Vocabulary Flashcards
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ennui
Boredom;
a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Locution
A particular form of expression;
a peculiarity of phrasing
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Tryst
An agreement between lovers to meet at a certain time and place
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Doctrinaire
Relating to, adhering to, or insisting upon a doctrine or theory without regard to practical considerations or problems
(i.e. all theoretical and no application)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Née
Born;
formerly known as (used to indicate the maiden name of a married woman)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Eponymous
Named after someone or something (or deriving from an existing name or word)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Upshot
Final result
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To saunter
To stroll at a leisurely pace
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Moniker
Nickname, title
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Surreptitious
Secretive
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Itinerant
Traveling from place to place, especially to perform work or a duty
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Meretricious
Insincere, deceptively appealing;
attracting attention in a vulgar manner
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Misanthrope
A person who hates or distrusts humankind
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To extol
Exalt, praise, elevate, laud
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Opulent
Affluent, wealthy;
characterized by extravagance or rich abundance
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pablum
Trite, insipid, or simplistic writing/speech
(‘a diet that does not require chewing’)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Rancorous
Malignant, virulent, malicious;
implacably spiteful
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Persnickety
Fastidious;
overparticular about trivial details
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To purloin
To steal
(also, to put off, delay or put away)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Bellicose
Warlike or hostile in manner/temperament
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Rapprochement
Reconciliation;
a reestablishing of cordial relations
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Inane
Lacking sense or substance
Give a definition or synonym for the following Latin phrase:
Persona non grata
One who is not acceptable or welcome;
one who is not in favor
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Anachronistic
Antiquated, obsolete, outdated;
a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Banal
Unoriginal, trite;
lacking novelty
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Quixotic
Foolishly impractical, especially in the pursuit of ideals
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Debauchery
Behavior considered decadent, indulgent, and/or depraved
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Candor
Frankness, honesty;
unreserved, straightforward, and/or sincere expression
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To placate
Pacify, appease
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To proscribe
Prohibit, forbid, denounce
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Humdinger
Something that is particularly outstanding, unusual, or exceptional
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pedagogy
The art or profession of teaching
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Verboten
Forbidden, prohibited
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Abattoir
Slaughterhouse
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To subvert
Overthrow, destroy;
to undermine, overturn, or render ineffective
commandeer, redirect;
to cause to serve a purpose other than the original or established one
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Scrupulosity
An obsessive and conscientous concern with one’s own sins and resultant compulsive performance of religious devotion
(‘religious OCD’)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ostensible
Apparent, professed;
put forth or held out as real, actual, or intended: as, a person’s ostensible reason or motive for doing something
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Germane
Relevant, pertinent;
related to a matter at hand, especially to a subject under discussion
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Paucity
Fewness, scarcity, dearth;
smallness of number
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Tour de force
A feat or display of strength, skill, or ingenuity
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Carceral
Of or belonging to a prison
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Emendation
An alteration intended to improve.
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Canny
Clever, shrewd, prudent
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Furor
Controversial or enthusiastic outburst;
an angry or maniacal fit
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Skein
A loose coil of thread or yarn in a package for retail sale
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Onus
(1) Burden of proof
(2) A difficult or disagreeable responsibility or necessity
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Despot
A ruler with absolute power/authority who often rules oppressively
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Dubious
Fraught with uncertainty or doubt; of questionable character
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Chauvinistic
The belief in the superiority or dominance of one’s own group or people
(i.e. Jingoism)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Lassitude
Lethargy;
a state or feeling of weariness, diminished energy, or listlessness
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Perspicuous
Plain to the understanding, especially because of clarity and precision of presentation
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Foibles
A minor weakness or failing of character
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Polemical
Controversial, contentious
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Affable
Approachable, social, gracious, genial;
easy and pleasant to speak with
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sedulous
Assiduous, constant, steady, persevering;
persevering and constant in effort or application
Give a definition or synonym for the following German word:
Schadenfreude
Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Mendacious
Lying, untruthful, dishonest
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Iconoclast
One who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Effervescence
(literally and figuratively)
Literally: boiling; gaseous offshoots
Figuratively: strong excitement; manifestation of feeling
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Renumeration
Recompense, pay
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To assuage
Appease, calm;
to make something burdensome/painful less intense or severe
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Qualia
individual instances of subjective, conscious experience;
a quality which is regarded as an independent entitiy (e.g. bitterness)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Decadent
Self-indulgent
or
decaying
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Unctuous
Excessively ingratiating,
or
insincerely earnest
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Asinine
Utterly stupid or silly
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Opus
A creative work
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Amanuensis
Scribe;
one who is employed to take dictation or to copy manuscript
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pernicious
Deadly, destructive;
tending to cause death or serious injury
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Conscientious
Diligent, orderly;
thorough and assiduous
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Dialectic
The art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Supercilious
Arrogant, contemptuous;
feeling or showing haughty disdain
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Coup de grâce
Mercy killing;
a death blow to end the suffering of a mortally wounded individual
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Denizen
A person who regularly frequents a place,
a creature adapted to a certain local
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Acumen
Quickness and/or accuracy of perception
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Adroit
Skillfull, clever, and/or resourceful in responding to tricky situations
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Wry
Funny in an understated, sarcastic, or ironic way
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Salacious
Sexy;
arousing or appealing to sexual desire or imagination
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To suss (out)
Infer, discover, figure, study
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Demagogue
Rabble-rouser, populist
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Anodyne
Analgesic;
capable of soothing or relieving pain
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Vitriol
Bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Encomium
Warm, glowing praise
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ostentatious
Of public displays made in vain or showy ways
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Credulity
A disposition to believe too readily
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Brazen
Shameless, impudent
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Hubris
Excessive pride
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pogrom
An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group (especially Jews)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To portend
Forecast;
to serve as an omen or a warning of
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Esoteric
Intended for or understood by a select few only
Give a definition or synonym for the following French word:
Moue
(pronounced ‘moo’)
(two meanings)
Either a pout (playful, flirtatious)
OR
a small grimace (showing distaste or disdain)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To kowtow
To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Genial
Freely sympathetic and/or friendly
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Petrichor
The ‘after-rain’ smell
(caused by a mixture of dried plant oil mixing in the rainwater with bacteria byproducts)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sublime
Majestic;
characterized by nobility: of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Didactic
Instructive
(as opposed to hands-on or experiential learning)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Extemporaneous
Impromptu, ad-libbed;
created in the spur of the moment
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To supplant
Replace, substitute;
to take or put in the place of
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Calumny
Slander;
a false statement made maliciously in order to injure another’s reputation
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Acrimony
Animosity, bitterness;
harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or feelings
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Dubious
Doubtful;
unsettled in opinion
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Lien
(e.g. a mortgage, tax lien, attorney’s lien, mechanic’s lien, HOA lien, etc.)
A form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation.
The owner of the property, who grants the lien, is referred to as the lienee and the person who has the benefit of the lien is referred to as the lienor or lien holder.
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Circumspect
Prudent;
looking at / examining all sides of an issue
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ephemeral
Short-lived
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To connive
Collude, scheme, plot
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Lackadaisical
Lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Irascible
Prone to outbursts of temper,
easily angered
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Demure
Modest and reserved in manner or behavior
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pedantic
Academic;
characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for academic knowledge and formal rules
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To impute
(1) Ascribe, assign, attribute;
(2) evaluate, judge
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Indolent
Habitually lazy
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Vituperative
Scathing;
using, containing, or marked by harshly critical or irate language
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Portmanteau
A linguistic blend of words
(e.g. spork, brunch, smog, etc.)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Colloquial
Conversational;
appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech (informally spoken)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Audacious
Fearless;
extremely bold or daring, recklessly brave
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To fulminate
Explode, detonate;
to issue a thunderous verbal attack or denunciation
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Leery
Wary, suspicious, distrustful
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Incorrigible
Incapable of being corrected or reformed
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To schuss
To ski (or snowboard), especially at a fast pace and on a straight run
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Terse
Brief, concise;
effectively to the point
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Alacrity
Promptness, willingness;
a cheerfulness and readiness in response
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To couch
(in a linguistic sense)
To phrase or express in a specified manner
(Example: ‘**the comments were couched in strong terms.’)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To simper
Smirk;
to smile in a silly, self-conscious (often coy) manner
Give a definition or synonym for the following Italian phrase:
Lingua franca
Any language used for communication between people who do not share a native language
(It can be a mixed language (e.g. pidgin or creole) or native to one of the nations)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Avaricious
Greedy;
immoderately desirous of wealth or gain
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To demur
To voice opposition
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Perenniel
Recurring, continual, enduring;
appearing again and again
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Salient
Prominent, noticeable;
strikingly conspicuous
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Zeitgeist
The unique spirit, nature, or climate of a specific era that sets it apart from all other epochs
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fortuitious
Accidental, lucky;
happening by chance
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To extricate
Disentangle, disengage, release, free
(something inextricable is stuck)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To abscond
To leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself;
to retire from public view
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Hegemony
The political, economic, or military predominance or control of one state over others
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Petty
Showing an excessive concern with unimportant matters or minor details
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Suppository
A dosage form used to deliver medications by insertion into a body orifice (often the rectum) where it dissolves or melts to exert local or systemic effects
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To expiate
Atone;
to make amends or reparations for
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
A posteriori
A posteriori knowledge is that which depends on empirical evidence
Examples include most fields of science and aspects of personal knowledge
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Eigengrau
The color you see when your eyelids are shut
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To abdicate
To formally relinquish power or responsibility
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Verve
Enthusiasm, vigor, spirit
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To excoriate
Criticize, denounce;
to censure strongly
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pious
Devout, zealous;
earnestly compliant in the observance of religion
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Jocose
Merry, humorous;
given to joking and levity
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Emollient
Mollifying, softening, soothing
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Torpid
Sluggish, lethargic, inactive
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Denouement
(day - noo - mah)
The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Malapropism
Ludicrous misuse of a word
(Think of Deepak Chopra.)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ardent
Passionate;
characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Caustic
Corrosive;
capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Belligerent
Hostile, aggressive;
inclined or eager to fight
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sibilant
Hissing;
of, characterized by, or producing a hissing sound like that of (s) or (sh) (s and z are sibilant letters)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Platitude
Cliché;
a trite, insipid, or banal remark or statement
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fastidious
Meticulous, exacting
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Reticent
Restrained, reserved, laconic;
inclined to keep one’s thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Passel
A large quantity or group
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sanguine
Confident, optimistic;
marked by eager hopefulness
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Antipathy
A strong feeling of dislike
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To ameliorate
To better (as in a situation)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Quotidian
Commonplace, ordinary, mundane
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Polemic
EITHER
(1) a dispute; an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another, the art of disputation
OR
(2) an aggressive conversationalist
* (Example 1: Her book is a fierce* polemic against the inequalities in our society.
* Example 2: They managed to discuss the issues without resorting to* polemics.)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To recapitulate
Summarize;
to restate briefly
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Vulpine
Fox-like
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Hoary
Gray or white with (or as if with) age
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Blasé
Indifferent or bored with life;
apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To capitulate
Surrender under specified conditions
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Tacit
Implied, unspoken
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Furtive
Acting with stealth or a desire to avoid discovery
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Avarice
Greediness;
excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Preternatural
Extraordinary, unnatural, supernatural;
surpassing what is normal or usual
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Equivocate
To be ambiguous or purposefully unclear
(think of Deepak Chopra)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Trite
Unoriginal, overused
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Chagrin
Disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Imbroglio
Embroilment, entanglement;
a difficult or intricate situation
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Numinous
Relating to the divine or supernatural
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To abate
Lessen;
to reduce in amount, degree, or intensity
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Brusque
Abrupt, blunt, curt
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Apropros
Relevant, fitting;
to the point
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To cajole
To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Procrustean
Producing strict conformity by ruthless or arbitrary means;
marked by arbitrary, ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstance
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Dilletante
A lover of knowledge or the fine arts
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Catechism
A text summarizing the basic principles of a Christian denomination (usually in question-and-answer form)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To impugn
To attack as false or questionable;
to challenge in argument
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Torrid
Hot;
intensely passionate
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fecund
Fertile, fruitful
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Piety
Religious devotion and reverence
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To obviate
Prevent;
to keep from happening or render unnecessary,
to forestall the need for
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Patina
A thin surface layer that develops on something because of use, age, or chemical action
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Copacetic
Completely satisfactory
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Répondez s’il vous plaît
Respond, if you please
(RSVP)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fiduciary
Of or relating to a duty of acting in good faith with regard to the interests of another
(typically of being one in a position of trust, power, authority, and/or power)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To exculpate
To clear from a charge or imputation of fault or guilt
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Semantic
Of or relating to meaning, especially meaning in language
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Capricious
Impulsive, unpredictable, erratic
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Interlocutor
A person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Florid
Ornate, flamboyant;
very flowery in style
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Facetious
Playfully jocular, humorous;
not meant to be taken seriously or literally
Give a definition or synonym for the following Latin phrase:
Ipso facto
“By the fact itself”
(which means that a specific phenomenon is a direct consequence)
(For example, if you grew up in San Francisco, ipso facto you’re a Californian.)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Panache
Verve, style, flair;
a grand or flamboyant manner
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To eschew
Evade, refrain;
to avoid using, accepting, participating in, or partaking of
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Chicanery
Deception by trickery or sophistry
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Droll
Amusingly odd or whimsically comical
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Duplicitous
Given to or marked by deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Aphorism
Adage;
a tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Umbrage
Offense, resentment
