Vocab Junkie - Set 5 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:
aseptic
(uh-sep-tik)
adj. free of pathogens or germs
adj. with little or no emotion
Doctors are always careful to use aseptic surgical equipment to prevent infection.
Define:
prolix
(proh-liks)
adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length
The prolix manuscript took days to read.
Define:
foolhardy
(fool-hahr-dee)
adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash
It was a foolhardy attempt to climb the Sears Tower that went very wrong.
Define:
picaresque
(pik-uh-resk)
adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure
Huck Finn is a picaresque hero.
Define:
raucous
(raw-kuhs)
adj. rough sounding, harsh
adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly
The raucous laughter went on long into the night.
Define:
providential
(prov-ih-den-shuhl)
adj. to occur as if from divine intervention
His providential recovery, when it seemed that he would surely succumb, brought hope to many.
Define:
antipodal
(an-tip-uh-dl)
adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite
adj. on the opposite side of the earth
The couple had totally antipodal personalities, but they enjoyed each other’s company.
Define:
pillory
(pill-uh-ree)
v. to punish; to hold up for public scorning
n. a wooden framework with holes for head and hands, in which criminal offenders are held
Dan was pilloried in class for his inability to spell “potato”.
Define:
infelicitous
(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)
adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate
In Thailand, it is considered infelicitous to touch someone’s head.
Define:
dilatory
(dil-uh-tawr-ee)
adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate
adj. intended to slow progress
Courtney employed dilatory tactics in the debate in order to collect her thoughts, but the judges noticed and she was docked a point.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. free of pathogens or germs
adj. with little or no emotion
aseptic
(uh-sep-tik)
synonyms: barren, clean; withdrawn, introverted
The surgeon ensured the operating room was aseptic before beginning the procedure.
His aseptic demeanor made it difficult for others to gauge his true feelings.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length
prolix
(proh-liks)
synonyms: lengthy, rambling
The prolix report could have been summarized in just a few pages.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash
foolhardy
(fool-hahr-dee)
synonyms: daredevil, venturous, risky
His foolhardy decision to hike alone in the storm was met with concern from his friends.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure
picaresque
(pik-uh-resk)
synonyms: roguish, satirical
The novel’s picaresque style follows a witty antihero on a series of misadventures.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rough sounding, harsh
adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly
raucous
(raw-kuhs)
synonyms: noisy, chaotic
The raucous laughter from the crowd filled the room, creating a lively atmosphere.
The raucous party continued late into the night, with music blaring and people dancing wildly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. to occur as if from divine intervention
providential
(prov-ih-den-shuhl)
synonyms: accidental, convenient, fortunate
Their meeting at the café felt providential, as it led to a long-lasting friendship.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite
adj. on the opposite side of the earth
antipodal
(an-tip-uh-dl)
synonyms: opposed, contrary, counter
The two countries had antipodal cultures, with vastly different traditions and beliefs.
The antipodal point of New York City lies in the Indian Ocean.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to punish; to hold up for public scorning
n. a wooden framework with holes for head and hands, in which criminal offenders are held
pillory
(pill-uh-ree)
synonyms: ridicule, abuse
The media pilloried the politician for his controversial remarks, leading to widespread outrage.
The criminal was displayed in the pillory as a public warning against wrongdoing.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate
infelicitous
(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)
synonyms: improper, ill suited
His infelicitous comments during the meeting only added to the tension in the room.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate
adj. intended to slow progress
dilatory
(dil-uh-tawr-ee)
synonyms: dallying, sluggish, tardy
Her dilatory approach to completing assignments often resulted in last-minute stress.
The dilatory tactics employed by the defense lawyer frustrated the prosecution’s efforts to expedite the trial.
Define:
overweening
(oh-ver-wee-ning)
adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited; overconfident, overbearing
Ian made the overweening assumption that people would rush to help him.
Define:
neologism
(nee-awl-uh-djiz-uhm)
n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words
“Technophile” is a neologism, just as “UFO” once was.
Define:
lassitude
(lass-ih-tood)
n. a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body
The extreme heat led to a general lassitude that settled on the village from May to October.
Define:
locution
(loh-kyoo-shuhn)
n. a particular word, phrase, or style used by a person or group
n. style of speaking, phraseology
The newcomers were fascinated by the Aussie’s locution.
