berate, blame, condemn The manager _rebuked_ the employee for repeatedly missing deadlines.
54
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. pleasant sounding or looking
dulcet | (**duhl**-sit) ## Footnote synonyms: melodious, pleasurable The _dulcet_ tones of the piano filled the room with a soothing atmosphere.
55
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a flatterer, a yes man
toady | (**toh**-dee) ## Footnote synonyms: doter, brownnoser His reputation as a _toady_ made him unpopular among his colleagues.
56
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. audacity, impudence
gall | (**gawl**) ## Footnote synonyms: nerve, brashness She had the _gall_ to question her boss's judgment in front of everyone.
57
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
cloying | (**kloi**-ing) ## Footnote synonyms: cheesy, overly sentimental, sappy The movie's _cloying_ romance was too sentimental for many viewers.
58
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
sully | (**suhl**-ee) ## Footnote synonyms: stain, blot, smear The scandal threatened to _sully_ the company's pristine reputation.
59
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to dirty, spoil, dishonor v. to violate the chastity of
defile | (dih-**fahyl**) ## Footnote synonyms: befoul, besmirch The vandals _defiled_ the historic monument with graffiti. The invasion was seen as an attempt to _defile_ the sanctity of the sacred site.
60
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. concise and relevant
pithy | (**pith**-ee) ## Footnote synonyms: concise, cogent, precise Her _pithy_ remarks during the discussion captured everyone's attention.
61
# Define: slovenly | (**sluhv**-uhn-lee)
adj. untidy, disheveled; unclean in appearance or habits ## Footnote The other dinner guests held the _slovenly_ drunkard in contempt.
62
# Define: onerous | (**oh**-ner-uhs)
adj. causing hardship; burdensome, troublesome ## Footnote The students relished making the teacher's job as _onerous_ as possible.
63
# Define: scourge | (**skurdj**)
n. a plague or cause of affliction ## Footnote The _scourge_ of drugs in American society will be its downfall.
64
# Define: candor | (**kan**-der)
n. the quality of being frank, sincere, or impartial in expression ## Footnote Giorgio was known for his _candor_, so it surprised no one when he began to talk at length about his love life.
65
# Define: boor | (**boor**)
n. a crude, unmannered, or rude person ## Footnote The _boor_ upset everyone at the fancy restaurant.
66
# Define: moribund | (**mawr**-uh-buhnd)
adj. dying, decaying, on the brink of extinction ## Footnote The _moribund_ customs of the indigenous culture are only practiced in a few outlying areas.
67
# Define: pine | (**pahyn**)
v. to suffer from extreme desire or painful longing v. to waste away with grief ## Footnote The sailor's wife _pined_ for him all through the long, harsh winter.
68
# Define: siren | (**sahy**-ruhn)
n. a beautiful, seductive, or charming woman ## Footnote The young men of the neighborhood are smitten with the _siren_ who moved in last week.
69
# Define: cache | (**kash**)
n. a hidden place, a secret storage n. a place for valuables ## Footnote The bomb shelter had a _cache_ of resources capable of supporting the family.
70
# Define: lionize | (**lahy**-uh-nahyz)
v. to treat a person as a celebrity ## Footnote When the musical sensation returned to her hometown, she was _lionized_ by everyone she knew.
71
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. untidy, disheveled; unclean in appearance or habits
slovenly | (**sluhv**-uhn-lee) ## Footnote synonyms: dirty, careless His _slovenly_ appearance suggested he hadn’t bothered to groom himself.
72
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. causing hardship; burdensome, troublesome
onerous | (**oh**-ner-uhs) ## Footnote synonyms: arduous, cumbersome, vexatious The _onerous_ tasks required extensive effort and left the team exhausted.
73
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a plague or cause of affliction
scourge | (**skurdj**) ## Footnote synonyms: torment, affliction, pestilence The drought was a _scourge_ for the farmers, devastating their crops.
74
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. the quality of being frank, sincere, or impartial in expression
candor | (**kan**-der) ## Footnote synonyms: honesty, directness Her _candor_ in discussing the project's challenges earned her the team's respect.
75
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a crude, unmannered, or rude person
boor | (**boor**) ## Footnote synonyms: goon, oaf, barbarian His _boorish_ behavior at the party embarrassed everyone around him.
76
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. dying, decaying, on the brink of extinction
moribund | (**mawr**-uh-buhnd) ## Footnote synonyms: doomed, expiring, passing The _moribund_ industry struggled to adapt to new technologies and competition.
77
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to suffer from extreme desire or painful longing v. to waste away with grief
pine | (**pahyn**) ## Footnote synonyms: dream, hanker, lust She began to _pine_ for her hometown after moving away for college. He seemed to _pine_ away after the loss of his beloved pet.
