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Vocab Builder > Vocab Junkie - Set 3 > Flashcards

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.

1
Q

Define:

burnish

(bur-nish)

A

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.

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2
Q

Define:

buttress

(but-riss)

A

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.

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3
Q

Define:

equivocate

(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)

A

v. to make vague, unclear statements

The mayor equivocated when confronted about his use of public funds.

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4
Q

Define:

paragon

(par-uh-gon)

A

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.

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5
Q

Define:

cacophony

(kuh-kof-uh-nee)

A

n. unpleasant, discordant sounds

The orchestra’s first attempt to play together was a cacophony of jarring notes.

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6
Q

Define:

mawkish

(maw-kish)

A

adj. very sentimental

The group of graduating seniors was a mawkish sight, crying and taking hundreds of pictures.

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7
Q

Define:

cajole

(kuh-djohl)

A

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.

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8
Q

Define:

dogmatic

(dawg-matt-ik)

A

adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner

The dogmatic theorist refused to listen to any other possibilities.

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9
Q

Define:

calibrate

(kal-ih-brehyt)

A

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.

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10
Q

Define:

perdition

(per-dish-uhn)

A

n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation

n. hell

Poor moral choices led Johnny down the road to perdition.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to polish or make shine

n. a shiny appearance

A

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.

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a supporting structure

v. to support or encourage

A

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.

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make vague, unclear statements

A

equivocate

(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)

synonyms: evade, sidestep

When pressed for details, he chose to equivocate rather than give a direct answer.

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a model of excellence

A

paragon

(par-uh-gon)

synonyms: archetype, ideal

She was regarded as a paragon of professionalism in her field.

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. unpleasant, discordant sounds

A

cacophony

(kuh-kof-uh-nee)

synonyms: noise, clamor

The cacophony of car horns and shouting vendors filled the bustling market.

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. very sentimental

A

mawkish

(maw-kish)

synonyms: emotional, mushy

The film’s mawkish scenes felt overly sentimental and clichéd.

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make someone do something with flattery or promises

A

cajole

(kuh-djohl)

synonyms: coax, persuade, wheedle

She tried to cajole her friend into joining the trip with sweet talk.

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner

A

dogmatic

(dawg-matt-ik)

synonyms: arrogant, bullheaded, authoritarian

His dogmatic beliefs made it difficult for him to accept alternative viewpoints.

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to check or balance the scale of a measuring device with a standard scale

A

calibrate

(kal-ih-brehyt)

synonyms: align, balance, fix

The technician needed to calibrate the equipment to ensure accurate readings.

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation

n. hell

A

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.

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21
Q

Define:

beseech

(bih-seech)

A

v. to request urgently

The dying man beseeched his family to visit him.

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22
Q

Define:

canny

(can-ee)

A

adj. careful; shrewd

John was a canny negotiator; no matter how bad his bargaining position, he would always come out on top.

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23
Q

Define:

seminal

(sem-uh-nl)

A

adj. original and influential

The seminal works of the artist developed into a new style of interpretation.

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24
Q

Define:

cantankerous

(can-tang-kurr-us)

A

adj. difficult to handle; ill-tempered

The worst part about working in customer service was having to deal with irate, cantankerous callers.

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25
Q

Define:

semantic

(suh-man-tick)

A

adj. related to the meaning of words

Susan felt that the abortion debate had become too focused on semantic arguments.

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26
Q

Define:

serrate

(sare-ate)

A

adj. having toothed edges

Kate used the serrated edge of the knife to cut through the tough meat.

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27
Q

Define:

sever

(sev-er)

A

v. to cut off

Unfortunately, to prevent the infection from spreading, the doctors had to sever the infected parts of the hand.

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28
Q

Define:

sinuous

(sin-you-us)

A

adj. twisting and winding

adj. not direct

The sinuous path through the mountains was probably the most dangerous route to take.

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29
Q

Define:

solicitude

(suh-liss-ih-tood)

A

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.

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30
Q

Define:

solidarity

(sol-ih-dare-ih-tee)

A

n. a feeling of camaraderie with others due to shared goals

Several townspeople expressed solidarity with the union members by protesting with them.

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to request urgently

A

beseech

(bih-seech)

synonyms: beg, appeal, plead

She had to beseech her supervisor for an extension on the project deadline.

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. careful; shrewd

A

canny

(can-ee)

synonyms: acute, cunning

Her canny investment choices helped her accumulate substantial wealth.

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. original and influential

A

seminal

(sem-uh-nl)

synonyms: landmark, fundamental, fertile

The seminal research paper laid the groundwork for future studies in the field.

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. difficult to handle; ill-tempered

A

cantankerous

(can-tang-kurr-us)

synonyms: crabby, cranky, aggressive

The cantankerous old man often argued with his neighbors over trivial matters.

