Vocabulary4 Flashcards
obdurate
unwilling to change; stubborn, inflexible
objective
dealing with observable facts rather than opinions or interpretations
oblivious
unaware, unconscious
obscure
little known; hard to understand.
obsessive
haunted or preoccupied by an idea or feeling
obsolete
no longer current; old-fashioned.
obstinate
stubborn, unyielding
obtrusive
overly prominent
ominous
foretelling evil
onerous
heavy, burdensome
opportunistic
eagerly seizing chances as they arise
opulent
rich, lavish
ornate
highly decorated, elaborate
ostentatious
overly showy, pretentious
ostracize
to exclude from a group
pallid
pale; dull
parched
very dry; thirsty
pariah
outcast
partisan
reflecting strong allegiance to a particular party or cause
pathology
disease or the study
pellucid
very clear; transparent; easy to understand
penitent
feeling sorry for past crimes or sins
penurious
extremely frugal; stingy.
perceptive
quick to notice, observant.
perfidious
disloyal, treacherous
perfunctory
unenthusiastic, routine, or mechanical
permeate
to spread through or penetrate
persevere
to continue despite difficulties
perspicacity
keenness of observation or understanding
peruse
to examine or study
pervasive
spreading throughout
phlegmatic
sluggish and unemotional in temperament.
placate
to soothe or appease
plastic
able to be molded or reshaped
plausible
apparently believable
polarize
to separate into opposing groups or forces.
portend
to indicate a future event; to forebode
potentate
a powerful ruler
pragmatism
a belief in approaching problems through practical rather theoretical means.
preamble
an introductory statement
precocious
mature at an unusually early age
predatory
living by killing and eating other animals; exploiting others for personal gain.
predilection
a liking or preference
predominant
greatest in numbers or influence.
prepossessing
attractive
presumptuous
going beyond the limits of courtesy or appropriateness
pretentious
claiming excessive value or importance
procrastinate
to put off, to delay
profane
impure, unholy
proficient
skillful, adept
proliferate
to increase or multiply
prolific
producing many offspring or creations
prominence
the quality of standing out; fame
promulgate
to make public, to declare
propagate
to cause to grow; to foster
propriety
appropriateness
prosaic
everyday, ordinary, dull
protagonist
the main character in a story or play; the main supporter of an idea
provocative
likely to stimulate emotions, ideas, or controversy.
proximity
closeness, nearness
prudent
wise, cautious, and practical
pugnacious
combative, bellicose, truculent, ready to fight
punctilious
very concerned about proper forms of behavior and manners
pundit
someone who offers opinions in an authoritative style
punitive
inflicting punishment
quell
to quiet, to suppress
querulous
complaining, whining
rancorous
expressing bitter hostility.
rationale
an underlying reason or explanation
raze
to completely destroy; demolish
reciprocate
to give and take mutually
reclusive
withdrawn from society
reconcile
to make consistent or harmonious
recrimination
a retaliatory accusation
recuperate
to regain health after an illness
redoubtable
inspiring respect, awe, or fear.
refursbish
to fix up; renovate
refute
to prove false
relevance
connection to the matter at hand; pertinence.
remedial
serving to remedy, cure, or correct some condition
remorse
a painful sense of guilt over wrong doing.
remuneration
pay
renovate
to renew by repairing or rebuilding
renunciation
the act of rejecting or refusing something
replete
filled abundantly
reprehensible
deserving criticism or censure
repudiate
to reject, to renounce
reputable
having a good reputation; respected.
resilient
able to recover from difficulty
resplendent
glowing, shinning
responsive
reacting quickly and appropriately
restitution
return of something to its original owner; repayment
revere
to admire deeply, to honor
rhapsodize
to praise in a wildly emotional way
sagacious
discerning, wise
salvage
to save from wreck or ruin
sanctimonious
showing false or excessive piety
scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for others’ acts; someone hated for no apparent reason.
scrupulous
acting with extreme care; painstaking.
scrutinize
to study closely.
secrete
to emit; to hide.
sedentary
requiring much sitting.
sequential
arranged in an order or series.
serendipity
the act of lucky, accidental discoveries
servile
like a slave or servant; submissive.
