Words Flashcards
Insipid
having too little taste, flavour or colour
Beswad
Obsequious
Obedient
Proclivity
a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing.
“a proclivity for hard work”
Puerile
childishly silly and immature.
“a puerile argument”
Alacrity
OK 🤪🤪🥳
brisk and cheerful readiness.
“she accepted the invitation with alacrity”
Anachronistic
belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.
“‘Titus’ benefits from the effective use of anachronistic elements like cars and loudspeakers”
Banal
Not original
Benign
Gentle kind
Not harmful to environment
Brazen
Bold
Without shame
Calumny
Defame
False statement on someone
The editor of the magazine was sued for publishing vicious calumnies about the politician.
Caustic
🗣️ #️⃣🌟💫!!
sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.
“the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing”
Construe
Interpret in a particular way
Her confident manner is often construed as arrogance.
Contrite
feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.
“a contrite tone”
Convoluted
especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow.
“the film is let down by a convoluted plot in which nothing really happens”
Covet
Desire
yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another).
“I covet one of their smart bags”
Craven
🐦⬛
Lack courage
Cowardly
Decorum
behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.
“he had acted with the utmost decorum”
Deft
neatly skilful and quick in one’s movements.
“a deft piece of footwork”
demonstrating skill and cleverness.
“the script was both deft and literate”
Demur
Reluctant
raise objections or show reluctance.
“normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred”
Abate
Make less severe
the storm suddenly abated
Abjure
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
“MPs were urged to abjure their Jacobite allegiance”
Antipathy
strong feeling of dislike.
Arduous
involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
“an arduous journey”
Artless
without guile or deception.
“an artless, naive girl”
without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple.
“an artless literary masterpiece”
Assuage
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
“the letter assuaged the fears of most members”
Betray
Reveal
unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.
“she drew a deep breath that betrayed her indignation”
Censure
express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement.
“the company was heavily censured by inspectors from the Department of Trade”
Chicanery
the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose.
“storylines packed with political chicanery”
Chikani chupadi batei
Cogent
🥸 alerts doc was cogent
of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
“they put forward cogent arguments for British membership”
Compelling
evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.
“his eyes were strangely compelling”
Contend
assert something as a position in an argument.
“he contends that the judge was wrong”
Copious
abundant in supply or quantity.
“she took copious notes”
Deference
polite submission and respect.
“he addressed her with the deference due to age”
Desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
“a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion”
Diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
“a diffident youth”
Dilatory
slow to act.
“he had been dilatory in appointing a solicitor”
Verbose
using or expressed in more words than are needed.
“much academic language is obscure and verbose”
Scrupulous
of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.
“the research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail”
Recondite
of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse.
“the book is full of recondite information”
Punctillious
showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour.
“he was punctilious in providing every amenity for his guests”
Prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
“no prudent money manager would authorize a loan without first knowing its purpose”
Polemical
expressing or constituting a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something.
“a polemical essay”
Paradigmatic
serving as a typical example of something.
“his biography is paradigmatic of the experiences of this generation”
2.
of or denoting the relationship between a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles.
Inimical
Enemy cal
tending to obstruct or harm.
“the policy was inimical to Britain’s real interests
Incendiary
of a device or attack) designed to cause fires.
“incendiary bombs”
Similar:
combustible
flammable
inflammable
fire-producing
fire-raising
2.
tending to stir up conflict.”incendiary rhetoric”
Garrulous
excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
“a garrulous cab driver”
Fervid
intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree.
“his fervid protestations of love”
Disparate
essentially different in kind; not able to be compared.
“they inhabit disparate worlds of thought”
Corroborated
confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
“the witness had corroborated the boy’s account of the attack”
Approbation
approval or praise.
“a term of approbation”
Discernible
Di sect able
Visible detectable
able to be discerned; perceptible.
“the scandal had no discernible effect on his career”
Enigmatic
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.
“he took the money with an enigmatic smile”
Estranged
of a person) no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated.
“Harriet felt more estranged from her daughter than ever”
(of a wife or husband) no longer living with their spouse.
“his estranged wife”
Fanciful
over-imaginative and unrealistic.