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to the meaning of words

A

semantic

(suh-man-tick)

synonyms: linguistic, verbal

The discussion focused on the semantic nuances of the term “freedom.”

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. having toothed edges

A

serrate

(sare-ate)

synonyms: a toothed edge or blade

The serrate knife easily sliced through the crusty bread.

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to cut off

A

sever

(sev-er)

synonyms: carve, disconnect, break off

The company decided to sever ties with its unreliable supplier.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. twisting and winding

adj. not direct

A

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.

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39
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. caring about others’ well being

A

solicitude

(suh-liss-ih-tood)

synonyms: consideration, watchfulness

Her solicitude for her elderly parents was evident in her daily assistance.

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40
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a feeling of camaraderie with others due to shared goals

A

solidarity

(sol-ih-dare-ih-tee)

synonyms: alliance, sympathy

The workers demonstrated solidarity by striking together for better conditions.

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41
Q

Define:

soluble

(sol-yuh-bull)

A

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.

42
Q

Define:

solvent

(sol-vunt)

A

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.

43
Q

Define:

soporific

(sop-uh-riff-ik)

A

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.

44
Q

Define:

emulate

(em-yuh-lehyt)

A

v. to try to imitate or exceed another’s actions

Nancy wanted to emulate her older sister and so began to study more often.

45
Q

Define:

enamor

(ih-nam-er)

A

v. to make infatuated; to cause to love

He was so enamored of her that he thought about her every day.

46
Q

Define:

endemic

(in-dem-ik)

A

adj. originating in, native to, particular to

There are some deadly diseases that are endemic to the tropics.

47
Q

Define:

endow

(in-dow)

A

v. to give (esp. an inheritance or genetic trait)

Christine’s mother endowed her with beautiful green eyes.

48
Q

Define:

dour

(doo-er)

A

adj. harsh; gloomy, forbidding

adj. stern, humorless

The old headmaster never had anything but a dour expression to offer.

49
Q

Define:

enervate

(in-er-vehyt)

A

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.

50
Q

Define:

insouciant

(in-soo-see-uhnt)

A

adj. unconcerned, nonchalant, lighthearted

Michael’s insouciant attitude towards schoolwork led to poor test grades.

51
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. capable of being dissolved in a liquid

adj. capable of being solved

A

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.

52
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. able to meet financial obligations

n. a substance that can dissolve other substances within itself

A

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.

53
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. able to cause sleepiness

n. a substance that causes sleepiness

A

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.

54
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to try to imitate or exceed another’s actions

A

emulate

(em-yuh-lehyt)

synonyms: copy, mimic

She aimed to emulate her mentor’s leadership style in her own career.

55
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make infatuated; to cause to love

A

enamor

(ih-nam-er)

synonyms: fascinate, captivate

The charming book review seemed to enamor her with the novel immediately.

56
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. originating in, native to, particular to

A

endemic

(in-dem-ik)

synonyms: local, regional

Malaria is endemic in certain regions of Africa, affecting local populations regularly.

57
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to give (esp. an inheritance or genetic trait)

A

endow

(in-dow)

synonyms: provide, impart

The philanthropist chose to endow the university with a substantial scholarship fund.

58
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. harsh; gloomy, forbidding

adj. stern, humorless

A

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.

59
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make weaker

A

enervate

(in-er-vehyt)

synonyms: tire, exhaust

The long hours in the heat began to enervate the workers, leaving them exhausted.

60
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unconcerned, nonchalant, lighthearted

A

insouciant

(in-soo-see-uhnt)

synonyms: carefree, unworried

His insouciant demeanor made it seem like he wasn’t worried about the upcoming exam.

61
Q

Define:

evince

(ih-vins)

A

v. to clearly prove something, to indicate

Her choice not to enter into an argument with him evinced her maturity.

62
Q

Define:

enfranchise

(in-fran-chahyz)

A

v. to give rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote

When women were finally enfranchised, spontaneous celebrations occurred throughout the country.

63
Q

Define:

filigree

(fil-ih-gree)

A

n. an ornamental work, esp. delicate and lacelike

v. to adorn

The wine glass was filigreed with a delicate pattern of grape vines.

64
Q

Define:

engender

(in-djen-dur)

A

v. to cause, to lead to

The poor ventilation in the factory engendered health problems amongst the workers.

65
Q

Define:

apocryphal

(uh-pok-ruh-fuhl)

A

adj. of dubious origin; of doubtful authenticity

I believe all stories of alien abduction are apocryphal.

66
Q

Define:

enmity

(en-mih-tee)

A

n. strong mutual hatred

Great enmity has existed between the two tribes for centuries, leading to untold bloodshed.

