Vocabulary>Commonly Tested Words>R-W Flashcards
ramification
n. –the arrangement of branches; consequence
syn. –result, aftermath, outcome, effect, upshot; development, implication
rampant
adj. –violent and uncontrollable action
syn. –unrestrained, unchecked, unbridled, widespread, rife
rancor
n. –a continuing and bitter hate or ill will
syn. –spite, resentment, malice, malevolence, animosity, antipathy, enmity, hostility, acrimony, venom, vitriol
raze
v. –to scrape or shave off
syn. –destroy, demolish, tear down, pull down, knock down, level, flatten, bulldoze
recalcitrant
adj. –refusing to obey authority
syn. –uncooperative, intractable, obstreperous, truculent, insubordinate, defiant, rebellious, willful, wayward, headstrong, self-willed, contrary, perverse, difficult
recidivism
n. –habitual or chronic relapse
syn. –backslide, backsliding, regression, relapse, retrogradation, retrogression
recumbent
adj. –leaning or reclining
syn. –lying, flat, horizontal, stretched out, sprawled, prone, prostrate, supine, lying down
recusant
adj. –disobedient of authority
syn. –agitator, dissenter, misbeliever, nonconformist, protester, separatist
redolent
adj. –sweet-smelling; fragrant
syn. –evocative, suggestive, reminiscent
reminiscence
n. –a remembering
syn. –nostalgic
remonstrate
v. –to exhibit strong reasons against an act
syn. –protest, complain, expostulate
rendition
n. –a performance or interpretation
syn. –rendering, presentation, execution
repertoire
n. –stock of plays which can be readily performed by a company
syn. –collection, stock, range, repertory, reserve, store, repository, supply
reprehend
v. –to reprimand; to find fault with
syn. –rebuke, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid, reprove, reproach, berate, take to task, lambaste, lecture, criticize, censure
reprieve
v. –to give temporary relief
syn. –save, rescue, pardon, spare, amnesty
resonant
adj. –resounding; re-echoing
syn. –deep, low, sonorous, full, full-bodied, vibrant, rich, clear, ringing, loud, booming
resplendent
adj. –dazzling; splendid
syn. –magnificent, brilliant, glittering, gorgeous, impressive, imposing, spectacular, striking, stunning, majestic
resurgent
adj. –rising or tending to rise again
syn. –renewal, revival, recovery, comeback, reawakening, resurrection, reappearance, reemergence, regeneration
revile
v. –to be abusive in speech
syn. –criticize, censure, condemn, attack, castigate, lambaste, denounce, slander, libel, malign, vilify, abuse, excoriate, calumniate
risible
adj. –able or inclined to laugh
syn. –ridiculous, absurd, comical, comic, amusing, funny, hilarious, humorous, droll, farcical, silly, ludicrous, hysterical
roseate
adj. –bright, cheerful, or optimistic
syn. –sanguine, bright, buoyant, favorable, auspicious, propitious
rote
n. –a fixed, mechanical way of doing something
syn. –automatically, unthinkingly, mindlessly
rotund
adj. –rounded out or plump
syn. –stout, portly, paunchy, ample, heavyset, corpulent, obese
rudimentary
adj. –elementary
syn. –basic, primary, fundamental, essential
ruminate
v. –to muse on
syn. –contemplate, consider, meditate
sapid
adj. –having a pleasant taste
syn. –savory, palatable, tasty
sardonic
adj. –bitterly ironical
syn. –mocking, satirical, sarcastic, ironical, ironic; cynical, scornful, contemptuous, derisive, derisory, sneering, jeering; scathing, caustic, trenchant, cutting, sharp, acerbic
savant
n. –a learned person
syn. –intellectual, scholar, sage, philosopher, guru, master
schism
n. –a division in an organized group
syn. –split, rift, breach, rupture, break, separation, severance, chasm, gulf, discord, disagreement, dissension
scourge
v. –to whip severely
syn. –horsewhip, lash, strap, birch, switch, bullwhip, rawhide
scurrilous
adj. –using low and indecent language
syn. –defamatory, slanderous, libelous, scandalous, insulting, offensive, gross, abusive, vituperative, malicious
sedentary
adj. –1. characterized by sitting; 2. remaining in one locality
syn. –inactive, lethargic, lazy, idle
serendipity
n. –an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally
syn. –fortuity, providence
sloth
n. –disinclination to action or labor
syn. –laziness, idleness, indolence, slothfulness, inactivity, inertia, sluggishness, shiftlessness, apathy, acedia, listlessness, lassitude, lethargy, languor, torpidity
slovenly
adj. –careless in habits, behavior, etc.; untidy
syn. –scruffy, untidy, messy, unkempt, ill-groomed, slatternly, disheveled, bedraggled, tousled, rumpled, frowzy
sordid
adj. –filthy; foul
syn. –tawdry, cheap, debased, degenerate, dishonorable, disreputable, discreditable, contemptible, ignominious, shameful, abhorrent
specious
