Vocabulary 19

Question 1

lackluster

Answer 1

adj. lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring

Question 2

apathy

Answer 2

n. lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Question 3

inconclusive

Answer 3

adj. not leading to a firm conclusion; not ending doubt or dispute

Question 4

strategist

Answer 4

n. a person skilled in planning action or policy, esp. in war or politics

Question 5

imbecile

Answer 5

n. a stupid person

adj. stupid; idiotic

Question 6

opportunist

Answer 6

n. a person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans

Question 7

deserter

Answer 7

n. a member of the armed forces who deserts

Question 8

permissive

Answer 8

adj. allowing or characterized by great or excessive freedom of behavior

Question 9

marginal

Answer 9

adj. of secondary or minor importance; not central
adj. (of a decision or distinction) very narrow
adj. of, relating to, or situated at the edge or margin of something

Question 10

staunch

Answer 10

adj. loyal and committed in attitude

adj. (of a wall) of strong or firm construction

Question 11

inimitable

Answer 11

adj. so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy

Question 12

singularly

Answer 12

adj. in a remarkable or noticeable way

adj. in a stranger or eccentric way

Question 13

tenuous

Answer 13

adj. very weak or slight

adj. very slender or fine; insubstantial

Question 14

aboveboard

Answer 14

adj. legitimate, honest, and open

Question 15

steadfast

Answer 15

adj. resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering

Question 16

sensationalism

Answer 16

n. (esp. in journalism) the use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest or excitement

Question 17

piety

Answer 17

adj. the quality of being religious or reverent

n. a belief or point of view that is accepted with unthinking conventional reverence

Question 18

obfuscate

Answer 18

v. render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible

v. bewilder someone

Question 19

equivocate

Answer 19

v. use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself

Question 20

capitulate

Answer 20

v. cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender

Question 21

intercede

Answer 21

v. intervene on behalf of another

Question 22

progressive

Answer 22

adj. happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step
adj. (of a group, person, or idea) favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas

Question 23

impulsive

Answer 23

adj. acting or done without forethought

Question 24

undertaking

Answer 24

n. a formal pledge or promise to do something

n. a task that is taken on; an enterprise

Question 25

picket

Answer 25

n. a person or group of people standing outside a place of work or other venue, protesting something or trying to persuade others not to enter during a strike

Question 26

immense

Answer 26

adj. extremely large or great, esp. in scale or degree

Question 27

defunct

Answer 27

adj. no longer existing or functioning

Question 28

perennial

Answer 28

adj. lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring

Question 29

sequence

Answer 29

v. arrange in a particular order

Question 30

fashion

Answer 30

v. make into a particular or the required form

Question 31

acquisitive

Answer 31

adj. excessively interested in acquiring money or material things

Question 32

divert

Answer 32

v. cause (someone or something) to change course or turn from one direction to another

Question 33

penache

Answer 33

n. flamboyant confidence of style or manner

Question 34

brash

Answer 34

adj. self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way adj. strong, energetic, or irreverent adj. (of a place or thing) having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance

Question 35

infraction

Answer 35

n. a violation or infringement of a law, agreement, or set of rules

Question 36

subordinate

Answer 36

v. treat or regard as of lesser importance than something else v. make subservient to or dependent on something else

Question 37

lush

Answer 37

adj. (of vegetation) growing luxuriantly | adj. very rich and providing great sensory pleasure

Question 38

prosperous

Answer 38

adj. successful in material terms; flourishing financially

Question 39

recriminate

Answer 39

v. make counteraccusations

Question 40

verdant

Answer 40

adj. (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation adj. of the bright green color of lush grass

Question 41

stunt

Answer 41

v. prevent from growing or developing properly

Question 42

pliant

Answer 42

adj. pliable

Question 43

propitiate

Answer 43

v. win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them

Question 44

magisterial

Answer 44

adj. having or showing great authority

Question 45

rapturous

Answer 45

adj. characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm

Question 46

nihilistic

Answer 46

adj. rejecting all religious and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless

Question 47

maudlin

Answer 47

adj. self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness

Question 48

veer

Answer 48

v. change direction suddenly | v. suddenly change an opinion, subject, type of behavior, etc.

Question 49

ebb

Answer 49

v. (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce

Question 50

redolent

Answer 50

adj. strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something) | adj. trongly smelling of something

Question 51

waft

Answer 51

adj. pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air

Question 52

insolent

Answer 52

adj. showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

Question 53

incantation

Answer 53

n. a series of words said as a magic spell or charm

Question 54

novelty

Answer 54

n. the quality of being new, original, or unusual | n. a small and inexpensive toy or ornament

Question 55

salutary

Answer 55

adj. (esp. with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial

Question 56

subservient

Answer 56

adj. prepared to obey others unquestioningly