Vocab Junkie - Set 3 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.
Define:
burnish
(bur-nish)
v. to polish or make shine
n. a shiny appearance
The store owner’s son’s only job was to burnish the statues in the window every day.
Define:
buttress
(but-riss)
n. a supporting structure
v. to support or encourage
The parents decided to buttress the after-school programs that were in danger of ending by making donations.
Define:
equivocate
(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)
v. to make vague, unclear statements
The mayor equivocated when confronted about his use of public funds.
Define:
paragon
(par-uh-gon)
n. a model of excellence
The man was a paragon of virtue who had never stolen so much as a loaf of bread in his life.
Define:
cacophony
(kuh-kof-uh-nee)
n. unpleasant, discordant sounds
The orchestra’s first attempt to play together was a cacophony of jarring notes.
Define:
mawkish
(maw-kish)
adj. very sentimental
The group of graduating seniors was a mawkish sight, crying and taking hundreds of pictures.
Define:
cajole
(kuh-djohl)
v. to make someone do something with flattery or promises
Mother cajoled her into driving the other children to school, promising to make her favorite dinner.
Define:
dogmatic
(dawg-matt-ik)
adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner
The dogmatic theorist refused to listen to any other possibilities.
Define:
calibrate
(kal-ih-brehyt)
v. to check or balance the scale of a measuring device with a standard scale
The new thermometer needed to be calibrated before it could be used.
Define:
perdition
(per-dish-uhn)
n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation
n. hell
Poor moral choices led Johnny down the road to perdition.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to polish or make shine
n. a shiny appearance
burnish
(bur-nish)
synonyms: polish, brighten
The jeweler used a cloth to burnish the gold until it gleamed.
The car’s new paint gave it a stunning burnish that caught everyone’s eye.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a supporting structure
v. to support or encourage
buttress
(but-riss)
synonyms: prop, support; bolster, reinforce
The architect added a buttress to the building to enhance its stability.
The team’s strong performance helped to buttress the coach’s confidence in their abilities.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make vague, unclear statements
equivocate
(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)
synonyms: evade, sidestep
When pressed for details, he chose to equivocate rather than give a direct answer.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a model of excellence
paragon
(par-uh-gon)
synonyms: archetype, ideal
She was regarded as a paragon of professionalism in her field.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. unpleasant, discordant sounds
cacophony
(kuh-kof-uh-nee)
synonyms: noise, clamor
The cacophony of car horns and shouting vendors filled the bustling market.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. very sentimental
mawkish
(maw-kish)
synonyms: emotional, mushy
The film’s mawkish scenes felt overly sentimental and clichéd.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make someone do something with flattery or promises
cajole
(kuh-djohl)
synonyms: coax, persuade, wheedle
She tried to cajole her friend into joining the trip with sweet talk.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner
dogmatic
(dawg-matt-ik)
synonyms: arrogant, bullheaded, authoritarian
His dogmatic beliefs made it difficult for him to accept alternative viewpoints.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to check or balance the scale of a measuring device with a standard scale
calibrate
(kal-ih-brehyt)
synonyms: align, balance, fix
The technician needed to calibrate the equipment to ensure accurate readings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation
n. hell
perdition
(per-dish-uhn)
synonyms: hell, damnation, corruption, underworld
His reckless choices led him down a path of perdition, ultimately costing him everything.
The character’s actions were so misguided that they seemed destined for perdition.
Define:
beseech
(bih-seech)
v. to request urgently
The dying man beseeched his family to visit him.
Define:
canny
(can-ee)
adj. careful; shrewd
John was a canny negotiator; no matter how bad his bargaining position, he would always come out on top.
Define:
seminal
(sem-uh-nl)
adj. original and influential
The seminal works of the artist developed into a new style of interpretation.
Define:
cantankerous
(can-tang-kurr-us)
adj. difficult to handle; ill-tempered
The worst part about working in customer service was having to deal with irate, cantankerous callers.
Define:
semantic
(suh-man-tick)
adj. related to the meaning of words
Susan felt that the abortion debate had become too focused on semantic arguments.
Define:
serrate
(sare-ate)
adj. having toothed edges
Kate used the serrated edge of the knife to cut through the tough meat.
Define:
sever
(sev-er)
v. to cut off
Unfortunately, to prevent the infection from spreading, the doctors had to sever the infected parts of the hand.
Define:
sinuous
(sin-you-us)
adj. twisting and winding
adj. not direct
The sinuous path through the mountains was probably the most dangerous route to take.
Define:
solicitude
(suh-liss-ih-tood)
n. caring about others’ well being
Though she claims not to have any feelings for Julio, she showed a great deal of solicitude when she learned of his illness.
Define:
solidarity
(sol-ih-dare-ih-tee)
n. a feeling of camaraderie with others due to shared goals
Several townspeople expressed solidarity with the union members by protesting with them.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to request urgently
beseech
(bih-seech)
synonyms: beg, appeal, plead
She had to beseech her supervisor for an extension on the project deadline.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. careful; shrewd
canny
(can-ee)
synonyms: acute, cunning
Her canny investment choices helped her accumulate substantial wealth.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. original and influential
seminal
(sem-uh-nl)
synonyms: landmark, fundamental, fertile
The seminal research paper laid the groundwork for future studies in the field.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. difficult to handle; ill-tempered
cantankerous
(can-tang-kurr-us)
synonyms: crabby, cranky, aggressive
The cantankerous old man often argued with his neighbors over trivial matters.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to the meaning of words
semantic
(suh-man-tick)
synonyms: linguistic, verbal
The discussion focused on the semantic nuances of the term “freedom.”
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. having toothed edges
serrate
(sare-ate)
synonyms: a toothed edge or blade
The serrate knife easily sliced through the crusty bread.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cut off
sever
(sev-er)
synonyms: carve, disconnect, break off
The company decided to sever ties with its unreliable supplier.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. twisting and winding
adj. not direct
sinuous
(sin-you-us)
synonyms: curved, circuitous, meandering
The sinuous path through the forest led to a hidden waterfall.
The sinuous route took longer but offered beautiful views along the way.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. caring about others’ well being
solicitude
(suh-liss-ih-tood)
synonyms: consideration, watchfulness
Her solicitude for her elderly parents was evident in her daily assistance.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of camaraderie with others due to shared goals
solidarity
(sol-ih-dare-ih-tee)
synonyms: alliance, sympathy
The workers demonstrated solidarity by striking together for better conditions.
Define:
soluble
(sol-yuh-bull)
adj. capable of being dissolved in a liquid
adj. capable of being solved
Certain medicines are soluble in water so they can be taken with ease.
Define:
solvent
(sol-vunt)
adj. able to meet financial obligations
n. a substance that can dissolve other substances
To remain solvent, the business was forced to sell its overseas operations.
Define:
soporific
(sop-uh-riff-ik)
adj. able to cause sleepiness
n. a substance that causes sleepiness
Bill’s new cold medication has soporific side effects that interfere with his ability to drive.
Define:
emulate
(em-yuh-lehyt)
v. to try to imitate or exceed another’s actions
Nancy wanted to emulate her older sister and so began to study more often.
Define:
enamor
(ih-nam-er)
v. to make infatuated; to cause to love
He was so enamored of her that he thought about her every day.
Define:
endemic
(in-dem-ik)
adj. originating in, native to, particular to
There are some deadly diseases that are endemic to the tropics.
Define:
endow
(in-dow)
v. to give (esp. an inheritance or genetic trait)
Christine’s mother endowed her with beautiful green eyes.
Define:
dour
(doo-er)
adj. harsh; gloomy, forbidding
adj. stern, humorless
The old headmaster never had anything but a dour expression to offer.
Define:
enervate
(in-er-vehyt)
v. to make weaker
The heat enervated the soccer players’ strength with each passing minute, and by halftime most were in no condition to continue playing.
Define:
insouciant
(in-soo-see-uhnt)
adj. unconcerned, nonchalant, lighthearted
Michael’s insouciant attitude towards schoolwork led to poor test grades.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. capable of being dissolved in a liquid
adj. capable of being solved
soluble
(sol-yuh-bull)
synonyms: dispersable, dissolvable; solvable
The salt is soluble in water, quickly dissolving when stirred.
The problem was complex but ultimately soluble with careful analysis.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. able to meet financial obligations
n. a substance that can dissolve other substances within itself
solvent
(sol-vunt)
synonyms: financially stable, viable; dissolver
The company remained solvent despite the recent economic downturn.
Water is often considered the universal solvent due to its ability to dissolve many substances.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. able to cause sleepiness
n. a substance that causes sleepiness
soporific
(sop-uh-rif-ik)
synonyms: anesthetic, narcotic, sedative
The professor’s soporific lecture had many students struggling to stay awake.
The herbal tea acted as a soporific, helping her relax before bed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to try to imitate or exceed another’s actions
emulate
(em-yuh-lehyt)
synonyms: copy, mimic
She aimed to emulate her mentor’s leadership style in her own career.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make infatuated; to cause to love
enamor
(ih-nam-er)
synonyms: fascinate, captivate
The charming book review seemed to enamor her with the novel immediately.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. originating in, native to, particular to
endemic
(in-dem-ik)
synonyms: local, regional
Malaria is endemic in certain regions of Africa, affecting local populations regularly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give (esp. an inheritance or genetic trait)
endow
(in-dow)
synonyms: provide, impart
The philanthropist chose to endow the university with a substantial scholarship fund.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. harsh; gloomy, forbidding
adj. stern, humorless
dour
(doo-er)
synonyms: uninviting, severe
His dour expression made it clear that he was displeased with the meeting’s outcome.
The teacher’s dour demeanor left little room for laughter in the classroom.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make weaker
enervate
(in-er-vehyt)
synonyms: tire, exhaust
The long hours in the heat began to enervate the workers, leaving them exhausted.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unconcerned, nonchalant, lighthearted
insouciant
(in-soo-see-uhnt)
synonyms: carefree, unworried
His insouciant demeanor made it seem like he wasn’t worried about the upcoming exam.
Define:
evince
(ih-vins)
v. to clearly prove something, to indicate
Her choice not to enter into an argument with him evinced her maturity.
Define:
enfranchise
(in-fran-chahyz)
v. to give rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote
When women were finally enfranchised, spontaneous celebrations occurred throughout the country.
Define:
filigree
(fil-ih-gree)
n. an ornamental work, esp. delicate and lacelike
v. to adorn
The wine glass was filigreed with a delicate pattern of grape vines.
Define:
engender
(in-djen-dur)
v. to cause, to lead to
The poor ventilation in the factory engendered health problems amongst the workers.
Define:
apocryphal
(uh-pok-ruh-fuhl)
adj. of dubious origin; of doubtful authenticity
I believe all stories of alien abduction are apocryphal.
Define:
enmity
(en-mih-tee)
n. strong mutual hatred
Great enmity has existed between the two tribes for centuries, leading to untold bloodshed.
Define:
aesthete
(es-theet)
n. one with artistic sensibilities
The aesthete was able to knowledgeably interpret the painting.
Define:
estimable
(es-tuh-muh-buhl)
adj. formidable, worthy
The team knew within the first few minutes that they faced an estimable opponent.
Define:
revile
(ruh-vahyl)
v. to criticize with harsh or abusive language
Film critics reviled the studio for gutting the director’s artistic vision and replacing it with meaningless action sequences.
Define:
indefatigable
(in-duh-fat-ih-guh-buhl)
adj. incapable of becoming exhausted; tireless; dogged
The marathon runner was seemingly indefatigable, keeping up his brisk pace while competitors fell behind one after the other.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to clearly prove something, to indicate
evince
(ih-vins)
synonyms: declare, demonstrate
The evidence evinced a strong connection between the two suspects.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote
enfranchise
(in-fran-chahyz)
synonyms: empower, naturalize
The new legislation aimed to enfranchise previously marginalized groups in the community.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an ornamental work, esp. delicate and lacelike
v. to adorn
filigree
(fil-ih-gree)
synonyms: decoration, ornamentation; decorate
The antique necklace featured exquisite filigree, showcasing intricate lace-like designs.
The artisan chose to filigree the silver box with delicate patterns.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cause, to lead to
engender
(in-djen-dur)
synonyms: develop, generate, bring about
The new policy is expected to engender greater collaboration among team members.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of dubious origin; of doubtful authenticity
apocryphal
(uh-pok-ruh-fuhl)
synonyms: fictitious, doubtful
The story about the treasure was apocryphal, lacking any credible evidence.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. strong mutual hatred
enmity
(en-mih-tee)
synonyms: animosity, antagonism
The long-standing enmity between the rival families made reconciliation nearly impossible.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one with artistic sensibilities
aesthete
(es-theet)
synonyms: artist, connoisseur
As an aesthete, she spent her weekends visiting art galleries and attending performances.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. formidable, worthy
estimable
(es-tuh-muh-buhl)
synonyms: admirable, honored
Her estimable contributions to the project earned her widespread respect from her peers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to criticize with harsh or abusive language
revile
(ruh-vahyl)
synonyms: scold, criticize, abuse
The politician was reviled by the public for his controversial statements.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. incapable of becoming exhausted; tireless; dogged
indefatigable
(in-duh-fat-ih-guh-buhl)
synonyms: untiring, active, persevering
Her indefatigable spirit inspired the team to keep pushing forward despite the challenges.
