Vocabulary Words #11

Question 1

Belittle

Answer 1

(v) to make something seem less important

Example Sentence:

Roger ________ the painting because he
could not compete with the artist.

Question 2

Cursory

Answer 2

(adj) without attention to detail

Example Sentence:

It requires more than ________attention for
me to comprehend poetry.

Question 3

Desecrate

Answer 3

(v) – to treat with disrespect; offend the
religious nature of something

Example Sentence:

The young hoodlums ________ the cemetery
by overturning the headstones.

Question 4

Expunge

Answer 4

(v) to erase; to remove completely

Example Sentence:

Sergeant Phillips petitioned the army to
________ the court martial from his record.

Question 5

Innocuous

Answer 5

(adj) harmless; not intended to cause offense

Example Sentence:

I never thought my ________ little remark
would cause us to feud.

Question 6

Meager

Answer 6

(adj) of poor quality or small amount; too thin

Example Sentence:

Our ________ rations will never last while we
are marooned on this island!

Question 7

Peruse

Answer 7

(v) to examine in a leisurely or careful way; to
read

Example Sentence:

The students were directed to ________ the
poem not just for its language but for its ideas.

Question 8

Reticent

Answer 8

(adj) – not saying much, especially about
one’s thoughts; unwilling to
communicate

Example Sentence:

The ________ student never raised his hand
in class.

Question 9

Tawdry

Answer 9

(adj) – gaudy and cheap; inferior quality;
flashy; socially tasteless

Example Sentence:

Joann’s ________ dress was out of place at
the fashion show in Milan.

Question 10

Verbose

Answer 10

(adj) – wordy and tedious; longwinded;
rambling

Example Sentence:

When the ________ speaker stopped to take
a drink of water, Cheryl quietly slipped out of
the auditorium.