adj. –appearing just and fair without really being so
syn. –misleading, deceptive, false, fallacious, unsound, spurious, casuistic, sophistic
splenetic
adj. –bad-tempered; irritable
syn. –peevish, petulant, pettish, irritable, irascible, choleric, dyspeptic, testy, tetchy, querulous, resentful, rancorous, bilious, spiteful, malicious, hostile, acrimonious, malevolent, malignant, malign
staid
adj. –sober; sedate
syn. –respectable, quiet, serious, steady, conventional, traditional, unadventurous, decorous, formal, stuffy, stiff, priggish
staunch
v. –to stop or check the flow of blood
syn. –restrain, restrict, control, contain, lessen, reduce, diminish, retard
stigmatize
v. –to characterize or brand as disgraceful
syn. –denounce, disparage, vilify, pillory, defame
stoic
adj. –a person who is seemingly indifferent to joy, grief, pleasure, or pain
syn. –uncomplaining, forbearing, accepting, tolerant, resigned, phlegmatic, philosophical
stolid
adj. –unexcitable; dull
syn. –phlegmatic, unemotional, placid, unexcitable, dependable, unimaginative
striated
adj. –marked with fine parallel lines
syn. –streak, dapple, variegate
strident
adj. –creaking; harsh; grating
syn. –harsh, raucous, rough, grating, rasping, jarring, loud, shrill, screeching, piercing
stymie
n. –to hinder or obstruct
syn. –impede, inhibit, retard, balk, thwart, foil, curb, delay
succor
n. –aid; assistance
syn. –assistance; comfort, ease, relief, support
sumptuous
adj. –involving great expense
syn. –lavish, luxurious, opulent, magnificent, resplendent, gorgeous
sundry
adj. –1. various; miscellaneous; 2. separate; distinct
syn. –various, varied, miscellaneous, assorted, mixed, diverse, diversified; several, numerous, many, manifold, multifarious, multitudinous
supplant
v. –to take the place of
syn. –replace, supersede, displace, take over from, substitute for, override
suppliant
adj. –asking earnestly and submissively
syn. –petitioner, supplicant, pleader, beggar, applicant
surfeit
v. –to feed or supply in excess
syn. –surplus, abundance, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, glut, avalanche, deluge, overdose
swathe
v. –to wrap around something; envelop
syn. –wrap, envelop, bind, swaddle, bandage, cover, shroud, drape, wind, enfold, sheathe
tawdry
adj. –gaudy or cheap
syn. –flashy, showy, garish, tasteless, vulgar, trashy, junky, shoddy, shabby, gimcrack, chintzy
teem
v. –1. to be stocked to overflowing; 2. to pour out; to empty
syn. –1. swarming with, be aswarm with; be packed with, be crawling with, be overrun by, bristle with, seethe with, be thick with; 2. pelt down, beat down
tenet
n. –any principle, doctrine, etc., which a person, school, or institution believes or maintains
syn. –principle, belief, doctrine, precept, creed, credo, article of faith, axiom, dogma, canon, theory, thesis, premise, conviction, idea, view, opinion, position
termagant
n. –a boisterous, scolding woman; a shrew
syn. –disobedient, undisciplined, intemperate, refractory, riotous, ungovernable, unmanageable
terrestrial
adj. –pertaining to the earth
syn. –earthly, worldly, mundane, earthbound
thrall
n. –a slave
syn. –bondage, servitude, enslavement, helotry
throe
n. –a violent pang or spasm of pain
syn. –agony, pangs, spasms, torment, suffering, torture
timorous
adj. –fearful
syn. –nervous, scared, frightened, cowardly, pusillanimous, spineless
tortuous
adj. –pertaining to or involving excruciating pain
syn. –racking, struggling, tearing, tormenting, excruciating, harrowing
traduce
v. –to slander
syn. –defame, misrepresent, malign, vilify, denigrate, disparage, slur, impugn, smear, besmirch
transmute
v. –to transform
syn. –alter, adapt, transform, convert, metamorphose, morph, translate
travail
v. –to harass; to torment; struggle with difficulty
syn. –tribulation, trouble, hardship, privation, stress, drudgery, toil, slog, effort, exertion, endeavor, sweat, struggle
trenchant
adj. –1. keen; penetrating; 2. clear-cut; distinct
syn. –incisive, penetrating, sharp, keen, insightful, acute, focused, shrewd, razor-sharp, piercing, vigorous, forceful, strong, potent, telling, emphatic, forthright, mordant, cutting, biting, acerbic, pungent
tribunal
n. –the seat of judge
syn. –bench, magistrate, committee, forum, judiciary
troth
n. –belief; faith; fidelity
syn. –arbitration committee, jury, forum
turbid
adj. –1. thick; dense; 2. confused; perplexed
syn. –murky, opaque, cloudy, unclear
tutelage
n. –the condition of being under a guardian or a tutor
syn. –guardianship, coaching, custody, ministration, protection, safekeeping, superintendence, supervision
umbra
n. –shade; shadow
syn. –adumbration, blackness, coolness, gloominess, obscuration, penumbra
uncouth
adj. –uncultured; crude