Define:
jocose
(joh-kohss)
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
The jocose innkeeper could always be counted on for a bit of levity.
Define:
rend
(rend)
v. to forcibly take
v. to tear apart
The three-year-old decided she wanted to play with the teddy bear, so she rent it from her infant sister’s hands.
Define:
stanch
(stawnch)
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
The doctor’s attempt to stanch the flow of blood eventually succeeded, and the patient’s blood pressure stabilized.
Define:
solder
(sod-er)
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
Harry soldered the bits of scrap metal together to make a pet door.
Define:
demure
(duh-myoor)
adj. modest, shy
Lindsay was demure and had a tough time opening up to new people.
Define:
insensible
(in-sen-suh-buhl)
adj. unconscious, unresponsive
The boxer lay insensible on the floor of the ring.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited, overconfident, overbearing
overweening
(oh-ver-wee-ning)
synonyms: brash, conceited, pompous
His overweening confidence in his abilities often alienated his colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words
neologism
(nee-awl-uh-djiz-uhm)
synonyms: synthetic word, new phrase
The tech industry is known for its constant neologism, introducing terms like “selfie” and “hashtag.”
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body
lassitude
(lass-ih-tood)
synonyms: lethargy, weariness, inaction
After the long meeting, a sense of lassitude settled over the team, making it hard to focus.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a particular word, phrase, or style used by a person or group
n. style of speaking, phraseology
locution
(loh-kyoo-shuhn)
synonyms: phrasing, expression, lingo
Her locution revealed her background, with distinct phrases typical of her region.
The author’s unique locution made her writing instantly recognizable.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
jocose
(joh-kohss)
synonyms: facetious, humorous, funny
His jocose remarks during the meeting lightened the mood and made everyone laugh.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly take
v. to tear apart
rend
(rend)
synonyms: break, divide, rip
The storm seemed to rend the branches from the trees with violent winds.
The lion’s powerful jaws can rend its prey in seconds.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
stanch
(stawnch)
synonyms: to cease the flow of a liquid
The medic worked quickly to stanch the flow of blood from the wound.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
solder
(sod-er)
synonyms: fasten, braze
The technician used a torch to solder the metal pieces together securely.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. modest, shy
demure
(duh-myoor)
synonyms: reserved, bashful, coy
Her demure demeanor made her stand out in the lively crowd.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unconscious, unresponsive
insensible
(in-sen-suh-buhl)
synonyms: cold, numb, inanimate
He lay insensible on the ground after fainting from exhaustion.
Define:
rail
(reyl)
v. to complain bitterly
The citizens railed against the injustice of the federal land grab in tersely-worded editorials and letters to the editor.
Define:
noisome
(noy-suhm)
adj. having an extremely foul scent, offensive or harmful
The noisome odor of the garbage nauseated Audrey.
Define:
mellifluous
(muh-lif-loo-uhs)
adj. sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds)
Lucy’s mellifluous voice was noted by her interviewer.
Define:
inveterate
(in-vet-er-it)
adj. established, habitual, deep-rooted
It was Tony’s inveterate preference to drink orange juice every morning.
Define:
coterie
(koh-tuh-ree)
n. a small or exclusive group of people with common interests
The coterie of musicians began to meet on Tuesday nights and eventually established a weekly concert series.
Define:
impugn
(im-pyoon)
v. to challenge or attack one’s beliefs or motives as false
The candidate went too far when he began to impugn the character of his opponent’s husband.
Define:
voluble
(vol-yuh-buhl)
adj. able to speak easily and in quantity, glib, talkative
The voluble speaker talked late into the night.
Define:
misogynist
(mih-sodj-uh-nist)
n. one who hates women
The song contained several lyrics that were so offensive to women that the singer was immediately labeled a misogynist.
Define:
pedagogy
(ped-uh-goh-djee)
n. the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
Training in pedagogy can’t prepare you for manic third graders.
