Vocab Junkie - Set 4 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:

veracity

(vur-rass-ih-tee)

A

n. truthfulness

In order to have her article published, Susan needed to prove the veracity of her claims.

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2
Q

Define:

verbiage

(ver-bee-idge)

A

n. an overabundance of words

n. one’s manner of speaking

The elderly speaker’s verbiage tended toward the formal.

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3
Q

Define:

vestige

(ves-tidge)

A

n. a small remnant

That abandoned well is a vestige of the manor that once stood here.

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4
Q

Define:

vex

(vex)

A

v. to annoy or bother

v. to confound

v. to talk about extensively

It was when they were allowed to horse around the house that the children vexed her the most.

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5
Q

Define:

vigilant

(vidge-ih-lunt)

A

adj. watchful

Our new dog is very vigilant when it comes to guarding the house.

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6
Q

Define:

vigor

(vig-er)

A

n. energy, vitality

n. strength; forcefulness

After she broke her hip dancing, Kate realized that she had lost the youthful vigor she once had.

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7
Q

Define:

virtuoso

(vur-chew-owe-so)

A

n. a highly-skilled artist

Even at a young age, it was clear that Beethoven was a virtuoso in the making.

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8
Q

Define:

viscous

(viss-kuss)

A

adj. thick and syrup-like

They slathered a viscous glue over the pieces to make sure they would stick.

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9
Q

Define:

vituperate

(vahy-too-puh-rehyt)

A

v. to scold

The old man vituperated the neighborhood boys who were trespassing on his lawn.

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10
Q

Define:

vivacious

(vih-vey-shuss)

A

adj. energetic; full of life

At ninety years old, Melinda was known for being particularly vivacious for her age.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. truthfulness

A

veracity

(vur-rass-ih-tee)

synonyms: certainty, truth, fact

The witness’s veracity was crucial in determining the outcome of the trial.

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an overabundance of words

n. one’s manner of speaking

A

verbiage

(ver-bee-idge)

synonyms: wordiness, verbosity; delivery

The report was filled with so much verbiage that the main points were lost.

His verbiage revealed his eloquence and command of language.

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a small remnant

A

vestige

(ves-tidge)

synonyms: remainder, hint

The ruins were the last vestige of the once-great civilization.

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to annoy or bother

v. to confound

v. to talk about extensively

A

vex

(vex)

synonyms: distress, agitate; confuse

Her constant questions began to vex the teacher during the lecture.

The unexpected turn of events continued to vex the detectives, leaving them puzzled.

The author chose to vex the theme of resilience throughout her novel.

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. watchful

A

vigilant

(vidge-ih-lunt)

synonyms: attentive, aware, on the lookout

The security team remained vigilant during the event to ensure everyone’s safety.

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. energy, vitality

n. strength; forcefulness

A

vigor

(vig-er)

synonyms: power, intensity

She approached her workouts with remarkable vigor and enthusiasm.

The speech was delivered with such vigor that it inspired the entire audience.

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a highly-skilled artist

A

virtuoso

(vur-chew-owe-so)

synonyms: ace, artist, professional

The concert featured a virtuoso on the violin, captivating the audience with his talent.

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. thick and syrup-like

A

viscous

(viss-kuss)

synonyms: slow-flowing, syrupy

The viscous syrup clung to the spoon as she poured it over the pancakes.

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to scold

A

vituperate

(vahy-too-puh-rehyt)

synonyms: abuse, berate, yell at

The manager did not hesitate to vituperate the employee for repeated mistakes.

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. energetic; full of life

A

vivacious

(vih-vey-shuss)

synonyms: lively, spirited

Her vivacious personality lit up the room and lifted everyone’s spirits.

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21
Q

Define:

meticulous

(muh-tick-yuh-luss)

A

adj. paying great attention to detail

He was a meticulous sculptor, sometimes spending hours perfecting a single fingernail on one of his figures.

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22
Q

Define:

mimicry

(mim-ih-kree)

A

n. a close imitation of something else

Mimicry is common in the animal kingdom, such as when harmless species assume the aspect of poisonous ones to avoid being eaten.

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23
Q

Define:

minuet

(min-you-et)

A

n. a slow, stately, pattern dance in 3/4 time

n. the music to accompany the dance of the same name

A minuet is always danced with three beats per measure.

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24
Q

Define:

minute

(my-newt)

A

adj. tiny

adj. attentive to the smallest details

The chances of such a slow horse actually winning the race are minute.

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25
Q

Define:

mirth

(murth)

A

n. glee; joy

The house was always full of happy laughter and other signs of mirth.

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26
Q

Define:

dissipated

(dis-uh-pey-tid)

A

adj. devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; hedonistic

His life quickly became dissipated and unstructured after he won the lottery.

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27
Q

Define:

misanthrope

(miss-un-throwp)

A

n. hater of humanity

The old man was a notorious misanthrope who loathed even his own children.

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28
Q

Define:

invidious

(in-vid-ee-uhs)

A

adj. offensive, provoking resentment or ill-will

The teacher’s invidious practice of playing favorites led to several parent conferences.

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29
Q

Define:

misconstrue

(miss-kun-strew)

A

v. to misunderstand

Eva has a habit of misconstruing compliments, reading amorous designs into the most innocent remarks.

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30
Q

Define:

remit

(rih-mit)

A

v. to transmit payment

v. to refrain from exacting

v. to pardon

v. to desist, postpone or give up

The transaction was completed after the buyer remitted the money.

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. paying great attention to detail

A

meticulous

(muh-tick-yuh-luss)

synonyms: perfectionist, painstaking

The artist was meticulous in her work, ensuring every detail was perfect.

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a close imitation of something else

A

mimicry

(mim-ih-kree)

synonyms: mime, imitation

The butterfly’s mimicry of the leaves helped it evade predators.

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a slow, stately, pattern dance in 3/4 time

n. the music to accompany the dance of the same name

A

minuet

(min-you-et)

synonyms: dance, waltz; music, piece

The couple gracefully performed a minuet at the formal ball.

The orchestra played a beautiful minuet, setting the perfect mood for the dance.

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. tiny

adj. attentive to the smallest details

A

minute

(my-newt)

synonyms: very small, miniature; exact, precise

The scientist examined the minute details of the specimen under a microscope.

Her minute attention to detail ensured that the project was flawless.

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. glee; joy

A

mirth

(murth)

synonyms: cheer, amusement

The children’s mirth was evident as they played in the sunny park.

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; hedonistic

A

dissipated

(dis-uh-pey-tid)

synonyms: self-indulgent, spoiled, debauched

His dissipated lifestyle left him with few meaningful relationships.

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. hater of humanity

A

misanthrope

(miss-un-throwp)

synonyms: cynic, curmudgeon

The misanthrope rarely left his house, preferring solitude over social interaction.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. offensive, provoking resentment or ill-will

A

invidious

(in-vid-ee-uhs)

synonyms: abominable, repugnant

The manager’s invidious remarks about his employees created a hostile work environment.

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39
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to misunderstand

A

misconstrue

(miss-kun-strew)

synonyms: distort, mistake, misread

She feared her tone might misconstrue her intentions during the conversation.

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40
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to transmit payment

v. to refrain from exacting

v. to pardon

v. to desist, postpone or give up

A

remit

(rih-mit)

synonyms: transfer; stop, postpone; alleviate, pardon

Please remit payment by the due date to avoid any late fees.

The judge decided to remit the penalty, showing leniency in her ruling.

The governor chose to remit the sentences of several non-violent offenders.

After careful consideration, they decided to remit their claim for damages.

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41
Q

Define:

mitigate

(mit-ih-gate)

A

v. to make smaller or less problematic

The hurricane’s effect was mitigated by the quick response from the national guard.

42
Q

Define:

opprobrium

(uh-proh-bree-uhm)

A

n. the disgrace felt by someone who has acted in an outrageously shameful manner; contempt

Oedipus Rex experienced great opprobrium after learning the true extent of his crimes.

43
Q

Define:

mollify

(mohl-ih-fahy)

A

v. to decrease the strength of

v. to make softer

His rage was mollified by his wife’s soothing words.

44
Q

Define:

momentum

(moh-men-tum)

A

n. strength built up by continued movement or development

The protest gained momentum as it passed through the city and gained new supporters.

45
Q

Define:

prodigious

(pruh-didj-us)

A

adj. having great power or size

adj. extreme

The building of the new dam is a prodigious project requiring thousands of men and millions of dollars.

46
Q

Define:

asperity

(uh-sper-ih-tee)

A

n. severity, rigor

n. acrimony, irritability

The asperity of a northern winter can lead to depression.

47
Q

Define:

profligate

(prof-lih-git)

A

adj. immoral

adj. recklessly extravagant

She criticized her spoiled son for his profligate lifestyle.

48
Q

Define:

profuse

(pruh-fewss)

A

adj. abundant

adj. freely giving or spending

Horrified by the consequences of her actions, Joyce offered profuse apologies to her friends.

49
Q

Define:

hapless

(hap-liss)

A

adj. unlucky, unfortunate, luckless

The hapless, accident-prone child managed to break his leg for the third time.

50
Q

Define:

prognostic

(prog-noss-tick)

A

n. a prediction

adj. indicating future events

Climate scientists presented a chilling prognostic of what will happen to our planet in the near future.

51
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make smaller or less problematic

A

mitigate

(mit-ih-gate)

synonyms: diminish, lighten

The organization implemented new policies to mitigate the impact of climate change.

52
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the disgrace felt by someone who has acted in an outrageously shameful manner, contempt

A

opprobrium

(uh-proh-bree-uhm)

synonyms: dishonor, infamy, humiliation

The politician faced opprobrium after the scandal was revealed.

53
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to decrease the strength of

v. to make softer

A

mollify

(mohl-ih-fahy)

synonyms: disarm, smooth over, soften

She tried to mollify her angry friend with a sincere apology.

The new policies aim to mollify the concerns of employees regarding job security.

54
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. strength built up by continued movement or development

A

momentum

(moh-men-tum)

synonyms: drive, energy, propulsion

The team gained momentum as they won consecutive games, boosting their confidence.

55
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. having great power or size

adj. extreme

A

prodigious

(pruh-didj-us)

synonyms: massive, colossal, monumental, extraordinary

The prodigious waves during the storm amazed onlookers at the beach.

Her prodigious talent for music set her apart from her peers.

56
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. severity, rigor

n. acrimony, irritability

A

asperity

(uh-sper-ih-tee)

synonyms: harshness, bad temper

The teacher’s asperity during the exam review surprised the students.

The meeting was filled with asperity, as the team members argued over project details.

57
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. immoral

adj. recklessly extravagant

A

profligate

(prof-lih-git)

synonyms: corrupt, degenerate; immoderate, lavish

His profligate spending habits eventually led to financial ruin.

The profligate lifestyle of the celebrities often overshadowed their charitable efforts.

58
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. abundant

adj. freely giving or spending

A

profuse

(pruh-fewss)

synonyms: excessive, extravagant, plentiful

The garden was filled with profuse blooms in vibrant colors during spring.

His profuse compliments made everyone feel appreciated and valued.

59
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unlucky, unfortunate, luckless

A

hapless

(hap-liss)

synonyms: luckless, jinxed

The hapless traveler lost his wallet on the first day of his vacation.

60
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a prediction

adj. indicating future events

A

prognostic

(prog-noss-tick)

synonyms: omen, foreboding, warning, prophecy

The doctor’s prognostic suggested that the patient would recover fully within six months.

The dark clouds were prognostic of an impending storm.