78
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a beautiful, seductive, and charming woman
siren | (**sahy**-ruhn) ## Footnote synonyms: seductress, charmer The singer was often called a _siren_, captivating audiences with her enchanting voice.
79
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a hidden place, a secret storage n. a place for valuables
cache | (kash) ## Footnote synonyms: a secret storage place The archaeologists discovered a _cache_ of ancient artifacts buried in the ground. The treasure was hidden in a _cache_ deep within the cave.
80
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to treat a person as a celebrity
lionize | (**lahy**-uh-nahyz) ## Footnote synonyms: adulate, worship The media began to _lionize_ the athlete after his record-breaking performance.
81
# Define: skulk | (**skuhlk**)
v. to lie in wait; to hide with evil intent ## Footnote The fugitive was spotted _skulking_ about the docks just past midnight.
82
# Define: emendation | (ee-muhn-**dey**-shuhn)
n. a correction or revision in a text ## Footnote Once the _emendations_ have been made, the pamphlet can be sent to the printer.
83
# Define: euphony | (**yoo**-fuh-nee)
n. a pleasant, harmonious sound ## Footnote The _euphony_ of the Italian language is unparalleled.
84
# Define: terse | (**turs**)
adj. succinct, curt ## Footnote Your _terse_ apology does not even begin to give an adequate explanation for your behavior.
85
# Define: trite | (**trahyt**)
adj. uninteresting due to overuse; hackneyed ## Footnote Though some may find Valentine's Day chocolates _trite_, I look forward to every box I get.
86
# Define: malefactor | (**mal**-uh-fak-ter)
n. evildoer, culprit, a violator of the law ## Footnote The Nuremberg trials brought the Nazi _malefactors_ to justice.
87
# Define: obtuse | (uhb-**toos**)
adj. stupid, dull adj. slow to perceive, feel, or respond ## Footnote The _obtuse_ response lacked a great deal of sophistication.
88
# Define: ingratiate | (ing-**grey**-shee-eyt)
v. to work oneself into the favor of someone ## Footnote The intern _ingratiated_ himself to his superiors starting on the first day.
89
# Define: travesty | (**trav**-uh-stee)
n. a perverse or ludicrous parody or exaggeration ## Footnote Thom's checkered tux was a _travesty_ of good taste.
90
# Define: philology | (fih-**lol**-uh-djee)
n. the study of linguistics and literature ## Footnote The students of _philology_ were hunched over their Spanish literature texts.
91
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to lie, to sneak into hiding, with evil intent
skulk | (**skuhlk**) ## Footnote synonyms: tiptoe, sneak, slither, creep The thief chose to _skulk_ in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
92
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a correction or revisions in a text
emendation | (ee-muhn-**dey**-shuhn) ## Footnote synonyms: editing, proofreading The editor's _emendation_ improved the clarity of the manuscript significantly.
93
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a pleasant, harmonious sound
euphony | (**yoo**-fuh-nee) ## Footnote synonyms: melody, symphony The choir's _euphony_ filled the church, creating a soothing atmosphere.
94
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. succinct, curt
terse | (**turs**) ## Footnote synonyms: brief, short Her _terse_ reply left no room for further discussion.
95
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. uninteresting due to overuse; hackneyed
trite | (**trahyt**) ## Footnote synonyms: banal, common The speaker's _trite_ remarks failed to engage the audience.
96
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. evildoer, culprit, a violator of the law
malefactor | (**mal**-uh-fak-ter) ## Footnote synonyms: felon, outlaw, villain The police worked tirelessly to apprehend the _malefactor_ responsible for the crime spree.
97
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. stupid, dull adj. slow to perceive, feel, or respond
obtuse | (uhb-**toos**) ## Footnote synonyms: dense, dumb, insensitive His _obtuse_ comments during the meeting frustrated his more insightful colleagues. She was _obtuse_ to the criticism, failing to recognize its validity.
98
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to work oneself into the favor of someone
ingratiate | (ing-**grey**-shee-eyt) ## Footnote synonyms: flatter, curry favor He tried to _ingratiate_ himself with his boss by volunteering for extra tasks
99
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a perverse or ludicrous parody or exaggeration
travesty | (**trav**-uh-stee) ## Footnote synonyms: caricature, burlesque The play was a _travesty_ of the original story, turning serious themes into a farce.
100
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. the study of linguistics and literature
philology | (fih-**lol**-uh-djee) ## Footnote synonyms: the study of language; linguistics, and literature She pursued a degree in _philology_ to explore the evolution of language and literature.

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