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Stochastic
Conjectural;
involving or containing a random variable or process
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Loquacious
Talkative
Give a definition or synonym for the following Latin phrase:
Ne plus ultra
The highest, ultimate point or degree, as of excellence or achievement
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Abject
Wretched, degrading;
extremely contemptible
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Capacious
Spacious, roomy;
capable of containing a large quantity
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Penchant
Predilection;
a definite liking, a strong inclination
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ecumenical
Universal;
of worldwide scope or applicability
(often relating to the Christian churches as one body)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Exigent
Urgent, pressing;
requiring immediate action
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Mercurial
Changeable, volatile, fickle, flighty, erratic
Give a definition or synonym for the following Latin phrase:
Post hoc
After the fact
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Facile
Easy;
done or achieved with little effort or difficulty
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Uncanny
Weird, unsettling;
mysterious or impossible to explain, especially when causing uneasiness or astonishment
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Vis-à-vis
In relation to
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Magnanimity
Generosity;
nobility of spirit
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Cognizant
Aware;
fully informed and conscious of
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To opine
To state as an opinion
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fatuous
Inane;
foolishly conceited
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Iterative
Repeating, repetitious
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Hegemon
Leader;
a ruling power
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Consternation
A state of great alarm, astonishment, agitation, and/or dismay
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Tedious
Irksome, boring, wearisome;
tiresome by reason of length, slowness, or dullness
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To undulate
To move with a sinuous or wavelike motion
(rising and falling or side-to-side motion)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Morose
Sullen, gloomy
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Insular
Isolated;
having a narrow or provincial viewpoint
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Laconic
(in manner)
Restrained, reserved, reticent;
inclined to keep one’s thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself
Give a definition or synonym for the following German word:
Ersatz
Substitute;
an inferior inmitation
(E.g. he had bought an ersatz good.)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Trammel
Restraint;
a hindrance or impediment to free action
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Parochial
Provincial, parish-related;
narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Coup d’état
Ousting, overthrow, takeover;
the removal of an existing government from power, usually through violent and illegal means
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fungible
Interchangeable;
returnable or negotiable in kind or by substitution
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fastidious
Persnickety, meticulous;
showing or acting with careful attention to detail
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Raison d’être
Reason or justification for existence
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Feckless
Careless, irresponsible, ineffective
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Urbane
Suavity, courteousness;
a refinement of manner
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Phantasmagoria
A fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To vivisect
Dissecting a live creature
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To abrogate
Annul;
abolish by means of authority
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pejorative
Disparaging, belittling
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ligature
Something used to bind
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
A priori
A priori knowledge is that which is independent from experience
(Examples include mathematics, tautologies, and deduction from pure reason)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To blear
To blur or redden the eyes
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Diatribe
Fulmination, denouncement;
a bitter, abusive denunciation
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Odium
Intense hatred or dislike, especially towards something or someone seen as contemptible
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Mundane
Commonplace, ordinary
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Non sequitur
‘It does not follow;’
indicative of a logical fallacy
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Quintessential
Perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Bricolage
Something made or put together using whatever materials happen to be available
(French for ‘DIY’)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Specious
Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually being fallacious
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Spurious
(as in a relationship between two variables)
A relationship in which two variables may be correlated but no causation is indicated
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To inculcate
Teaching or influencing persistently and repeatedly so as to implant or instill an idea, theory, attitude, etc.
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Assiduous
Attentive, devoted, diligent;
constant in application
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Craven
Without courage and contemptibly fainthearted
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To bloviate
To discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Apoplectic
Rage;
a fit of extreme anger; a stroke-like neurological impairment
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Taciturn
Reserved, terse;
temperamentally disinclined to talk
Give a definition or synonym for the following Latin phrase:
Prima facie
At first sight, before closer inspection
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Svelte
Slim, slender, thin;
Graceful and/or athletic in figure or outline
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Vernacular
Using a language or dialect that is native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or foreign language
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Lithe
Supple;
effortlessly graceful
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Laconic
(in speech)
Terse, concise;
using or marked by the use of few words
Give a definition or synonym for the following Latin phrase:
Ad hoc
Improvised, impromptu;
for the purpose of a particular situation or purpose
Give a definition or synonym for the following Japanese word:
Ikigai
One’s:
‘reason for being’
‘reason for getting out of bed in the morning’
‘internal drive’
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Milquetoast
Timid, meek, unassertive;
lacking in character or vigor
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Neologism
A new word, expression, or usage of language
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Baleful
Ominous;
portending evil
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Timorous
Timid, shy;
full of apprehensiveness
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Orthogonal
Used to describe two things that are independent of each other;
one does not imply the other
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sardonic
(Contrast with sarcasm.)