61
Q

Define:

proliferate

(pruh-lif-er-ehyt)

A

v. to grow and spread quickly

Tensions in the area _proliferate_d after the civilian casualties.

62
Q

Define:

puissant

(pyoo-uh-suhnt)

A

adj. powerful, mighty

A puissant leader can secure the success of an entire team.

63
Q

Define:

prone

(prone)

A

adj. lying face or front downward

adj. tending to behave or act a certain way

Lucy was prone to cheat on tests, so the teachers placed her in a separate room.

64
Q

Define:

propitiate

(proh-pish-ee-ehyt)

A

v. to appease

The custom was to propitiate the angry gods with a sacrifice.

65
Q

Define:

ineffable

(in-eff-uh-buhl)

A

adj. incapable of being described in words

After a long day you can find ineffable pleasure in a hot bath.

66
Q

Define:

propitious

(pruh-pish-us)

A

adj. favorable

The rainy weather was not propitious for the picnic they had planned.

67
Q

Define:

propound

(pruh-pound)

A

v. to propose or offer for consideration

To make her point about the dangers of sunburns, Kate propounded various theories about skin cancer and its links to ultraviolet radiation.

68
Q

Define:

propriety

(pruh-pry-ih-tee)

A

n. proper behavior

A model housewife, Mary valued propriety and manners over everything else.

69
Q

Define:

precipitate

(prih-sip-ih-teyt)

A

adj. acting with haste or on impulse

v. to cause or hasten an event

The officer took precipitate action and wound up making the situation even worse.

70
Q

Define:

prosaic

(pro-zay-ik)

A

adj. common; unimaginative

Kate’s realistic paintings of household objects were criticized as being too prosaic.

71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to grow and spread quickly

A

proliferate

(pruh-lif-er-ehyt)

synonyms: expand, develop

The use of smartphones has proliferated in recent years, transforming communication.

72
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. powerful, mighty

A

puissant

(pyoo-uh-suhnt)

synonyms: strong, formidable

The king was known for his puissant reign, commanding respect from all his subjects.

73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. lying face or front downward

adj. tending to behave or act a certain way

A

prone

(prone)

synonyms: face down, flat, horizontal; likely, susceptible

He was found prone on the ground after tripping during the race.

Her prone nature to overthink often led to unnecessary stress.

74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to appease

A

propitiate

(proh-pish-ee-ehyt)

synonyms: assuage, satisfy

He offered gifts to propitiate the angry spirits of the forest.

75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. incapable of being described in words

A

ineffable

(in-eff-uh-buhl)

synonyms: beyond words, indescribable

The beauty of the sunset was ineffable, leaving everyone speechless.

76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. favorable

A

propitious

(pruh-pish-us)

synonyms: good, beneficial

The clear skies and gentle breeze made for a propitious day for sailing.

77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to propose or offer for consideration

A

propound

(pruh-pound)

synonyms: counsel, advise, set forth

The scientist decided to propound a new theory to explain the phenomenon.

78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. proper behavior

A

propriety

(pruh-pry-ih-tee)

synonyms: correctness, accordance, courtesy

The committee emphasized the importance of propriety during formal events.

79
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. acting with haste or on impulse

v. to cause or hasten an event

A

precipitate

(prih-sip-ih-teyt)

synonyms: expedite, advance

His precipitate decision to quit his job left everyone in shock.

The heavy rains may precipitate flooding in low-lying areas.

80
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. common; unimaginative

A

prosaic

(pro-zay-ik)

synonyms: everyday, drab, dull

Her prosaic writing style failed to engage the readers’ interest.

81
Q

Define:

prudent

(proo-dent)

A

adj. practical; careful

His assistant was particularly prudent when it came to keeping the company’s secrets.

82
Q

Define:

advert

(ad-vurt)

A

v. to call or direct attention towards

As soon as Jim saw the unsafe guardrail, he adverted everyone to the problem.

83
Q

Define:

excoriate

(ik-skawr-ee-eyt)

A

v. to condemn scathingly

After the student’s repetitive acts of bullying, the principal excoriated him.

84
Q

Define:

insipid

(in-sip-id)

A

adj. bland, trite

The film’s insipid plot, like that of hundreds of others, centered on American agents thwarting a Russian spy ring.

85
Q

Define:

sublimate

(suhb-luh-meyt)

A

v. to change state of matter between solid and gaseous form without passing through a liquid stage

v. to modify the expression of an instinctual impulse in a socially acceptable manner

Dry ice sublimates directly from its solid ice form to the gas you see rising off of it.

She sublimated her intense anger into a subtle tapping of her foot.

86
Q

Define:

expatiate

(ik-spey-shee-eyt)

A

v. to discuss or write about at great length

Margie expatiated about her misfortunes until early in the morning.

87
Q

Define:

precipitous

(prih-sip-ih-tuhs)

A

adj. dangerously high or steep

adj. done hastily and without care

The economy suffered a precipitous decline in exports.

88
Q

Define:

necromancy

(nek-ruh-man-see)

A

n. the practice of communicating with the spirits of the dead

n. black magic, black arts, or sorcery

Aunt Pam claimed that necromancy was a way you could speak to your ancestors.

89
Q

Define:

truculent

(truhk-yuh-luhnt)

A

adj. cruel, ferocious, savage, brutal

The truculent dictator did not care about the well-being of his people.

90
Q

Define:

depravity

(dih-prav-ih-tee)

A

n. moral corruption or degradation

The various depravities of modern society include an unhealthy obsession with the lives and deaths of celebrities.

91
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. practical; careful

A

prudent

(proo-dent)

synonyms: canny, sagacious

It is prudent to save a portion of your income for emergencies.

92
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to call or direct attention towards

A

advert

(ad-vurt)

synonyms: observe, attend, point to

The speaker chose to advert to the recent changes in policy during his presentation.

93
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to condemn scathingly

A

excoriate

(ik-skawr-ee-eyt)

synonyms: berate, scathe, chastise

The critic did not hesitate to excoriate the film for its poor storyline and acting.

94
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. bland, trite

A

insipid

(in-sip-id)

synonyms: dull, uninteresting

The insipid meal left everyone unsatisfied and longing for more flavor.

95
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to change state of matter between solid and gaseous form without passing through a liquid stage

v. to modify the expression of an instinctual impulse in a socially acceptable manner

A

sublimate

(suhb-luh-meyt)

synonyms: refine, transfer, redirect

Dry ice sublimate at room temperature, turning directly from solid to gas.

He chose to sublimate his aggressive instincts by channeling them into competitive sports.

96
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to discuss or write about at great length

A

expatiate

(ik-spey-shee-eyt)

synonyms: elaborate, expound

The professor expatiated on the topic, providing extensive details and examples.

97
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. dangerously high or steep

adj. done hastily and without care

A

precipitous

(prih-sip-ih-tuhs)

synonyms: steep, arduous, high; impulsive, abrupt

The hiker carefully navigated the precipitous cliff to avoid falling.

His precipitous actions led to several mistakes that could have been avoided.

98
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the practice of allegedly communicating with the spirits of the dead

n. black magic, black arts, or sorcery

A

necromancy

(nek-ruh-man-see)

synonyms: sorcery, occultism

The ancient text detailed rituals of necromancy used to summon the spirits of the deceased.

The villagers whispered about the sorcerer’s necromancy, fearing his dark powers.

99
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. cruel, ferocious, savage, brutal

A

truculent

(truhk-yuh-luhnt)

synonyms: abusive, aggressive, hostile

The truculent dog barked menacingly at anyone who approached its territory.

100
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. moral corruption or degradation

A

depravity

(dih-prav-ih-tee)

synonyms: immorality, criminality

The novel explores the depravity of society through its characters’ unethical choices.