Vocabulary Words #9

Question 1

Augment

Answer 1

(v) to increase or enlarge

Example Sentence:

If we augment our arms stockpile, our
enemies will do the same.

Question 2

Crass

Answer 2

(adj) coarse; stupid

Example Sentence:

The job applicant was considered crass
because his first question was about vacation
time.

Question 3

Dearth

Answer 3

(n) – shortage

Example Sentence:

The dearth of citrus fruits on the early
transatlantic ships led to a host of illnesses.

Question 4

Euphemism

Answer 4

(n) use of an indirect expression in place of
one that is harsh

Example Sentence:

Referring to the garbage collector as a
sanitation engineer is a euphemism.

Question 5

Facilitate

Answer 5

(v) to make easy; to bring about

Example Sentence:

The assistance given to us by the bank helped
to facilitate the merger.

Question 6

Inadvertent

Answer 6

(adj) not done on purpose; careless

Example Sentence:

Jack’s inadvertent comment was not
important then, but it proved to be significant
later.

Question 7

Pariah

Answer 7

(n) an outcast; one who is despised

Example Sentence:

Anyone who breaks the code of honor at West
Point is treated like a pariah.

Question 8

Relegate

Answer 8

(v) – to put in a less important position; to
assign; to banish

Example Sentence:

The slumping batter was relegated from
clean-up to eighth in the lineup.

Question 9

Surreptitious

Answer 9

(adj) sly; stealthy; done in a quiet or secret
way

Example Sentence:

The feud started when both neighbors
received surreptitious phone calls that each
thought came from the other.

Question 10

Vacillate

Answer 10

(v) – to sway unsteadily; to waver; to fluctuate

Example Sentence:

When choosing her elective class, Ingrid
vacillated from one to another until it was too
late to choose any at all.