Word List 20 Flashcards
incontrovertible
not open to question; indisputable
e.g. incontrovertible facts that left the jury with no choice but to convict
incorrigible
incapable of being corrected or amended
e.g. an incorrigible habit of playing practical jokes
incorruptible
not subject to decay or dissolution
incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted
venal
capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration; purchasable; especially, open to corrupt influence and especially bribery; mercenary
originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery
e.g. That judge is known for being venal and easily bought.
a venal arrangement with the police
incredulous
unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true; not credulous; skeptical
too extraordinary and improbable to be believed; incredible
expressing incredulity
e.g. She listened to his explanation with an incredulous smile.
incriminate
to charge with or show evidence or proof of involvement in a crime or fault
e.g. In exchange for a reduced sentence, the thief agreed to incriminate his accomplice.
incubation
the period between the infection of an individual by a pathogen and the manifestation of the illness or disease it causes; incubation period
incubus
an evil spirit that lies on persons in their sleep
a frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper; nightmare
one that oppresses or burdens like a nightmare
inculcate
to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
e.g. The teacher inculcated in her students the importance of good study habits.
incumbent
the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice
one that occupies a particular position or place
imposed as duty; obligatory
having the status of an incumbent
lying or resting on something else
e.g. Voters will have the chance to see the incumbent and her opponent in a series of three debates.
It is incumbent upon you to attend every staff meeting.
the team’s incumbent third baseman
recumbent
suggestive of repose; leaning, resting
representing a person lying down
e.g. The Egyptian sphinx has the body of a recumbent lion.
incur
to become liable or subject to; bring down upon oneself
e.g. incur expenses
What did he do to incur such wrath?
indebted
owing gratitude or recognition to another; beholden
owing money
e.g. thereafter forever felt indebted to the producer for giving her her lucky break
indefatigable
incapable of being fatigued; untiring
e.g. a person of indefatigable patience
an indefatigable laborer who can work from sunrise to sunset
indelible
that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased
making marks that cannot easily be removed
lasting; unforgettable, memorable
e.g. Winning the state basketball championship was our team’s most indelible experience.
an indelible pencil
indemnify
to secure against hurt, loss, or damage
to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss, or damage
e.g. The company generously indemnifies workers who are injured on the job.
indemnity
security against hurt, loss, or damage; exemption from incurred penalties or liabilities
e.g. an agreement providing indemnity against prosecution
pay $2 million in indemnities
indent
to notch the edge of; make jagged
to bind (as an apprentice) by or as if by indentures
to force inward so as to form a depression
indenture
a contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time
indentation
indict
to charge with a fault or offense; criticize, accuse
to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury in due form of law
e.g. A grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement.
indigence
a level of poverty in which real hardship and deprivation are suffered and comforts of life are wholly lacking
e.g. There are various state and federal programs to help relieve indigence.
indigenous
produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment
innate, inborn
e.g. indigenous plants/culture
indigent
suffering from extreme poverty; impoverished
e.g. The clinic provides free care for indigent patients.
indignant
feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy; filled with or marked with indignation
e.g. became indignant at the accusations
indignity
an act that offends against a person’e dignity or self-respect; insult
humiliating treatment
e.g. He remembers all the indignities he had suffer in the early years of his career.
indispensable
not subject to being set aside or neglected
e.g. Full aware that he was an indispensable assistant, he decided that it was high time that he be paid what he was worth.
indoctrinate
to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiment; teach
to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle
e.g. The goal should be to teach politics, rather than to indoctrinate students in a narrow set of political beliefs.
indolent
causing little or no pain; slow to develop or heal
averse to activity, effort, or movement; habitually lazy
conducive to or encouraging laziness
showing an inclination to laziness
e.g. indolent tumors/ulcers
an indolent boy who had to be forced to help out with the chores
indolent heat
an indolent sigh
indubitable
too evident to be doubted; unquestionable
e.g. the indubitable fact that there are no more woolly mammoths or saber-toothed tigers around
induct
to put in formal possession; install
to admit as a member; introduce, initiate
lead, conduct
e.g. inducted as president of the college
inducted into a scholastic society
indurate
physically or morally hardened
to make unfeeling, stubborn, or obdurate
to make hard or hardy; inure
to establish firmly; confirm
e.g. an indurate heart that admits no love or mercy
clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun
Such a brutal upbringing could only callous his soul and indurate his heart to the suffering of others.
industrious
constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied; diligent
ineffable
incapable of being expressed in words; indescribable
not to be uttered; taboo
e.g. an ineffable beauty descends upon the canyon as the sun begins to set
the ineffable name of Jehovah
ineffectual
not producing the proper or intended effect; futile
not capable of performing efficiently or as expected; ineffective
e.g. An ineffectual effort to find the trail again did at least lead them to another stunning view of the canyon.
ineluctable
not to be avoided, changed, or resisted; inevitable
e.g. The ineluctable approach of winter had many worried about the cost of heating their homes.
inept
lacking in fitness or aptitude; unfit
lacking sense or reason; foolish
not suitable to the time, place, or occasion; inappropriate often to an absurd degree
e.g. inept at sports
an inept metaphor
He made an inept attempt to apologize.
inequity
injustice, unfairness; also, an instance of such
e.g. the inequities in wages paid to men and women
The inequity of the punishment led many people to believe that the defendant was being punished for his political beliefs.
inexorable
not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped; relentless
e.g. the inexorable rise of a political movement
inexplicable
incapable of being explained, interpreted, or accounted for
e.g. an inexplicable desire for ice cream at two in the morning
infantry
soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot
a branch of an army composed of these soldiers
an infantry regiment or division