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Vocab Builder > Vocab Junkie - Set 8 > Flashcards

Vocab Junkie - Set 8 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:

impregnable

(im-preg-nuh-bul)

A

adj. able to withstand attack

The fortress was surrounded by a moat so as to make it impregnable.

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2
Q

Define:

daft

(daft)

A

adj. mad, crazy

adj. foolish

The daft man was walking about the room conversing with himself.

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3
Q

Define:

solemn

(sol-uhm)

A

adj. deeply earnest, grave

adj. of a very serious nature; gloomy

Carter’s solemn voice made his family suspect that a tragedy had occurred.

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4
Q

Define:

impromptu

(im-promp-too)

A

adj. spontaneously done without preparation

During a lull in the live broadcast, the host began an impromptu dance number with some of the contestants.

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5
Q

Define:

impudent

(im-pyuh-dent)

A

adj. improperly disrespectful

The girl was forced to apologize in front of the class for her impudent attitude towards her teachers.

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6
Q

Define:

bedizen

(bih-dahy-zuhn)

A

v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner

Paula was bedizened with gaudy decorations.

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7
Q

Define:

incense

(in-sense)

A

v. to make angry

The class’s behavior incensed the teacher to the point that she gave them all extra homework.

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8
Q

Define:

volition

(voh-lish-uhn)

A

n. a conscious decision or the capability of choosing

n. willingness

Though his friends had egged him on, it was determined that Pat stole the sunglasses of his own volition.

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9
Q

Define:

tamp

(tamp)

A

v. to plug

v. to drive in or down by a series of blows

They tamped down the soil around the base of the new sapling.

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10
Q

Define:

steel

(steel)

A

v. to make hard, strong or obdurate

v. to fill with determination

John realized that he would lose the chess match and steeled himself for disappointment.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. able to withstand attack

A

impregnable

(im-preg-nuh-bul)

synonyms: impenetrable, unassailable

The fortress was impregnable, with walls thick enough to withstand any attack.

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. mad, crazy

adj. foolish

A

daft

(daft)

synonyms: absurd, insane

His daft ideas often left his friends bewildered.

It was a daft decision to invest without doing proper research.

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. deeply earnest, grave

adj. of a very serious nature; gloomy

A

solemn

(sol-uhm)

synonyms: quiet, serious, grave, somber

The ceremony was solemn, reflecting the gravity of the occasion.

His solemn expression indicated he was deep in thought.

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. spontaneously done without preparation

A

impromptu

(im-promp-too)

synonyms: improvised, unrehearsed, spontaneous

The impromptu speech surprised everyone, but she delivered it confidently.

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. improperly disrespectful

A

impudent

(im-pyuh-dent)

synonyms: cocky, insolent, overbearing

His impudent remarks during the meeting shocked his colleagues.

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner

A

bedizen

(bih-dahy-zuhn)

synonyms: clothe, embellish, garnish

She chose to bedizen her outfit with gaudy accessories that clashed.

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make angry

A

incense

(in-sense)

synonyms: fire up, enrage

His rude comments served to incense the entire audience.

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a conscious decision or the capability of choosing

n. willingness

A

volition

(voh-lish-uhn)

synonyms: choice, option, preference

He made the decision of his own volition, without any pressure.

Her volition to help others was evident in her volunteer work.

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to plug

v. to drive in or down by a series of blows

A

tamp

(tamp)

synonyms: fill, jam; ram, butt, drive

He used a cloth to tamp the hole in the pipe temporarily.

The workers needed to tamp the soil to ensure stability.

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make hard, strong or obdurate

v. to fill with determination

A

steel

(steel)

synonyms: harden, toughen; brace, embolden

She had to steel herself for the difficult conversation ahead.

He steeled his resolve before tackling the challenging project.

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21
Q

Define:

gossamer

(goss-uh-murr)

A

adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy

The gossamer kite broke in two at the first gust of wind.

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22
Q

Define:

inimical

(ih-nim-ih-kuhl)

A

adj. hostile, unfriendly, unsupportive

The Antarctic is inimical to life.

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23
Q

Define:

vainglorious

(veyn-glawr-ee-us)

A

adj. boastful of one’s accomplishments or accolades; vain

Dave’s vainglorious attitude unfortunately overshadowed his considerable accomplishments.

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24
Q

Define:

pariah

(puh-rahy-uh)

A

n. an outcast; a rejected or despised person

Alex left the party feeling like a pariah.

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25
Q

Define:

indelible

(in-del-uh-buhl)

A

adj. impossible to remove or to forget

The memory of that day had become indelible in his mind.

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26
Q

Define:

byzantine

(biz-uhn-teen)

A

adj. complex, intricate, labyrinthine

The byzantine rules of the card game confused everyone.

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27
Q

Define:

inveigh

(in-vey)

A

v. to attack verbally, to deprecate

The protesters were inveighing against government policies.

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28
Q

Define:

peccadillo

(pek-uh-dil-oh)

A

n. slight infraction of rules, a minor sin

As a society, we tend to take our politicians to task over peccadilloes while overlooking the failings of our political system as a whole.

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29
Q

Define:

panegyric

(pan-ih-djirr-ik)

A

n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation

The mayor extended a panegyric to all of the citizens who were fighting overseas.

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30
Q

Define:

quaff

(kwaf)

A

v. to drink deeply; to intoxicate oneself with great enjoyment

He quaffed the pint in three hearty gulps.

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy

A

gossamer

(goss-uh-murr)

synonyms: thin, delicate, light, fragile

The gossamer fabric flowed gracefully in the breeze.

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. hostile, unfriendly

A

inimical

(ih-nim-ih-kuhl)

synonyms: antagonistic, harmful

The inimical environment made survival difficult for newcomers.

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. boastful of one’s accomplishments or accolades; vain

A

vainglorious

(veyn-glawr-ee-us)

synonyms: immodest, self-absorbed

His vainglorious boasting about his achievements alienated his friends.

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an outcast; a rejected or despised person

A

pariah

(puh-rahy-uh)

synonyms: vagabond, persona non grata

After the scandal, he became a pariah in his community.

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. impossible to remove or to forget

A

indelible

(in-del-uh-buhl)

synonyms: enduring, lasting, unforgettable

The indelible memories of her childhood stayed with her forever.

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. labyrinthine, complex. intricate

A

byzantine

(biz-uhn-teen)

synonyms: convoluted, elaborate

The byzantine regulations made it challenging for businesses to operate.

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to attack verbally, deprecate

A

inveigh

(in-vey)

synonyms: remonstrate, lambaste

She would often inveigh against the injustices she witnessed.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. slight infraction of rules, a minor sin

A

peccadillo

(pek-uh-dil-oh)

synonyms: faux pas, misdemeanor, vice

His minor peccadillo was quickly forgiven by his friends.

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39
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation

A

panegyric

(pan-ih-djirr-ik)

synonyms: flattery, compliment, credit

The mayor delivered a panegyric in honor of the retiring principal.

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40
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to drink deeply; to intoxicate oneself with great enjoyment

A

quaff

(kwaf)

synonyms: guzzle, swig

They gathered to quaff their drinks in celebration of the occasion.

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41
Q

Define:

inchoate

(in-koe-it)

A

adj. not fully formed

An inchoate sense of duty is no substitute for a sober assessment of the hardships that lie ahead if you decide to follow your husband to his remote post.

42
Q

Define:

essay

(n., ess-ey; v., ess-ey)

A

n. an attempt or trial

v. to test, try, experiment, investigate

My frequent essays at piano playing have only met with failure.

43
Q

Define:

incisive

(in-sahy-siv)

A

adj. quick to understand or perceptive

adj. clearly expressed; decisive

The boy’s incisive mind allowed him to excel in all of his classes.

44
Q

Define:

incorrigible

(in-kor-ih-juh-bull)

A

adj. unable to be corrected or reformed

Incorrigible juvenile offenders are sent to a special program within the prison.

45
Q

Define:

inculcate

(ing-cull-kate)

A

v. to teach by frequent repetition

Throughout the year, the faculty is expected to inculcate the essentials of fire safety in the students.

46
Q

Define:

indigenous

(in-didj-ih-nuss)

A

adj. originating in a certain place

The Aborigines are a people indigenous to Australia.

47
Q

Define:

indigent

(in-dih-djunt)

A

adj. extremely poor

The organization’s mission was to provide educational resources to indigent women in various countries.

48
Q

Define:

indolent

(in-dull-uhnt)

A

adj. habitually lazy

adj. causing little or no pain

The company’s owner decided to fire the most indolent workers first.

49
Q

Define:

redolent

(red-uhl-uhnt)

A

adj. fragrant, suggestive, or evocative

The fraternity house was redolent of stale beer and day-old pizza

50
Q

Define:

provident

(prov-ih-duhnt)

A

adj. looking to the future

adj. frugal

The young couple’s provident financial planning was an asset to them later in life.

51
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. not fully formed

A

inchoate

(in-koe-it)

synonyms: undeveloped, beginning, elementary

The inchoate project needed more planning before it could proceed.

52
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an attempt or trial

v. to test, try, experiment, investigate

A

essay

(n., ess-ey, v., ess-ey)

synonyms: experiment, endeavor, attempt, trial

His essay to improve the system was well-received.

She would essay various techniques to find the best solution.

53
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. quick to understand or perceptive

adj. clearly expressed; decisive

A

incisive

(in-sahy-siv)

synonyms: intelligent, quick; clear-cut

Her incisive analysis of the data impressed her colleagues.

His incisive comments clarified the complex issue.

54
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unable to be corrected or reformed

A

incorrigible

(in-kor-ih-juh-bull)

synonyms: rebellious, disobedient, incurable

The incorrigible child continued to misbehave despite repeated warnings.

55
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to teach by frequent repetition

A

inculcate

(ing-cull-kate)

synonyms: communicate, drill, instill

Teachers aim to inculcate critical thinking skills in their students.

56
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. originating in a certain place

A

indigenous

(in-didj-ih-nuss)

synonyms: native, inborn, aboriginal

The indigenous cultures of the region have a rich history.

57
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. extremely poor

A

indigent

(in-dih-djunt)

synonyms: destitute, impoverished

The indigent family received assistance from local charities.

58
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. habitually lazy

adj. causing little or no pain

A

indolent

(in-dull-uhnt)

synonyms: idle, lazy; insensitive

His indolent lifestyle prevented him from achieving his goals.

The indolent tumor was not causing any immediate health issues.

59
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. fragrant, suggestive or evocative

A

redolent

(red-uhl-uhnt)

synonyms: aromatic, imbued with

The kitchen was redolent of freshly baked bread and spices.

60
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. looking to the future

adj. frugal

A

provident

(prov-ih-duhnt)

synonyms: cautious, prepared; thrifty

Her provident planning ensured a secure retirement.

He was provident with his resources, always saving for a rainy day.

61
Q

Define:

untoward

(uhn-tawrd)

A

adj. troublesome, unruly, adverse, or indecent

This is not the first time I have noted untoward similarities between those two students’ papers.

62
Q

Define:

paean

(pee-uhn)

A

n. a song or expression of joy or praise

After their country won the World Cup, the band wrote a paean to the national team that became a Top 20 hit.

63
Q

Define:

aspersion

(uh-spur-zhuhn)

A

n. the act of defamation or maligning; a derogatory remark

The aspersions cast by his political opponent took weeks to eradicate.

64
Q

Define:

lucid

(lue-sid)

A

adj. easy to understand

adj. transparent (permitting light to pass through)

adj. having a clear mind

The artist was unable to express his abstract ideas in a lucid manner.

65
Q

Define:

luminous

(lue-muh-nus)

A

adj. emitting light; bright

adj. enlightening

My friend raves about this “luminous” collection of poems, though I didn’t think it was particularly insightful.

66
Q

Define:

luxuriant

(lug-zhure-ee-unt)

A

adj. growing in extreme abundance

adj. luxurious and complexly detailed

Anne’s luxuriant garden was considered the nicest in the neighborhood.

67
Q

Define:

malevolent

(muh-lev-uh-lunt)

A

adj. wishing evil on others

The malevolent old woman was always trying to make her neighbors miserable.

68
Q

Define:

manifest

(man-ih-fest)

A

n. a list of the people aboard a ship or plane

adj. clearly apparent

v. to exhibit a quality

Linda’s laziness was manifest in the messy state of her apartment.

69
Q

Define:

mannered

(man-urd)

A

adj. artificial or affected

The pretentious socialite had a mannered way of speaking that did not impress many of her peers.

70
Q

Define:

mantle

(man-tul)

A

n. a covering or concealing object

n. a symbol of power or duty

Amid the spate of resignations at town hall, the untested woman was forced to accept the mantle of leadership as the town’s youngest mayor ever.

71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. troublesome, unruly, adverse, or indecent

A

untoward

(uhn-tawrd)

synonyms: problematic, objectionable

The untoward incident disrupted the otherwise smooth event.

72
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a song or expression of joy or praise

A

paean

(pee-uhn)

synonyms: hymn, melody

The choir sang a paean to celebrate the community’s achievements.

73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the act of defamation or maligning; derogatory remark

A

aspersion

(uh-spur-zhuhn)

synonyms: abuse, belittlement

The politician cast aspersion on his opponent’s character during the debate.

74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. easy to understand

adj. transparent (permitting light to pass through)

adj. having a clear mind

A

lucid

(lue-sid)

synonyms: clearheaded, sensible, unblurred

The professor’s lucid explanations made complex concepts accessible to all students.

The water was so lucid that they could see the bottom of the lake.

After a good night’s sleep, she felt lucid and ready to tackle the day.

75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. emitting light; bright

adj. enlightening

A

luminous

(lue-muh-nus)

synonyms: glowing; edifying

The luminous stars lit up the night sky.

Her luminous ideas inspired the entire team.

76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. growing in extreme abundance

adj. luxurious and complexly detailed

A

luxuriant

(lug-zhure-ee-unt)

synonyms: fertile, lush, prolific

The luxuriant garden was filled with vibrant flowers.