67
Q

Define:

aesthete

(es-theet)

A

n. one with artistic sensibilities

The aesthete was able to knowledgeably interpret the painting.

68
Q

Define:

estimable

(es-tuh-muh-buhl)

A

adj. formidable, worthy

The team knew within the first few minutes that they faced an estimable opponent.

69
Q

Define:

revile

(ruh-vahyl)

A

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.

70
Q

Define:

indefatigable

(in-duh-fat-ih-guh-buhl)

A

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.

71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clearly prove something, to indicate

A

evince

(ih-vins)

synonyms: declare, demonstrate

The evidence evinced a strong connection between the two suspects.

72
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to give rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote

A

enfranchise

(in-fran-chahyz)

synonyms: empower, naturalize

The new legislation aimed to enfranchise previously marginalized groups in the community.

73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an ornamental work, esp. delicate and lacelike

v. to adorn

A

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.

74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to cause, to lead to

A

engender

(in-djen-dur)

synonyms: develop, generate, bring about

The new policy is expected to engender greater collaboration among team members.

75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. of dubious origin; of doubtful authenticity

A

apocryphal

(uh-pok-ruh-fuhl)

synonyms: fictitious, doubtful

The story about the treasure was apocryphal, lacking any credible evidence.

76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. strong mutual hatred

A

enmity

(en-mih-tee)

synonyms: animosity, antagonism

The long-standing enmity between the rival families made reconciliation nearly impossible.

77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. one with artistic sensibilities

A

aesthete

(es-theet)

synonyms: artist, connoisseur

As an aesthete, she spent her weekends visiting art galleries and attending performances.

78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. formidable, worthy

A

estimable

(es-tuh-muh-buhl)

synonyms: admirable, honored

Her estimable contributions to the project earned her widespread respect from her peers.

79
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to criticize with harsh or abusive language

A

revile

(ruh-vahyl)

synonyms: scold, criticize, abuse

The politician was reviled by the public for his controversial statements.

80
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. incapable of becoming exhausted; tireless; dogged

A

indefatigable

(in-duh-fat-ih-guh-buhl)

synonyms: untiring, active, persevering

Her indefatigable spirit inspired the team to keep pushing forward despite the challenges.

81
Q

Define:

ensemble

(on-som-bul)

A

n. a whole group formed by separate parts

The band was an ensemble of classical violinists, guitarists, and a jazz pianist.

82
Q

Define:

effervescent

(eff-er-vess-uhnt)

A

adj. emitting small bubbles

adj. lively, showing high spirits, vivacious

Stacy’s effervescent mind captivated everyone she met.

83
Q

Define:

enthrall

(in-thrawl)

A

v. to captivate

v. to enslave

The singer’s voice enthralled the judges, who immediately awarded her first place in the contest.

84
Q

Define:

entreat

(in-treet)

A

v. to plead

The rejected boy entreated the girl to give him a second chance.

85
Q

Define:

extirpate

(ek-ster-peyt)

A

v. to destroy, annihilate totally

v. to cut out by the roots

Modern thinkers have proposed to extirpate religion from all political discourse.

86
Q

Define:

enumerate

(ih-new-muh-rate)

A

v. to list items individually

Shocked by her decision, I asked her to enumerate her reasons for firing him.

87
Q

Define:

internecine

(in-ter-neh-seen)

A

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.

88
Q

Define:

ephemeral

(uh-fem-er-ul)

A

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.

89
Q

Define:

variegated

(vair-ee-uh-gehyt-id)

A

adj. multicolored

adj. varied

The variegated leaves were a sure sign that autumn had arrived.

90
Q

Define:

venerate

(ven-uh-rehyt)

A

v. to respect deeply and honor

The children venerated their grandfather and sought not to disappoint him.

91
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a whole group formed by separate parts

A

ensemble

(on-som-bull)

synonyms: band, collection, organization

The musical ensemble performed beautifully, with each member contributing their unique talent.

92
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. emitting small bubbles

adj. lively, showing high spirits, vivacious

A

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.

93
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to captivate

v. to enslave

A

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.

94
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to plead

A

entreat

(in-treet)

synonyms: beg, request

She had to entreat her boss for an extension on the project deadline.

95
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to destroy, annihilate totally

v. to cut out by the roots

A

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.

96
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to list items individually

A

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.

97
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. mutually destructive

adj. characterized by bloodshed and carnage

adj. relating to intra-group struggle

A

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.

98
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. lasting only a short while

A

ephemeral

(uh-fem-er-ul)

synonyms: momentary, passing

The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, fading quickly into the night.

99
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. appearing to have different colors

adj. varied

A

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.

100
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to respect deeply and honor

A

venerate

(ven-uh-rehyt)

synonyms: admire, esteem

The community came together to venerate the late leader for his contributions.

Vocab Builder (9 decks)

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