Vocabulary 11 Flashcards
breach
v. make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense)
v. break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct)
bulwark
n. a defensive wall
n. a person, institution, or principle that acts as a defense
tractable
adj. (of a person or animal) easy to control or influence
adj. (of a situation or problem) easy to deal with
evanescent
adj. soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing
irate
adj. feeling or characterized by great anger
insipid
adj. lacking flavor
adj. lacking vigor or interest
imposing
adj. grand and impressive in appearance
attenuate
v. reduce the force, effect, or value of
amplitude
n. breadth, range, or magnitude
virulent
adj. (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects
adj. bitterly hostile
despot
n. a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way
squander
v. waste (something, esp. money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner
v. allow (an opportunity) to pass or be lost
amenable
adj. (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled
adj. (amenable to) (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to
bore
v. make (a hole) in something, esp. with a revolving tool
v. make (someone) feel weary and uninterested by tedious talk or dullness
v. [ no obj. ] make one’s way through (a crowd)
forge
v. move forward gradually or steadily
v. make or shape (a metal object) by heating it in a fire or furnace and beating or hammering it
v. create (a relationship or new conditions)
malleable
adj. easily influenced; pliable
adj. (of a metal or other material) able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking
pliable
adj. easily bent; flexible
adj. easily influenced
frugal
adj. sparing or economical with regard to money or food
adj. simple and plain and costing little
prodigious
adj. remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree
adj. unnatural or abnormal
prodigal
adj. spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant
adj. having or giving something on a lavish scale
lavish
adj. sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious
adj. (of a person) very generous or extravagant
sumptuous
adj. splendid and expensive-looking
splendid
adj. magnificent; very impressive
outlandish
adj. looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar
adj. foreign; alien
astute
adj. having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage
meek
adj. quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive
docile
adj. ready to accept control or instruction; submissive
atrophy
v. gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect
reconcile
v. restore friendly relations between
v. cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible
v. settle (a disagreement)
v. (reconcile someone to) make someone accept (a disagreeable or unwelcome thing)
craven
adj. contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly
capacity
n. the maximum amount that something can contain
n. the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something
crafty
adj. clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods