Word List 46

Question 1

Tacit (adj)

Answer 1

understood; not put into words

We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake

Question 2

Taciturn (adj)

Answer 2

habitually silent; talking little

The stereotypical boy is a taciturn soul, answering lengthy questions with a Yep or Nope

Question 3

Tactile (adj)

Answer 3

pertaining to the organs or sense of touch

His callous hands had lost their tactile sensitivity

Question 4

Tantalise (v)

Answer 4

tease; torture or excite someone’s senses

Question 5

Tantamount (adj)

Answer 5

equivalent in effect or value
Because of the Southern Blacks could afford to pay the poll tax, the imposition of this tax on prospective voters was tantamount to disenfranchisement for black voters

Question 6

Tarry (v)

Answer 6

delay; dawdle

We can’t tarry if we want to get to the airport on time

Question 7

Tautological (adj)

Answer 7

needlessly repetitious

In the sentence “It was visible to the eye,” the phrase “to the eye” is tautological

Question 8

Tawdry (adj)

Answer 8

cheap and gaudy

He won a few tawdry trinkets at Coney Island

Question 9

Tedium (n)

Answer 9

boredom; weariness

We hope this new game will help you overcome the tedium of your stay in the hospital

Question 10

Temerity (n)

Answer 10

boldness; rashness

Do you have the temerity to argue with me?

Question 11

Temporize (v)

Answer 11

act evasively to gain time; avoid committing one self

The sheriff temporised, hoping to put off any confrontation with the outlaw band

Question 12

Tendentious (adj)

Answer 12

having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause

This intensive and tendentious coverage makes it clear that some news channels are pursuing agendas of their own

Question 13

Tenet (n)

Answer 13

doctrine; dogma

Question 14

Tenuous (adj)

Answer 14

thin; rare; slim

The allegiance of our allies is held by such tenuous ties that we have little hope they will remain loyal

Question 15

Tepid (adj)

Answer 15

lukewarm

To avoid scalding the baby, make sure the bath water is tepid, not hot

Question 16

Terse (adj)

Answer 16

concise; abrupt; pithy

There is a fine line between speech that is terse and to the point and speech that is too abrupt

Question 17

Thespian (adj)

Answer 17

pertaining to drama

Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career

Question 18

Threadbare (adj)

Answer 18

worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor

The poorly paid adjunct professor hid the threadbare spots on his jacket by sewing leather patches on the sleeves

Question 19

Throes (n)

Answer 19

violent anguish

The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying the physical pain

Question 20

Tightwad (n)

Answer 20

excessively frugal person; miser

Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check

Question 21

Timorous (adj)

Answer 21

fearful; demonstrating fear

Shy when encountering strangers, she was too timorous to meet anyone’s gaze

Question 22

Tirade (n)

Answer 22

extended scolding; denunciation; harangue

Every time the boss holds a meeting, he goes into a lengthy tirade, scolding us for everything

Question 23

Titular (adj)

Answer 23

having the title of an office without the obligations

Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager