Vocab R and S Flashcards
The attorney representing the school offered a “rebuttal” to the family’s case accusing the school of not providing a good education.
(n) ree-BUT-ul
an opposing argument meant to disprove
SYNONYM: answer, confutation, counter argument, counter accusation, counterclaim, defense, explanation, justification, reaction, refutation, rejoinder, reply
The “ramification” of not researching the impact of using corn as a fuel source in the new car model was tremendous. Apparently, corn becomes pop corn when the car heats up. Imagine that!
(n) RAM-uh-fuh-KAY-shun
the consequences of something; an offshoot, outgrowth
SYNONYM: complexity, development, elaborateness, intricacy
The teacher “reiterated” the importance of following the rubric to get a good grade for the class project.
(v) ree-IT-uhr-ayt
to say or do again; to make a point strongly
SYNONYM: echo, iterate, recapitulate, rehash, restate
The “residual” from the oil spill is damaging to the coastal ecosystem and the environment.
(adj) ri-ZIH-oo-uhl
leftover
SYNONYM: extra, remaining, surplus, unconsumed, unused, vestigial
The judge ordered the teenager to clean up the mess and do yard work for a year as “restitution” for the graffiti he sprayed on the old man’s house.
(n) res-ti-TOO-shuhn
compensation, repayment
SYNONYM: amends, recompense, redress, reparation, restoration
The posts under the counter were very “robust”. The drill bit broke when I tried to put a nail through the post. The wood is very hard.
(adj) roh-BUST
strong and healthy
SYNONYM: able-bodied, athletic, brawny, flourishing, hale, hardy, hearty, hefty, potent, powerful, prospering, sinewy, stout, strapping, sturdy, thriving, vigorous, vital
The “rotund” butcher is the epitome of a man who loves good food. And it shows!
(adj) roh-TUHND
fat
SYNONYM: beefy, burly, chunky, elephantine, heavyset, hefty, husky, overweight, plump, portly, roly-poly, stout, tubby, weighty
The “ruddy” farmer looked more red than a tomato. He had spent the whole day on the field and the sun was blazing hot.
(adj) RUHD-ee
pinkish, blushing
SYNONYM: crimson, florid, flushed, glowing, healthy, rosy, rubicund, sanguine
Cells are the “rudimentary” building blocks of life.
(adj) roo-duh-MEN-tuh-ree
basic, fundamental; undeveloped
SYNONYM: basal, beginning, crude, early, elemental, elementary, embryonic, immature, initial, introductory, primary, primitive, uncompleted, undeveloped, unrefined
The politician did not touch the topic of reducing the health benefits for union workers, which is considered a “sacred cow” with the union. This is ridiculous because the tax payers have to forgo their health benefits to pay additional taxes that gets union workers better health care…
(n) SAY-kred-KOW
status of being immune from criticism or reproach, often unreasonably
SYNONYM: celestial, religious, spiritual, untouchable
The questioning of the bible verses was considered a “sacrilege” by the old orthodox priests in the ancient times. How times have changes. These days the priests welcome a discussion and debate to engage their community.
(n) SAK-ruh-lij
blasphemy; a violation of the holy or sacred
SYNONYM: defilement, desecration, irreverence
“Salutations my friend” … I hope things bode well for you and your family.
(n) sal-yuh-TEY-shuhn
a greeting
SYNONYM: address, aloha, hail, hello, salute
The Congress “sanctioned” additional funds to buy more arms and defense equipment for the troops in the middle east war zone.
(v) SANGH-shuhn
to authorize, confirm
SYNONYM: approve, certify, commission, endorse, license, permit, ratify, warrant
The food critic was completely “sated” after his meal at the new diner. Needless to say, the diner will get a great review.
(v) seyt
to satisfy
SYNONYM: gratify, satiate, surfeit
The detectives “scrutinized” every person the murdered victim came in contact with. They left no detail or person out of their investigation. This was a high profile case that got a lot of visibility with public. People were expecting quick and final results.
(v) SKROO-tuh-nize
to examine closely and minutely
SYNONYM: analyze, explore, inspect, observe, study
India is a “secular” country. The constitution respects and allows religious freedom. Saudi Arabia is the opposite - they only recognize and support public worship of Islam. All the other religions are not allowed to be practiced publicly.
(adj) SEK-yoo-lur
of the everyday world; worldly, not religious or ecclesiastical
SYNONYM: earthly, profane, temporal
Touching and playing with a sack full of rice is a “sensory” experience. Kids love feeling their hands play with the many grains of rice.
(adj) SEN-suh-ree
of or relating to sensation or the senses
SYNONYM: receptive, sensual, tactile
The “somnolent” sloth is the most sleepy of the 10 sloths in the zoo. The zoo keepers were worried because that amount of sleep did not seem normal even for a sloth.
(adj) SOM-nuh-luhnt
sleepy
SYNONYM: drowsy, listless, soporific, tired
The tribe had a powerful “soothsayer” who was respected and feared for his visions of the future, all over the country.
(n) SOOTH-sey-er
a seer
SYNONYM: augur, clairvoyant, diviner, forecaster, oracle, prognosticator, prophet, psychic
The attorneys left the “sordid” details out. The murder was gruesome and they did not want to traumatize the victim’s family with any more details.
(adj) SOR-did
disgusting, filthy; squalid
SYNONYM: dirty, foul, miserable, wretched
The “squalor” conditions that he grew up became the backbone of his community service. He was dedicated to improving the living conditions for families and children.
(n) SKWAHL-ur
repulsive living conditions; filth
SYNONYM: decay, destitution, foulness, impoverishment, indigence, poverty, seediness, wretchedness
The “stolid” speech by the father was a brave attempt and hid the emotions he felt in loosing his son to cancer.
(adj) STOL-id
marked by an absence of emotion, interest, or sensibility
SYNONYM: dense, impassive, indifferent, stoic, unemotional, wooden
The general deployed a “stratagem” that confused the enemies, and helped the general capture the castle.
(n) STRAT-uh-juhm
a clever, often underhand, scheme
SYNONYM: artifice, con, gimmick, maneuver, ploy, pretext, racket, ruse, setup, subterfuge, wile
The yard had “stratums” of different soil quality. This impacted the health of the plants. The owner is looking at different options to improve soil quality.
(n) STRAT-um
a layer or level
SYNONYM: gradation, grade, lamina, level
The work of a tile installer is “strenuous”. They have a lot of physical strain when they lay down floor tiles.
(adj) STREN-yoo-uhs
difficult; requiring hard work
SYNONYM: arduous, demanding, exhausting, laborious, taxing
The farmer’s family found it difficult to “subsist” on the money left over after paying taxes to the King.
(v) suhb-SIST
to live, exist
SYNONYM: manage, survive, sustain
I don’t get the “subtle” shades of white paints for the walls. They all look the same to me.
(adj) SUT-ul
not obvious
SYNONYM: faint, illusive, inconspicuous, indistinct, slight, tenuous, understated
In spite of the best doctors attending to his wounds, the soldier “succumbed” to the infection of the injuries and passed away last night.
(v) suh-KUM
to give in to; to yield, including, to die
SYNONYM: capitulate, relent, surrender
The laughing gas helped me with my tooth extraction. I had a “surreal” experience during the extraction. I even fell asleep.
(adj) suh-REEL
having the intense irrational reality of a dream
SYNONYM: delusory, dreamlike, irrational
