Word List 44

Question 1

Somnolent (adj)

Answer 1

half asleep

The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker

Question 2

Sophist (n)

Answer 2

teacher of philosophy; quibbler

You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious

Question 3

Sophistry (n)

Answer 3

seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning

Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries

Question 4

Sophomoric (adj)

Answer 4

immature; half baked like a sophomore

The humour in Dumb & Dumber is sophomoric at best

Question 5

Soporific (adj)

Answer 5

sleep causing, marked by sleepiness

Prof Albert’s lecture was so soporific that even he fell asleep in class

Question 6

Spasmodic (adj)

Answer 6

fitful; periodic

The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers

Question 7

Specious (adj)

Answer 7

seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading

Question 8

Spendthrifts (n)

Answer 8

someone who wastes money

Question 9

Sphinx-like (adj)

Answer 9

enigmatic; mysterious

The Mona Lisa’s sphinx like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries

Question 10

Squalor (n)

Answer 10

filth; degradation; dirty; neglected state

Question 11

Staid (adj)

Answer 11

sober; sedate

Question 12

Stalwart (adj)

Answer 12

strong; brawny; steadfast

His consistent support to the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member

Question 13

Stickler (n)

Answer 13

perfectionist; person who insists things be exact

The IRS agent was a stickler for accuracy

Question 14

Stigma (n)

Answer 14

token of disgrace; brand

Question 15

Stipend (n)

Answer 15

pay for services

Question 16

Stodgy (adj)

Answer 16

stuffy; boringly conservative

For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy you’d expect someone his age to have a little more life

Question 17

Stolid (adj)

Answer 17

dull; impassive

The earthquake shattered Stuart’s stolid demeanour

Question 18

Stratagem (n)

Answer 18

clever trick; deceptive scheme

What a gem of a stratagem! Watson, I have the perfect plan to trick Moriarty into revealing himself

Question 19

Stricture (n)

Answer 19

critical comments; severe and adverse criticism

His strictures on the author’s style are prejudiced and unwarranted