Define:
ensemble
(on-som-bul)
n. a whole group formed by separate parts
The band was an ensemble of classical violinists, guitarists, and a jazz pianist.
Define:
effervescent
(eff-er-vess-uhnt)
adj. emitting small bubbles
adj. lively, showing high spirits, vivacious
Stacy’s effervescent mind captivated everyone she met.
Define:
enthrall
(in-thrawl)
v. to captivate
v. to enslave
The singer’s voice enthralled the judges, who immediately awarded her first place in the contest.
Define:
entreat
(in-treet)
v. to plead
The rejected boy entreated the girl to give him a second chance.
Define:
extirpate
(ek-ster-peyt)
v. to destroy, annihilate totally
v. to cut out by the roots
Modern thinkers have proposed to extirpate religion from all political discourse.
Define:
enumerate
(ih-new-muh-rate)
v. to list items individually
Shocked by her decision, I asked her to enumerate her reasons for firing him.
Define:
internecine
(in-ter-neh-seen)
adj. mutually destructive
adj. characterized by bloodshed and carnage
adj. relating to intra-group struggle
That country’s internecine struggle was only put to rest after many innocent people lost their lives.
Define:
ephemeral
(uh-fem-er-ul)
adj. lasting only a short while
Our joy at being let out for the weekend was only ephemeral, for we soon realized that we had a lot of studying to do for Monday.
Define:
variegated
(vair-ee-uh-gehyt-id)
adj. multicolored
adj. varied
The variegated leaves were a sure sign that autumn had arrived.
Define:
venerate
(ven-uh-rehyt)
v. to respect deeply and honor
The children venerated their grandfather and sought not to disappoint him.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a whole group formed by separate parts
ensemble
(on-som-bull)
synonyms: band, collection, organization
The musical ensemble performed beautifully, with each member contributing their unique talent.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. emitting small bubbles
adj. lively, showing high spirits, vivacious
effervescent
(eff-er-vess-uhnt)
synonyms: airy, foaming; spirited, bubbly
The effervescent drink sparkled in the sunlight, enticing everyone to take a sip.
Her effervescent personality lit up the room, making everyone feel more cheerful.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to captivate
v. to enslave
enthrall
(in-thrawl)
synonyms: absorb, enrapture, beckon, beguile
The magician’s performance managed to enthrall the entire audience.
The conqueror sought to enthrall the defeated people, imposing strict control over their lives.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to plead
entreat
(in-treet)
synonyms: beg, request
She had to entreat her boss for an extension on the project deadline.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to destroy, annihilate totally
v. to cut out by the roots
extirpate
(ek-ster-peyt)
synonyms: destroy, annihilate; remove, uproot
The invasive species was extirpated from the region to restore ecological balance.
The gardener aimed to extirpate the weeds to ensure healthy plant growth.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to list items individually
enumerate
(ih-new-muh-rate)
synonyms: count, list to review
The professor asked the students to enumerate the key factors contributing to the economic crisis.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. mutually destructive
adj. characterized by bloodshed and carnage
adj. relating to intra-group struggle
internecine
(in-ter-neh-seen)
synonyms: civil, fratricidal, deadly, bloody, catastrophic
The internecine conflict within the party weakened its chances in the upcoming election.
The civil war was marked by internecine struggles that resulted in significant bloodshed.
The organization’s internecine disputes hindered its ability to achieve common goals.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lasting only a short while
ephemeral
(uh-fem-er-ul)
synonyms: momentary, passing
The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, fading quickly into the night.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. appearing to have different colors
adj. varied
variegated
(vair-ee-uh-gehyt-id)
synonyms: diverse, kaleidoscopic
The garden was filled with variegated flowers, each displaying vibrant hues.
The artist’s portfolio showcased a variegated collection of styles and techniques.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to respect deeply and honor
venerate
(ven-uh-rehyt)
synonyms: admire, esteem
The community came together to venerate the late leader for his contributions.