syn. –uncivilized, uncultivated, unrefined, unpolished, unsophisticated, rough, coarse, loutish, boorish, oafish, churlish, uncivil, rude, impolite, discourteous, disrespectful, unmannerly, bad-mannered, ill-bred, indecorous, crass, indelicate, vulgar, raunchy
unfeigned
adj. –genuine; real; sincere
syn. –true, honest, unaffected, unforced, heartfelt, wholehearted, bona fide
untrowable
adj. –incredible
syn. –magnificent, wonderful, marvelous, spectacular, remarkable, phenomenal, prodigious, breathtaking, extraordinary, unbelievable, amazing, stunning, astounding, astonishing, awe-inspiring, staggering, formidable, impressive, supreme, great, awesome, superhuman
uxoricide
n. –the murder of a wife by her husband
syn. –murder, killing, slaughter, butchery, massacre; assassination, execution, extermination
vagary
n. –1. an odd action of idea; 2. a wandering
syn. –change, fluctuation, variation, quirk, peculiarity, oddity, eccentricity, unpredictability, caprice, foible, whim, whimsy, fancy
vantage
n. –advantage; gain; profit
syn. –convenience, dominance, ascendancy, prevalence, precedence, superiority, supremacy
vaunt
v. –to brag or boast
syn. –parade, flaunt, acclaim, trumpet, praise, extol, celebrate
venal
adj. –that can be readily bribed or corrupted
syn. –corruptible, bribable, open to bribery, dishonest, dishonorable, untrustworthy, unscrupulous, unprincipled, mercenary, greedy
veneer
n. –1. a thin surface layer; 2. any attractive but superficial appearance
syn. –1. lamination, overlay, facing, covering, finish, exterior, cladding, laminate; 2. facade, front, false front, show, impression, semblance, guise, disguise, mask, masquerade, pretense, camouflage, cover
verbiage
n. –wordiness
syn. –verbosity, wordiness, prolixity, longwindedness, loquacity, rigmarole, circumlocution, superfluity, periphrasis
verity
n. –truthfulness
syn. –accuracy, veracity, verisimilitude
vertigo
n. –a sensation of dizziness
syn. –giddiness, lightheadedness, loss of balance
vestige
n. –a trace of something that no longer exists
syn. –bit, touch, hint, suggestion, suspicion, shadow, scrap, tinge, speck, shred, jot, iota, whit, scintilla, glimmer
vicarious
adj. –taking the place of another person or thing
syn. –indirect, secondhand, secondary, derivative, derived, surrogate, substitute; empathetic, empathic
vicissitude
n. –changes or variation occurring irregularly in the course of something
syn. –alteration, shift, reversal, twist, turn, downturn, variation, inconstancy, instability, uncertainty, chanciness, unpredictability, fickleness, variability, changeability, fluctuation, vacillation
vigilance
n. –watchfulness
syn. –observant, attentive, alert, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, on the lookout, wide awake, wakeful, circumspect, heedful, mindful
visage
n. –appearance
syn. –face, countenance, look, (facial) features, (facial) expression
vitriolic
adj. –extremely biting or caustic
syn. –acrimonious, rancorous, bitter, caustic, mordant, acerbic, trenchant, virulent, spiteful, savage, venomous, poisonous, malicious, splenetic, nasty, mean, cruel, unkind, harsh, hostile, vindictive, vicious, scathing, barbed, wounding, sharp, cutting, withering, sarcastic
vociferous
adj. –making a loud outcry
syn. –outspoken, forthright, plain-spoken, expressive, blunt, frank, candid, open, vehement, strident, vigorous, emphatic, insistent, forceful, zealous, clamorous, loudmouthed
volition
n. –the act of willing
syn. –voluntarily, willingly, readily, freely, intentionally, consciously, deliberately, on purpose, purposely, gladly
voracious
adj. –greedy in eating
syn. –insatiable, unquenchable, unappeasable, prodigious, uncontrollable, compulsive, gluttonous, greedy, rapacious, enthusiastic, eager, keen, avid, desirous, hungry, ravenous
vouchsafe
v. –1. to be gracious enough to grant; 2. to guarantee as safe
syn. –permit, bestow, concede, acquiesce, endow, tender
wan
adj. –pale; pallid
syn. –ashen, white, gray, anemic, colorless, bloodless, waxen, chalky, pasty, peaked, sickly, washed out, drained, drawn, ghostly
wily
adj. –cunning; sly
syn. –shrewd, clever, sharp, sharp-witted, astute, canny, smart; crafty, artful, scheming, calculating, devious
wizened
adj. –withered; shrunken
syn. –wrinkled, lined, creased, shriveled, withered, weather-beaten, shrunken, gnarled, aged
wreak
v. –to give vent or free play
syn. –inflict, bestow, mete out, administer, deliver, impose, exact, create, cause, result in, effect, engender, bring about, perpetrate, unleash, let loose
wrest
v. –1. to turn or twist or grab from; 2. usurp; 3. to distort or change the true meaning of
syn. –wrench, snatch, seize, pry, pluck, tug, pull, jerk, dislodge, removed