“ever more fanciful proposals were raised”
2.
highly ornamental or imaginative in design.
“a fanciful Art Nouveau bar”
Frivolous
of a person) carefree and superficial.
“the frivolous, fun-loving flappers of the twenties
not having any serious purpose or value.
“frivolous ribbons and lacy frills”
Imperious
arrogant and domineering.
“his imperious demands”
Impertinent
not showing proper respect; rude.
“an impertinent question”
not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant.
“talk of ‘rhetoric’ and ‘strategy’ is impertinent to this process”
Irresolute
Irr resolution
No solution
Uncertain
showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain.
“she stood irresolute outside his door”
Lax
Loose
1.
not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.
“lax security arrangements at the airport”
Plodding
slow-moving and unexciting.
“a plodding comedy drama”
(of a person) thorough and hard-working but lacking in imagination or intelligence.
“plodding, methodical Ralph Bellamy”
Prosaic
having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality.
“prosaic language can’t convey the experience”
Remedial
giving or intended as a remedy or cure.
“remedial surgery”
provided or intended for school students who have not achieved the level of attainment necessary for them to be able to study with their contemporaries.
“remedial education”
Undermine
lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously.
“this could undermine years of hard work”
Weary
feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion.
“he gave a long, weary sigh”
Zealous
Punit superstar
Zeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahh
showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.
“he was a zealous supporter of constitutional and parliamentary reform”
Admonish
to tell somebody firmly that you do not approve of something that he/she has done
“He was admonished for arriving late at work.”
Affectation
Dikhava
Pretention
Analogous
comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared.
“they saw the relationship between a ruler and his subjects as analogous to that of father and children”
Chauvinistic
displaying excessive or prejudiced support for one’s own cause or group, in particular showing male prejudice against women.
“she overcomes the surly objections of her chauvinistic editor to uncover the truth”
feeling or displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
“a chauvinistic attitude towards other countries
Connoisseur
an expert judge in matters of taste.
“a connoisseur of music”
Dissemble
conceal or disguise one’s true feelings or beliefs.
“an honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble”
Dogged
having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.
“success required dogged determination”
Dupe
deceive; trick.
“the newspaper was duped into publishing an untrue story”
Empirical
based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
“they provided considerable empirical evidence to support their argument”
Engender
cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).
“the issue engendered continuing controversy”
Pertinacious
holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action.
“he worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions”. Dogged
Presumptuous
of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
“I hope I won’t be considered presumptuous if I offer
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
“financial probity”
Specious
superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
“a specious argument”
misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive.
“the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty”
Spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake.
“separating authentic and spurious claims”
Subjective
based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
“his views are highly subjective”
Subvert
undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).
“the case involved an attempt to subvert the rule of law”
Timorous
showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
“a timorous voice”
Tortuous
full of twists and turns.
“the route is remote and tortuous”
Tractable
of a person) easy to control or influence.
“she has always been tractable and obedient, even as a child”
Transient
lasting only for a short time; impermanent.
Venal
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt.
“local customs officers are notoriously venal”
Tendentious
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.
“a tendentious reading of history”. Jj
Stern
Serious
of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline.
“a smile transformed his stern face”
Sedulous
of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.
“he watched himself with the most sedulous care”
Salubrious
health-giving; healthy.
“odours of far less salubrious origin”
Reproach
express to (someone) one’s disapproval of or disappointment in their actions.
“critics reproached him for his failure to tackle the deficiency”
Platitude
a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
“he masks his disdain for her with platitudes about how she should believe in herself more”
Neophyte
Noob
a person who is new to a subject or activity.
“four-day cooking classes are offered to neophytes and experts”
Malign
evil in nature or effect.
“she had a strong and malign influence”
Loathe
Hates
Irreverent
not feeling or showing respect
Intrepid
fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).
“our intrepid reporter”
Intransigent
unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something.
“her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent”
Indolent
Lazy
wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
“they were indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure”
Indefatigable
of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly.
“an indefatigable defender of human rights”
Hyperbole
Hyper Bol
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
“he vowed revenge with oaths and hyperboles”
Explicable
able to be accounted for or understood.
“differences in schools were not explicable in terms of differences in intake”
Dearth
Scarcity
a scarcity or lack of something.
“there is a dearth of evidence”
Clamorous
making a loud and confused noise.
“a jostling, clamorous mob”
Arbitrary
Determined by chance not reason
The arbitrary nature of lottery means that anyone can win
Accentuate
make more noticeable or prominent.
“his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch”
Conjectural
an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
“conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied”
based on or involving conjecture.
“the evidence was deemed too conjectural”
Convivial
of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.
“a convivial cocktail party”
(of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial.
“she was relaxed and convivial”
Decadent
characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.
“a decaying, decadent Britain”
Egregious
outstandingly bad; shocking.
“egregious abuses of copyright”
Evanescent
Ephemeral
soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.
“the evanescent Arctic summer”
Gainsay
deny or contradict (a fact or statement).
“the impact of the railways cannot be gainsaid”
Obviate
remove (a need or difficulty).
“the presence of roller blinds obviated the need for curtains”
Oust
drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place.
“the reformists were ousted from power”
Palpable
1.
(of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.
“a palpable sense of loss”
Perfidy
the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy.
“it was an example of his perfidy”
Profuse
especially of something offered or discharged) very plentiful; abundant.
“I offered my profuse apologies”
Pugnacious
Pug bhow bhow
very eager to start an argument or fight; expressing an opinion very strongly
लड़ाकू; झगड़ालू; दृढ़ता से विचार व्यक्त करनेवाला
Sagacious
Shrewd.
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd.
“they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation”
Sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
“he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy”
Skullduggery
underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities.
“a firm that investigates commercial skulduggery”
Utilitarian
Sensible realistic pragmatic
designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.
“a utilitarian building”
Vapid
offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland.
“tuneful but vapid musical comedies”
Placid
not easily upset or excited.
“a placid, contented man”
Brook
tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition).
“Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew”
Comity
Mutual respect
an association of nations for their mutual benefit.
2.
courtesy and considerate behaviour towards others.
Commensurate
Prportionate
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.
“salary will be commensurate with age and experience”
Cordial
warm and friendly.
“the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed”
Dichotomy
a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
“a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism”
Edify
instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.
“Rachel had edified their childhood with frequent readings from Belloc”
Elicit
evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone.
“I tried to elicit a smile from Joanna”
Erudite
having or showing great knowledge or learning.
“Ken could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion”
Fecund
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; highly fertile.
“a lush and fecund garden”
Feeble
lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
“by now, he was too feeble to leave his room”
Felicitous
well chosen or suited to the circumstances.
“a felicitous phrase”
Forbear
refrain from doing or using (something).
“Rebecca could not forbear a smile”
Haphazard
lacking any obvious principle of organization.
“the music business works in a haphazard fashion”
Impede
delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder.
“the sap causes swelling which can impede breathing”
Impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
“she might live to rue this impetuous decision”
Irascible
Petulant
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
“an irascible and difficult man”
Meticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
“the designs are hand-glazed with meticulous care”
Mordant
especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting.
“a mordant sense of humour”
Outstrip
move faster than and overtake (someone else).
“during the morning warm-up, he once again outstripped the field”
Precarious
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
“a precarious ladder”
dependent on chance; uncertain.
“he made a precarious living as a painter”
Quirky
having or characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits or aspects.
“her sense of humour was decidedly quirky”
Repudiate
refuse to accept; reject.
“she has repudiated policies associated with previous party leaders”
Tact
skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
“the inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration”
Trifling
unimportant or trivial.
“a trifling sum”
Acumen
the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.
“she hides a shrewd business acumen”
Antithesis
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
“love is the antithesis of selfishness”
Ascribe
Describe
regard something as being due to (a cause).
“he ascribed Jane’s short temper to her upset stomach”
Befuddled
unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed.
“even in my befuddled state I could see that they meant trouble”
Eschew
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
“he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence”
Esoteric
intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
“esoteric philosophical debates”
Exculpate
show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing.
“the article exculpated the mayor”
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
“she dressed with fastidious care”
Feign
Fake
pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
“she feigned nervousness”
Furtive
attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.
He cast a furtive glance around the room before slipping the note in his pocket
Indispensable
absolutely necessary.
“he made himself indispensable to the parish priest”
Lament
a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
“his mother’s night-long laments for his father”
Nonchalant
of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm.
“she gave a nonchalant shrug”
Pensive
engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought.
“a pensive mood”
Portend
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
“the eclipses portend some major events”
Rudimentary
involving or limited to basic principles.
“he received a rudimentary education”
Slight
insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention.
“he was desperate not to slight a guest”
Somnolent
sleepy; drowsy.
Wane
of a state or feeling) decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker.
“confidence in the dollar waned”
Chivalrous
courteous and gallant, especially towards women (typically used of a man or his behaviour).
“shall I be chivalrous and offer you my coat?”
Churlish
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
“it seems churlish to complain”
Clandestine
kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
“she deserved better than these clandestine meetings”
Complacent
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
“you can’t afford to be complacent about security”
Cumbersome
large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy.
“cumbersome diving suits”
Debilitating
of a disease or condition) making someone very weak and infirm.
“debilitating back pain”
Eccentric
of a person or their behaviour) unconventional and slightly strange.
“he noted her eccentric appearance”
Fractious
typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome.
“they fight and squabble like fractious children”
Limpid
Cogent
of a liquid) completely clear and transparent.
“the limpid waters of the Caribbean”
Mawkish
Overly sentimental
sentimental in an exaggerated or false way.
“a mawkish ode to parenthood”
Ostentatious
characterized by pretentious or showy display; designed to impress.
“a simple design that is glamorous without being ostentatious”
Panacea
a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
“the panacea for all corporate ills”
Perfunctory
of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort.
“he gave a perfunctory nod”
Perilous
full of danger or risk.
“a perilous journey south”
Pervasive
especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
“ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our society”
Preclude
prevent from happening; make impossible.
“the secret nature of his work precluded official recognition”
Predilection
a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favour of something.
“my predilection for Asian food”
Rapacious
aggressively greedy or grasping.
“rapacious landlords”
Satirical
containing or using satire.
“a New York-based satirical magazine”
sarcastic, critical, and mocking another’s weaknesses.
“his satirical sense of humour”
Spartan
showing or characterized by austerity or a lack of comfort or luxury.
“the accommodation was fairly spartan”
Truculent
eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
“the truculent attitude of farmers to cheaper imports”
Acrimonious
typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.
“an acrimonious dispute about wages”
Beneficent
of a person) generous or doing good.
“a beneficent landowner”
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters.
“canny investors will switch banks if they think they are getting a raw deal”
Cavalier
showing a lack of proper concern; offhand.
“Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude”
Distressed
suffering from extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
“I was distressed at the news of his death”
2.
(of furniture or clothing) having simulated marks of age and wear.
“a distressed leather jacket”
Dwindling
gradually diminishing in size, amount, or strength.
“dwindling resources”
Exacerbate
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
“the exorbitant cost of land in urban areas only exacerbated the problem”
Exasperated
intensely irritated and frustrated.
“an exasperated expression”
Fungible
of a product or commodity) replaceable by another identical item; mutually interchangeable.
“it is by no means the world’s only fungible
Hackneyed
of a phrase or idea) having been overused; unoriginal and trite.
“hackneyed old sayings”
Incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
“the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath”
Laconic
of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.
“his laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic”
Onerous
Cumbersome
of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty.
“he found his duties increasingly onerous”
Opprobrium
harsh criticism or censure.
“the critical opprobrium generated by his films”
Parsimonious
very unwilling to spend money or use resources.
“even the parsimonious Joe paid for drinks all round”
Tempestuous
characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.
“he had a reckless and tempestuous streak”
Tenable
able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.
“such a simplistic approach is no longer tenable”
Transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence.
“I’ll be keeping an eye out for further transgressions
Urbane
courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man).
“the supposedly urbane, restrained English gentleman”
Verisimilitude
True not fake
the appearance of being true or real.
“the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude”
Vitiate
spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of.
“development programmes have been vitiated by the rise in population”
destroy or impair the legal validity of.
“the insurance is vitiated because of foolish acts on the part of the tenant”
Affinity
a natural liking for and understanding of someone or something.
“he had a special affinity with horses”
Altruistic
showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.
“it was an entirely altruistic act”
Baroque
the baroque style or period.
“the interior of the church is in lavish baroque”
Byzantine
Overly complex
Convoluted
Compromise
Weaken or diminish in quality, character or value
Low quality can compromise the dish’s flavor
Conciliatory
Console
intended or likely to placate or pacify.
“a conciliatory approach”
Countenance
a person’s face or facial expression.
“his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away”
Documentary
1.
consisting of or based on official documents.
“documentary evidence of regular payments from the company”
Exhaustive
including or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive.
“the guide outlines every bus route in exhaustive detail”
Extraneous
irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.
“one is obliged to wade through many pages of extraneous material”
Fervor
intense and passionate feeling.
“he talked with all the fervour of a new convert”
Futile
incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
“a futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage”
Illusory
based on illusion; not real.
“she knew the safety of her room was illusory”
Invidious
an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
“she’d put herself in an invidious position”
Lethargic
Sluggish tired
affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.
“I felt tired and a little lethargic”
Metaphorical
Symbolic rather than literal
Numinous
having a strong religious or spiritual quality; indicating or suggesting the presence of a divinity.
“the strange, numinous beauty of this ancient landmark”
Overt
Undisguised
Opp covert
done or shown openly; plainly apparent.
“an overt act of aggression”
Pellucid
translucently clear.
“mountains reflected in the pellucid waters”
Perpetuate
make (something) continue indefinitely.
“the confusion was perpetuated through inadvertence”
Scathing
witheringly scornful; severely critical.
“he unleashed a scathing attack on his former boss
Superficial
existing or occurring at or on the surface.
“the building suffered only superficial damage
Acquiesce
accept something reluctantly but without protest.
“Sara acquiesced in his decision”
Adroit
clever or skilful.
“he was adroit at tax avoidance”
Animus
hostility or ill feeling.
“the author’s animus towards her”
2.
motivation to do something.
“the reformist animus came from within the Party”
Apologist
a person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial.
“critics said he was an apologist for colonialism”
Collaborate
cooperate traitorously with an enemy.
“during the last war they collaborated with the Nazis”
Dictate
state or order authoritatively.
“the tsar’s attempts to dictate policy”
Discreet
careful and prudent in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment.
“we made some discreet inquiries”
Elitist
person who believes that a society or system should be led by an elite.
“critics portray him as an out-of-touch elitist”
Feedback
Flummoxed
bewildered or perplexed.
“he became flummoxed and speechless”
Inborn
existing from birth.
“an inborn defect in the formation of collagen”
Polymath
a person of wide knowledge or learning.
“a Renaissance polymath”
Reticent
not wanting to tell people about things
Subservient
prepared to obey others unquestioningly.
“she was subservient to her parents”
Surreptitious
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
“low wages were supplemented by surreptitious payments from tradesmen”
Tantalizing
tormenting or teasing with the sight or promise of something unobtainable.
“a tantalizing glimpse of the career he might have had”
Torpor
a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
“they veered between apathetic torpor and hysterical fanaticism”
Trenchant
Mordant
vigorous or incisive in expression or style.
“the White Paper makes trenchant criticisms of health authorities”
Umbrage
1.
offence or annoyance.
“she took umbrage at his remarks”
Wayward
difficult to control or predict because of wilful or perverse behaviour.
“a wayward adolescent”
Apathy
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
“widespread apathy among students”
Apropros
very appropriate to a particular situation.
“the composer’s reference to child’s play is apropos”
Cloak
Conceal or disguise
The spy cloaked his true intentions
Consensus
a general agreement.
“there is a growing consensus that the current regime has failed”
Elated
ecstatically happy.
“after the concert, I felt elated”
Enchant
1.
fill (someone) with great delight; charm.
“Isabel was enchanted with the idea”
Entrenched
of an attitude, habit, or belief) firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained.
“an entrenched resistance to change”
Forseeable
able to be foreseen or predicted.
“the situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future”
Forsake
abandon or leave.
“he would never forsake Tara”
Gratify
give (someone) pleasure or satisfaction.
“she was gratified to see the shock in Jim’s eyes”
Heed
pay attention to; take notice of.
“he should have heeded the warnings”
Pertinent
relevant or applicable to a particular matter; apposite.
“she asked me a lot of very pertinent questions”
Propriety
Correctness decency
the details or rules of behaviour conventionally considered to be correct.
plural noun: proprieties
“she’s a great one for the proprieties”
the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting.
“they questioned the propriety of certain investments made by the council”
Scintillating
brilliantly and excitingly clever or skilful.
“the audience loved his scintillating wit”
Sensational
Exaggerated for effect, often sacrificing accuracy
Sensational headlines
Sophisticated
having, revealing, or involving a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture.
“a chic, sophisticated woman”
Strife
angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.
“strife within the community”
Understated
presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way.
“understated elegance”
Unscrupulous
having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
“unscrupulous landlords might be tempted to harass existing tenants”
Veracity
habitual truthfulness.
“voters should be concerned about his veracity and character”
Virulent
of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
“a virulent strain of influenza”
Antedate
Predate
precede in time; come before (something) in date.
“a civilization that antedated the Roman Empire”
Bridle
Control or restrain
She bridled her anger
Crestfallen
sad and disappointed.
“he came back empty-handed and crestfallen”
Curtail
Restrict or limit
Decrease in quantity
She curtailed her shopping habits
Elucidate
make (something) clear; explain.
“work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter”
Feckless
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.
“her feckless younger brother”
Fester
Worsen (negative feeling or problem)
Old wounds can fester if not addressed
Immure
Jailed captured
enclose or confine (someone) against their will.
“her brother was immured in a lunatic asylum”
Improvise
create and perform (music, drama, or verse) spontaneously or without preparation.
“he invited actors to improvise dialogue”
Inhibit
hinder, restrain, or prevent (an action or process).
“cold inhibits plant growth”
Peculiar
1.
unusual or strange
Premeditate
of an action, especially a crime) thought out or planned beforehand.
“premeditated murder”
Reconcile
restore friendly relations between.
“the king and the archbishop were publicly reconciled”
2.
make (one account) consistent with another, especially by allowing for transactions begun but not yet completed.
“it is not necessary to reconcile the cost accounts to the financial accounts”
Refine
Purify
Relinquish
voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up.
“he relinquished his managerial role to become chief executive”
Skittish
Restless restive
of an animal, especially a horse) nervous or excitable; easily scared.
“a skittish chestnut mare”
Superfluous
Surplus
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
“the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information”
Synoptic
Providing general overview or summary
Synoptic report
Vociferous
expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful.
“he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover”
Indiscriminate
Lacking judgement
Aimless
Scant
Negligible
Astringent
Sharp or harsh in demeanour or style
Tantamount
Equivalent
Acclaim
praise enthusiastically and publicly.
“the conference was acclaimed as a considerable success”
Ascertain
Make sure of
find (something) out for certain; make sure of.
“an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident”
Catalysmic
Disastrous
of a natural event) large-scale and violent.
“a cataclysmic earthquake”
Circumscribe
restrict (something) within limits.
“the minister’s powers are circumscribed both by tradition and the organization of local government
Contentious
causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
“a contentious issue”
Disingenuous
Dishonest
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
“he was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical”
Divulge
make known (private or sensitive information).
“I do not want to divulge my plans at the moment”
Dogmatic
being certain that your beliefs are right and that others should accept them, without considering other opinions or evidence
Foolhardy
recklessly bold or rash.
“it would be foolhardy to go into the scheme without support”
Impair
weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function).
“a noisy job could permanently impair their hearing”
Impugn
dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question.
“the father does not impugn her capacity as a good mother”
Incessant
of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
“the incessant beat of the music”
Inveterate
Non stop
having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.
“an inveterate gambler”
Miserly
a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.
Patent
Clear and obvious
Pithy
Expressing ideas in a concise, meaningful manner
He had a knack for pithy comments
Sanctimonious
making a show of being morally superior to other people.
“what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?”
Tepid
Exhibiting a passion or eagerness
Lukewarm
Upbraid
Criticise or scold severely
She upbraided him
Vexation
Frustration
The state of being irritated
The delays caused vexation
Abet
encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime).