Scornfully or cynically mocking
- (Note 1: not necessarily spoken, unlike sarcasm)*
- (Note 2: can be of oneself, unlike sarcasm)*
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To approbate
Sanction, authorize
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To belie
To show to be false,
to contradict
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Intrepid
Characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Parsimony
Frugality;
extreme economy or stinginess
(in data interpretation, it refers to an approach that incorporates Ockham’s razor - i.e. an approach towards simplest explanations)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Innocuous
Having no adverse effect; harmless
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Soporific
Inducing or tending to induce sleep
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Temerity
Foolhardiness, recklessness;
excessive boldness or rashness
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Libidinous
Lascivious;
having or exhibiting lustful desires
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Poignant
Touching, moving;
arousing deep emotion, especially pity or sorrow
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Maladroit
Clumsy, awkward, inept
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Kafkaesque
Having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Vapid
Dull;
lacking liveliness, animation, or interest
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Fractious
Unruly, cranky, snappish, rebellious;
inclined to make trouble
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Perfunctory
Done routinely and with little interest or care
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Je ne sais quoi
A quality or attribute that is difficult to describe or express
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Cockamamie
Ludicrous, silly;
nearly valueless
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Inimitable
Incapable of being imitated or copied
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Spurious
Dubious, fallacious;
lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine or trustworthy
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Deleterious
Noxious, injurious;
having a harmful effect
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pithy
Precisely and concisely meaningful;
forceful and brief
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To gallivant
To roam about in search of pleasure or amusement
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Seminal
Highly influential in an original way;
constituting or providing a basis for further development
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To obfuscate
Obscure, muddy, blur;
to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To vacillate
To waver;
to be unable to choose between different courses of action or opinions
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Placid
Serene, tranquil, complacent
Give a definition or synonym for the following French word:
Oeuvre
(pronounce: ‘ouhrv-rah’)
A substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sordid
Vile, base;
morally ignoble
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Bombastic
Flowery, pretentious, verbose
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Mien
Bearing, demeanor
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Truculent
Fierce, deadly, destructive, cruel
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Scruples
Moral or ethical considerations
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Luddite
An individual who is opposed or resistant to new technologies
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Amity
Friendship;
peaceful relations
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Enmity
Hatred, animosity
Give a definition or synonym for the following French phrase:
Aide-de-camp
A military officer acting as secretary and confidential assistant to a superior officer of general or flag rank
(think Hamilton serving George Washington)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Au pair
A young foreigner who does domestic work for a family in exchange for room and board and a chance to learn the family’s language
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Verbose
Wordy;
using or containing a great and usually an excessive number of words
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Prodigious
Extraordinary, enormous;
impressively great in size, force, or extent
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Vertiginous
Revolving, whirling, vertigo-inducing
(alternately: affected by vertigo; dizzy)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Provenance
Derivation;
chain of ownership
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Artifice
Deception, trickery, wile
Something contrived or created to achieve some end, especially by deceit; a stratagem or ruse
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To pontificate
To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
En masse
All together; in one group
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To ingratiate
Bring oneself into favor with someone
(often by flattering or trying to please them)
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Bovarism
A tendency towards escapist daydreaming in which the dreamer imagines himself or herself to be a hero/heroine, whilst ignoring the everyday realities of the situation
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Obsequious
Obedient and/or attentive to an excessive degree
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Inadvertent
Accidental, unintentional
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Sine qua non
An essential condition; a thing/component that is absolutely necessary to the being of something else
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To bivouac
Stay in a temporary camp without cover
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Bivouac
A temporary camp without tents or covers
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Mensch
A person of integrity and honor
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Pell-mell
(can be a noun, adjective, or adverb)
Headlong, helter-skelter, posthaste
(in a) reckless state
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Saccharine
Excessively sweet/sentimental
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To pontificate
To express one’s opinions in a way that is considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Concatenation
Series, chain, sequence, succession, train, string;
a series of interconnected things or events
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Incantation
Chant, invocation, conjuration;
a series of words said as a magical spell or charm
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Ersatz
Artificial, substitute, synthetic, fake, imitation;
a replacement (typically inferior) product used to substitute for another one
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
Melange
Mixture, medley
Give a definition or synonym for the following word:
To glower
To scowl