The hotel room featured luxuriant furnishings and decor.

77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. wishing evil on others

A

malevolent

(muh-lev-uh-lunt)

synonyms: hateful, malicious, malignant

The malevolent glare from the villain sent shivers down her spine.

78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a list of the people aboard a ship or plane

adj. clearly apparent

v. to exhibit a quality

A

manifest

(man-ih-fest)

synonyms: ledger; conspicuous, unambiguous; demonstrate, show

The manifest listed all the passengers aboard the ship.

His disappointment was manifest in his downcast expression.

She hoped to manifest her dreams through hard work and determination.

79
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. artificial or affected

A

mannered

(man-urd)

synonyms: unnatural, stilted

His mannered speech sounded artificial and pretentious.

80
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a covering or concealing object

n. a symbol of power or duty

A

mantle

(man-tul)

synonyms: cloak, covering

The mantle of the fireplace was adorned with family photos.

He accepted the mantle of leadership with pride.

81
Q

Define:

mar

(mar)

A

v. to make imperfect

n. a mark that damages the appearance of something

Although entertaining and well-written, the screenplay was marred by its dependence on stereotypes instead of well-developed characters.

82
Q

Define:

martinet

(mar-tih-net)

A

n. one who demands strict adherence to rules

The nanny was hired for the unruly children because of her reputation as a martinet who would be sure to keep them in line.

83
Q

Define:

matrix

(may-tricks)

A

n. a place in which something originates or develops

This computer program is the matrix for the movie’s digital art.

84
Q

Define:

palette

(pal-it)

A

n. a board used by artists to mix paint colors

n. a range of colors

The poor artist managed to make an interesting piece with a palette of only black and white.

85
Q

Define:

paradigm

(pair-ih-dahym)

A

n. a standard example

n. a pattern or model

He used the Civil War as a historical paradigm to support his point.

86
Q

Define:

paramount

(pair-ih-mount)

A

adj. most important

Educational reform was a paramount issue for both mayoral candidates.

87
Q

Define:

parch

(parch)

A

v. to make dry

v. to make thirsty

The sun’s intense heat parched the ground and wilted the leaves on the trees.

88
Q

Define:

parsimonious

(par-suh-moh-nee-us)

A

adj. frugal; cheap

Her aunt was too parsimonious to chip in for the family’s annual reunion.

89
Q

Define:

pathology

(pah-thol-uh-djee)

A

n. the study of disease

n. a disease’s progression or manifestation

An oncologist concerns herself with the pathology of cancer.

90
Q

Define:

paucity

(paw-suh-tee)

A

n. a small amount

The paucity of resources meant the film had to be made with unpaid actors and few crew members.

91
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make imperfect

n. a mark that damages the appearance of something

A

mar

(mar)

synonyms: hurt, blemish, ruin

A single scratch can mar the surface of the beautiful table.

The mar on the painting diminished its overall value.

92
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. one who demands strict adherence to rules

A

martinet

(mar-tih-net)

synonyms: authoritarian, enforcer

The teacher was a martinet, insisting on strict discipline in her classroom.

93
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a place in which something originates or develops

A

matrix

(may-tricks)

synonyms: forge, source, origin

The _matrix _for the new product was developed in the research lab.

94
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a board used by artists to mix paint colors

n. a range of colors

A

palette

(pal-it)

synonyms: paint board, spectrum

The artist arranged her paints on the palette before starting.

The designer chose a warm palette for the living room.

95
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a standard example

n. a pattern or model

A

paradigm

(pair-ih-dahym)

synonyms: archetype, template

The new model serves as a paradigm for future designs.

This paradigm shift in thinking has transformed the industry.

96
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. most important

A

paramount

(pair-ih-mount)

synonyms: principal, prominent, significant

Safety is paramount when conducting experiments in the lab.

97
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make dry

v. to make thirsty

A

parch

(parch)

synonyms: dehydrate, dry, evaporate

The sun will parch the fields if it doesn’t rain soon.

The long hike in the heat left him feeling parched.

98
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. frugal; cheap

A

parsimonious

(par-suh-moh-nee-us)

synonyms: penurious, miserly, simple

Her parsimonious habits saved her money but often frustrated her friends.

99
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the study of disease

n. a disease’s progression or manifestation

A

pathology

(pah-thol-uh-djee)

synonyms: disease science

He specialized in pathology to understand diseases better.

The pathology of the illness revealed its effects over time.

100
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a small amount

A

paucity

(paw-suh-tee)

synonyms: lack, scarcity

The paucity of resources made it difficult to complete the project on time.

101
Q

Where can you get more Brainscape vocab cards?

A

Get SAT Vocab or GRE Vocab, each of which have even more words than this product!

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