Define:
ambient
(am-bee-uhnt)
adj. relating to the immediate surroundings; surrounding environment
The low ambient lighting made for a romantic dinner setting.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to complain bitterly
rail
(reyl)
synonyms: berate, abuse, complain
He would often rail against the unfair treatment he received at work.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. offensive or harmful
noisome
(noy-suhm)
synonyms: repulsive, dangerous
The noisome odor from the garbage bin made it difficult to stay in the room.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds)
mellifluous
(muh-lif-loo-uhs)
synonyms: euphonic, harmonic, mellow, pleasing
Her mellifluous voice captivated the audience during the concert.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. established, habitual, deep-rooted
inveterate
(in-vet-er-it)
synonyms: chronic, habitual, ingrained
He was an inveterate gambler, unable to resist the lure of the casino.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a small or exclusive group of people with common interests
coterie
(koh-tuh-ree)
synonyms: clique, crowd, collective
The artist was surrounded by a coterie of fellow creatives who shared her vision.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to challenge or attack one’s beliefs or motives as false
impugn
(im-pyoon)
synonyms: criticize, challenge
The politician attempted to impugn his opponent’s integrity during the debate.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. able to speak easily and in quantity, glib, talkative
voluble
(vol-yuh-buhl)
synonyms: articulate, chatty, conversational
She was a voluble speaker, captivating the audience with her engaging storytelling.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one who hates women
misogynist
(mih-sodj-uh-nist)
synonyms: sexist, chauvinist
His misogynist remarks during the meeting sparked outrage among his colleagues.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
pedagogy
(ped-uh-goh-djee)
synonyms: education, apprenticeship, discipline
Her innovative approach to pedagogy transformed the classroom into an engaging learning environment.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. relating to the immediate surroundings; surrounding environment
ambient
(am-bee-uhnt)
synonyms: environment, atmosphere
The ambient light in the café created a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Define:
inquest
(in-kwest)
n. a judicial inquiry of some matter held before a jury
n. an investigation, inquiry
The police opened an inquest into the cause of death.
Define:
preen
(preen)
v. to primp, to dress up
v. to clean fur or feathers of an animal
The bird preened its feathers with its beak for a few moments before taking flight.
Define:
parry
(pear-ee)
v. to block, evade, or ward off
The politician parried the reporter’s questions with a few of her own.
Define:
guy
(gahy)
n. rope or cord attached to something as a brace
I was nervous that the guy for the pully would snap.
Define:
sallow
(sal-oh)
adj. of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion
There was a large number of sallow-looking patients in the doctor’s office.
Define:
plangent
(plan-djuhnt)
adj. pounding, thundering, resounding
The plangent honking of geese flying overhead jolted me awake.
Define:
peripatetic
(per-uh-puh-tet-ik)
adj. itinerant, nomadic
A peripatetic existence can take its toll on your relationships with the ones you love.
Define:
rue
(roo)
v. to regret; to feel or experience remorse
I rued the day I ever let her go.
Define:
macerate
(mass-uh-reyt)
v. to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose
v. to emaciate; to starve
Now, we will macerate the rest of the melon in hot water so we can use it to flavor the cream.
Define:
callow
(kal-oh)
adj. lacking maturity or experience
A callow young man was tormenting the elderly in the park.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a judicial inquiry of some matter held before a jury.
n. an investigation, inquiry
inquest
(in-kwest)
synonyms: a judicial inquiry, an official review before a panel
The inquest revealed new evidence about the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death.
The police conducted an inquest to determine the cause of the accident.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to primp, to dress up
v. to clean fur or feathers of an animal
preen
(preen)
synonyms: beautify, groom, brush, doll up
She took a moment to preen herself before the important meeting, ensuring she looked her best.
The cat began to preen its fur, ensuring it was clean and tidy.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to block, evade, or ward off
parry
(pear-ee)
synonyms: block, dodge, circumvent
He managed to parry the opponent’s strikes with skillful movements.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. rope or cord attached to something as a brace
guy
(gahy)
synonyms: cable, wire, rope
The construction crew used a strong guy wire to secure the tall scaffold, ensuring it was stable and safe for the workers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion
sallow
(sal-oh)
synonyms: pale, unhealthy-looking, jaundiced
His sallow complexion was a clear sign that he had been unwell for days.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pounding, thundering, resounding
plangent
(plan-djuhnt)
synonyms: booming, loud, roaring
The plangent notes of the piano echoed through the empty hall, evoking deep emotions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. itinerant, nomadic
peripatetic
(per-uh-puh-tet-ik)
synonyms: migrant, vagrant, wandering
The peripatetic lifestyle of the traveler allowed her to explore new cultures and places constantly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to regret; to feel or experience remorse
rue
(roo)
synonyms: feel remorse, grieve for
He began to rue his decision to skip college after seeing his friends succeed.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose
v. to emaciate; to starve
macerate
(mass-uh-reyt)
synonyms: soak, dissolve
To prepare the dish, you should macerate the strawberries in sugar for an hour.
The harsh conditions in the wilderness caused him to macerate, losing weight rapidly.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lacking maturity or experience
callow
(kal-oh)
synonyms: immature, foolish
The callow intern struggled to keep up with the demands of the fast-paced office.
Define:
wistful
(wist-fuhl)
adj. yearning, longing, or melancholy
The child stared wistfully out the window for days, waiting for her dog to return.
Define:
corroborate
(kuh-rob-uh-rehyt)
v. to confirm or validate
The mailman corroborated the alleged thief’s story, confirming that he had merely been passing by when the robbery occurred.
Define:
couch
(couch)
v. to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way
Her criticism was couched in flattering terms so that her coworker wouldn’t take offense.
Define:
innervate
(ih-nur-veyt)
v. to give nervous energy to; to supply with nerves
The team was innervated by the coach’s pep talk and approached the second half with renewed energy.
Define:
impecunious
(im-puh-kyoo-nee-us)
adj. poor; without any money
A graduate student generally leads an impecunious existence.
Define:
grovel
(gruhv-uhl)
v. to behave in a servile manner
v. to indulge in unworthy pursuits
The servants groveled at the king’s throne.
Define:
epicurean
(ep-ih-kyoo-ree-uhn)
adj. characterized by luxury (esp. in terms of food and drink) or by a propensity for indulging in luxury
The cruise was marketed as an epicurean adventure through the cuisines of four Caribbean nations.
Define:
hirsute
(hur-soot)
adj. hairy, shaggy
A hirsute sheepdog won the Dog Showing Contest.
Define:
countenance
(koun-tuh-nunce)
n. appearance of a person’s face
v. to permit, to allow
Many people thought she was friendly because of her kindly countenance.
Define:
scurvy
(skur-vee)
adj. not admirable, despicable
The scurvy pirate secured his escape by throwing gun powder into the eyes of his pursuers.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. yearning, longing, or melancholy
wistful
(wist-fuhl)
synonyms: forlorn, reflective
She gazed out the window with a wistful expression, reminiscing about her childhood.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to confirm or validate
corroborate
(kuh-rob-uh-rehyt)
synonyms: affirm, validate, give further supporting evidence
The witness’s testimony helped to corroborate the defendant’s alibi.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way
couch
(couch)
synonyms: formulate, phrase, surround
He chose to couch his criticism in diplomatic language to avoid offending anyone.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give nervous energy to; to supply with nerves
innervate
(ih-nur-veyt)
synonyms: invigorate, evoke, stimulate
The medication helped to innervate the affected muscles, improving his mobility.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. poor; without any money
impecunious
(im-puh-kyoo-nee-us)
synonyms: destitute, impoverished
The impecunious artist struggled to make ends meet while pursuing his passion.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to behave in a servile manner
v. to indulge in unworthy pursuits
grovel
(gruhv-uhl)
synonyms: beg, serve
He began to grovel for forgiveness after realizing the severity of his mistake.
She refused to grovel in petty rivalries, choosing instead to focus on her goals.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. characterized by luxury (esp. in terms of food and drink) or by a propensity for indulging in luxury
epicurean
(ep-ih-kyoo-ree-uhn)
synonyms: gluttonous, libertine
The epicurean feast featured exquisite dishes and fine wines, delighting all the guests.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. hairy, shaggy
hirsute
(hur-soot)
synonyms: furry, wooly
The hirsute dog needed a grooming session to tame its unruly fur.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. appearance of a person’s face
v. to permit, to allow
countenance
(koun-tuh-nunce)
synonyms: aspect, demeanor, expression, face
Her cheerful countenance brightened the room and lifted everyone’s spirits.
The teacher countenanced a few late submissions due to extenuating circumstances.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not admirable, despicable
scurvy
(skur-vee)
synonyms: abominable, low-down
His scurvy behavior during the project earned him the disdain of his colleagues.
