Vocab Words Flashcards
1
Q
Abandon
A
Complete lack of inhibition or restraint
2
Q
Abrasive
A
Showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh
3
Q
Abreast
A
Up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information
4
Q
Abridge
A
Shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense
5
Q
Abstruse
A
Difficult to understand; obsucre
6
Q
Accentuate
A
To make (something) more prominent or noticeable
7
Q
Accord
A
An official agreement or treaty
8
Q
Acerbic
A
Sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone
9
Q
Acquisitive
A
Excessively interested in acquiring money or material things
10
Q
Activism
A
The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.
11
Q
Acumen
A
Superior insight; quickness and shrewdness of judgement, especially in practical matters
12
Q
Acute
A
Present or experienced to a severe or intense degree
13
Q
Acute (2)
A
Having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd.
14
Q
Adroit
A
Clever or skillful in using the hands or mind
15
Q
Adulation
A
Obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise
16
Q
Aesthetic
A
Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
17
Q
Affable
A
Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to
18
Q
Affectation
A
Behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress
19
Q
Aghast
A
Filled with horror or shock
20
Q
Alacrity
A
Brisk and cheerful readiness
21
Q
Alienate
A
Cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged
22
Q
Aloof
A
Conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste
23
Q
Ambiguity
A
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness
24
Q
Ambivalent
A
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
25
Ameliorate
Make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better, improve
26
Amiable
Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
27
Amuse
Cause (someone) to find something funny; entertain
28
Anachronism
Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed
29
Antagonistic
Showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something
30
Antedate
Precede in time; come before (something) in date
31
Antiquity
The ancient past, especially the period before the middle ages
32
Antithesis
A contrast or opposition between two things
33
Apathy
Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
34
Aplomb
Complete and confident composure or self-assurance
35
Apologist
A person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial
36
Apposite
Apt in the circumstances or in relation to something
37
Appropriate
Take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission
38
Arbitrary
Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
39
Arcane
Understood by few; mysterious or secret
40
Arduous
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
41
Articulate
(Of a person's words) having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently
42
Assertive
Having or showing a confident and forceful personality
43
Assiduous
Showing great care and perseverance
44
Astonish
Surprise or impress (someone) greatly
45
Astound
Shock or greatly surprise
46
Attainment
A thing achieved, especially a skill or educational achievement
47
Attribute
Regard something as being caused by (someone or something)
48
Augment
Make (something) greater by adding to it; increase
49
Austerity
Extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance
50
Aversion
A strong dislike or disinclination
51
Avert
Prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence
52
Banal
So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
53
Banish
Send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment
54
Bearing
Relation; relevance
55
Befriend
Act as a friend to (someone) by offering help or support
56
Beguile
Charm or enchant (someone). sometimes in a deceptive way
57
Beguile (2)
Trick (someone) into doing
58
Beguile (3)
Help (time) pass pleasantly
59
Beholden
Owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service
60
Belie
(Of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict
61
Bemuse
Puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone)
62
Benign
Harmless, kind, gentle
63
Betray
Unintentionally reveal; be evidence of
64
Bias
Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair
65
Blemish
Spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect
66
Blight
Have a severely detrimental effect on
67
Blithe
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
68
Blunt
(Of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright
69
Bogus
Not genuine or true; fake
70
Bolster
Support or strengthen; prop up
71
Boon
A thing that is helpful or beneficial
72
Braggart
A person who boasts about achievements or possessions
73
Brandish
Wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement
74
Brazen
Bold and without shame. Endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame
75
Brevity
Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech
76
Bridle
Bring (something) under control; curb
77
Bucolic
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
78
Buoyancy
An optimistic and cheerful disposition
79
Calamitous
Involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous
80
Callous
Feeling or showing no sympathy for others
81
Calumny
A false and slanderous statement
82
Canny
Having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters
83
Canonize
Treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance
84
Caprice
A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior
85
Catastrophe
An event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster
86
Cerebral
Intellectual rather than emotional or physical
87
Check
Stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable)
88
Cherish
Protect and care for (someone) lovingly
89
Circumscribe
Restrict (something) within limits
90
Circumstantial
Pointing indirectly toward someone's guilt but not conclusively proving it
91
Clangor
A continuous loud banging or ringing sound
92
Clearheaded
Alert and thinking logically and coherently
93
Clerical
(Of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, especially routine documentation and administrative tasks
94
Clerical (2)
Relating to the clergy
95
Cloak
Hide, cover, or disguise (something)
96
Clumsy
Done awkwardly or without skill or elegance
97
Coalesce
Come together to form one mass or whole
98
Cogent
(Of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing
99
Coherent
(Of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent
100
Collusion
Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others
101
Commensurate
Corresponding in size or degree; in proportion
102
Commonplace
A trite saying or topic; a platitude, a usual or ordinary thing
103
Compel
Force or oblige (someone) to do something
104
Complacent
Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achivements
105
Complementary
Acting or serving to complete; completing
106
Compliance
Unworthy or excessive acquiescence
107
Conditional
Subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or granted on certain terms
108
Condone
Accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue
109
Confound
Cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations
110
Consensus
A general agreement
111
Conspicuous
Standing out so as to be clearly visible
112
Contemporary
Living or occurring at the same time
113
Contemptuous
Feeling or expressing angry disgust, as at something unworthy or wicked; scornful
114
Contend
Struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger)
115
Contend
Assert something as a position in an argument
116
Contend (2)
Struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger)
117
Contend (3)
Engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve (something)
118
Contentment
A state of happiness and satisfaction
119
Conundrum
A confusing and difficult problem or question
120
Convoluted
(Especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow
121
Cope
(Of a person) deal effectively with something difficult
122
Copious
Abundant in supply or quantity
123
Corroborate
Confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)
124
Counterfeit
A fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery
125
Counterintuitive
Contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true)
126
Counterproductive
Having the opposite of the desired effect
127
Cow
Cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation
128
Crafty
Clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods
129
Crestfallen
Sad and disappointed
130
Cunning
Having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion
131
Cursory
Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
132
Curtail
To make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part
133
Cynical
Believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful or human sincerity or integrity
134
Daunt
Make (someone) feel intimated or apprehensive
135
Debacle
A sudden collapse into disaster; downfall
136
Debase
To reduce in value, quality, esteem, or character
137
Debunk
To expose or ridicule the falseness or exaggerations of (a claim, theory, or the like)
138
Deceit
The act or practice of misleading, tricking, or cheating
139
Deceptive
Able or tending to trick or mislead
140
Defamatory
Causing or tending to cause injury to another's reputation; libelous or slanderous
141
Deferential
Respectfully submissive to the desires, opinions, or judgements of others
142
Deft
Capable, quick, and clever in action; skillful, dexterous
143
Defy
To resist or challenge openly; act against the wishes or decrees of
144
Deleterious
Harmful or injurious, as to health
145
Delineate
To describe or portray in precise or vivid detail
146
Demur
Raise doubts or objections or show reluctance
147
Denigrate
Criticize unfairly; disparage
148
Derivative
Copied, modeled on, or extracted from something else
149
Detrimental
Causing harm, disadvantage, or deterioration
150
Devious
Not the straightest, most direct way; winding; roundabout
151
Devolve
(Of duties or responsiblity) pass to (a body or person at a lower level)
152
Didactic
In the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way
153
Diffident
Modest or shy because of lack of self-confidence
154
Diffuse
Spread out over a large area; not concentrated
155
Disaffection
A state or feeling of being dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them
156
Disapprobation
Strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
157
Discern
To perceive, make out, or detect
158
Discomfit
Make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed
159
Discount
Regard ( a possibility, fact, or person) as being unworthy of consideration because it lacks credibility
160
Discredit
To harm the reputation of
161
Discrepancy
Lack of agreement; difference; inconsistency
162
Disentangle
To fee or become free from entanglement or involvement; extricate
163
Disgruntle
To make irritably dissatisfied or discontent
164
Disintegrate
To come apart; break down into component parts or fragments
165
Disinterested
Having or feeling no interest in something
166
Dislocation
Disturbance from a proper, original, or usual place or state
167
Dismantle
To tear down; take apart
168
Disparate
Essentially different and distinct
169
Dispassionate
Without strong feeling or bias; calm; impartial
170
Dispense
To give out or distribute
171
Disquiet
Lack of mental calm or peace; anxiety; uneasiness
172
Dissemble
To disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state of
173
Disseminate
To spread widely, as though scattering seed
174
Dissimilar
Not alike; different
175
Dissoltuon
Debauched living; dissipation
176
Distill
Extract the essential meaning or most important aspects
177
Distort
Give a misleading or false account or impression of
178
Divergent
Deviating, differing, or divering
179
Doctrinaire
Dogmatically adhering to a theory or a school of thought, regardless of its practicality
180
Dogmatic
Asserting beliefs and opinions as though they were proven facts
181
Dubious
Having or showing doubt; skeptical
182
Duplicity
Deceitful speech or action
183
Dynamism
The quality of being characterized vigorous activity and progress
184
Eclectic
Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
185
Eclipse
Overshadow, outshine
186
Ecstatic
In a condition of extreme delight, overpowering emotion, or religious trance, enraptured
187
Efficacy
The ability to produce desired results; effectiveness
188
Egoism
The tendency to evaluate everything in relation to one's own interests; self-centeredness
189
Egotist
A conceited person; braggart
190
Elate
To make extremely happy or proud; cause to be in elevated spirits
191
Elevate
To raise or lift up to a higher physical positon
192
Eloquence
Skill or ability to use language that impresses or persuades
193
Elusive
Hard to perceive, understand, or remember
194
Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another
195
Emulate
To try to be the same as or better than (another person), especially by imitating
196
Enchant
To put under a magic spell, or as if under a magic spell; bewitch
197
Endanger
To cause to be exposed to danger
198
Endorse
To approve or give support to
199
Enfeeble
To take away the strength of; make feeble, as from age or disease
200
Engage
Occupy, attract, or involve (someone's interest or attention)
201
Engimatic
Puzzling, mysterious, or explicable
202
Entail
Involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence
203
Entreaty
An earnest or humble request
204
Entrench
Establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely
205
Ephemeral
Lasting for only a short period
206
Equitable
Characterized by fairness; just
207
Elate
To make extremely happy or proud; cause to be in elevated spirits
208
Elevate
To raise or life up to a higher physical position
209
Eloquence
Skill or ability to use language that impresses or persuades
210
Elusive
Hard to perceive, understand, or remember
211
Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another
212
Emulate
To try to be the same as or better than (another person), especially by imitating
213
Enchant
To put under a magic spell, or as if under a magic spell; bewitch
214
Endanger
To cause to be exposed to danger
215
Endorse
To approve or give support to
216
Enfeeble
To take away the strength of; make feeble, as from age or disease
217
Engage
Occupy, attract, or involve (someone's interest or attention)
218
Enigmatic
Puzzling, mysterious, or inexplicable
219
Entail
Involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence
220
Entreaty
An earnest or humble request
221
Entrench
Establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely
222
Ephemeral
Lasting for only a short period
223
Equitable
Characterized by fairness; just
224
Equivocal
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous
225
Erode
Gradually destroy or be gradually destroyed
226
Erratic
Not occurring predictably or consistently; unpredictable
227
Erroneous
Containing or based on a mistake; incorrect
228
Erstwhile
Of an earlier time; former
229
Estrange
Cause (someone) to be no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienate
230
Euphoric
Having or exhibiting a strong feeling of well-being or elation
231
Evanescent
Tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing; fleeting
232
Evasive
Ambiguous, tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly.
233
Exacerbate
Make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse
234
Exacting
Making great demands on one's skill, attention, or other resources
235
Exigent
Requiring immediate attention; urgent or critical
236
Exotic
Attractive or striking because colorful or out of the ordinary
237
Expedient
A means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but considered improper or immoral
238
Explicit
Stated fully, clearly, and without equivocation
239
Exploit
Make full use and derive benefit from (a resource)
240
Exposition
A comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory
241
Extant
Still in existence; current; not extinct, destroyed, or list
242
Extraneous
Coming from outside; foreign
243
Extravagance
The act or an instance of spending excessively or imprudently
244
Factual
Containing or based upon real or true things
245
Fastidious
Very attentive and concerned about accuracy and detail
246
Feckless
Weak or incompetent; ineffective
247
Feeble
Without strength or vigor, physically, mentally, or morally
248
Fester
(of a negative feeling or a problem) becoming worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference
249
Fickle
Quickly changing without reason or warning, especially in affection or allegiance; variable or capricious
250
Fixate
Cause (someone) to acquire an obsessive attachment to someone or something
251
Fleeting
Lasting for a very short time
252
Florid
Elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated
253
Flourish
To make bold and sweeping gestures
254
Flout
Openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)
255
Foreground
Make (something) the most prominent or important feature
256
Foresight
The ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future
257
Forestall
To prevent or hinder by taking action beforehand
258
Forgo
Omit or decline to take (something pleasant or valuable); go without
259
Forsake
To abandon or desert
260
Foruitous
Happening or appearing by chance, as coincidence
261
Fractious
(Typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome
262
Fringe
Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme
263
Fivolous
Unworthy of serious consideration or merit; trivial or silly
264
Frugality
Prudent or sparing use of resources, especially money
265
Futile
Unlikely to produce or incapable of producing a desired result; ineffective; useless
266
Galvanize
To stimulate into awareness or activity
267
Gawky
Ungainly; awkward; clumsy
268
Germane
Having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant
269
Global
Relating to or embracing the whole of something, or of a group of things
270
Gloom
To look, feel, or act sullen or despondent
271
Goosebumps
A state of the skin caused by cold, fear, or excitement, in which small bumps appear on the surface as the hairs become erect
272
Gracious
Inclined to do what is polite, kind, right, or considerate
273
Gratify
To give pleasure or satisfaction to (someone)
274
Hackneyed
Made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase
275
Harbinger
A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another
276
Harmonious
Characterized by agreement or accord
277
Heed
To give one's attention to; take notice of
278
Herald
Be a sign that (something) is about to happen
279
Heterodox
Deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion
280
Hidebound
Unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention
281
Hindrance
Someone or something that acts as an obstacle, as to an action or goal
282
Homogeneity
The quality of state of being all the same or all of the same kind
283
Hortatory
Urging or exciting to some course of action with strong arguments, appeals, or advice
284
Humdrum
Lacking variety; dull, monotonous, and commonplace
285
Hyperbole
Exaggerate statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
286
Hypocrite
One who states or pretends to hold beliefs or principles he or she does not actually practice
287
Iconoclastic
Attacking or breaking away from established traditions, beliefs, or values
288
Illiberal
Lacking tolerance; bigoted
289
Illuminate
Help to clarify or explain
290
Imitate
To follow the manner or pattern of; attempt to resemble; mimic
291
Imminent
About to happen or likely to happen very soon
292
Immunity
Protection or exemption from something, especially an obligation or penalty
293
Immure
To confine within or as though within walls; shut in
294
Immutable
Not subject to change; unchanging or unchangeable
295
Impair
Not subject to change; unchanging or unchangeable
296
Impair
To weaken, damage, or cause to diminish in value or quality
297
Impartial
Not biased or prejudiced; even-handed or objective
298
Impecunious
Having little or no money
299
Impediment
An obstacle or hindrance
300
Impenetrable
Impossible to understand
301
Imperative
Extremely important; urgent; unavoidable