“we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic”
Acquisitive
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
“we live in a competitive and acquisitive society”
Attenuate
1.
reduce the force, effect, or value of.
“this research provides a glimmer of hope that coral reefs can attenuate the effects of ocean acidification”
Augment
make (something) greater by adding to it; increase.
“he augmented his summer income by painting houses”
Aversion
a strong dislike or disinclination.
“he had a deep-seated aversion to most forms of exercise”
Blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
“a blithe disregard for the rules of the road”
Contempt
the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
“Pam stared at the girl with total contempt”
Dawdle
Linger
waste time; be slow.
“she mustn’t dawdle—she had to make the call now”
Discount
Regard something as being unimportant or incorrect
He discounted the rumours as mere gossip
Dissident
a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
“a dissident who had been jailed by a military regime”
Equitable
fair and impartial.
“the equitable distribution of resources”
Erratic
not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
“her breathing was erratic”
Industrious
diligent and hard-working.
“an industrious people striving to make their country prosperous”
Inform
give (someone) facts or information; tell.
“he wrote to her, informing her of the situation”
Irksome
irritating; annoying.
“an irksome journey”
Manacle
Shakles
one of two metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening a person’s hands or ankles.
“the practice of keeping prisoners in manacles”
Modest
Unassuming about one’s abilities or not boastful
Despite his achievements he remained a modest individual
Pernicious
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
“the pernicious effects of air pollution”
Predicament
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
“the club’s financial predicament”
Prolix
of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
“he found the narrative too prolix and discursive”
Scorn
a feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for someone or something.
“I do not wish to become the object of scorn”
Subordinate
lower in rank or position.
“his subordinate officers”
Unseemly
of behaviour or actions) not proper or appropriate.
“an unseemly squabble”
Veritable
used for emphasis, often to qualify a metaphor.
“the early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion”
Transitory
not permanent.
“transitory periods of medieval greatness”
Temporal
1.
relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular.
“the Church did not imitate the secular rulers who thought only of temporal gain”
Recrudescent
breaking out again : renewing disease after abatement, suppression, or cessation.
“Recrudescent tuberculosis in that part of the world is presenting challenges for some ill-equipped health system”
Radical
advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change; representing or supporting an extreme or progressive section of a political party.
Prime
Main or most important
Prevaricate
speak or act in an evasive way.
“he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions”
Pedestrian
lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.
“disenchantment with their pedestrian lives”
Munificent
characterized by or displaying great generosity.
“a munificent bequest”
Mendacity
untruthfulness; lying.
“people publicly castigated for past mendacity”
Jettison
Get rid of
throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship.
“six aircraft jettisoned their loads in the sea”
Inveigle
persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery.
“we cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper”
Gawky
nervously awkward and ungainly.
“a gawky teenager”
Florid
having a red or flushed complexion.
“a stout man with a florid face”
excessively intricate or elaborate.
“a florid, baroque building”
Fallible
capable of making mistakes or being wrong.
“experts can be fallible”
Facetious
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humour; flippant.
“a facetious remark”
Ebullient
Eb ne batutaa
cheerful and full of energy.
“she sounded ebullient and happy”
of liquid or matter) boiling or agitated as if boiling.
“misted and ebullient seas”
Dubious
hesitating or doubting.
“I was rather dubious about the whole idea”
Distill
Purify
extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of.
“my travel notes were distilled into a book”
Dissent
hold or express opinions that are at variance with those commonly or officially held.
“two members dissented from the majority”
Discomfit
Dis comfort
make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.
“he was not noticeably discomfited by her tone”
Coercion
the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
“our problem cannot be solved by any form of coercion but only by agreement”
Anoint
smear or rub something with (any other substance).
“Kuna Indians anoint the tips of their arrows with poison”
ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil.
“Samuel anointed him king”
Acolyte
a person assisting a priest in a religious service or procession.
an assistant or follower.
“she runs the department through a small group of acolytes”
Abreast
side by side and facing the same way.
“the path was wide enough for two people to walk abreast”
Confound
Bewildered
cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by not according with their expectations.
“the inflation figure confounded economic analysts”
Digression
Digress
a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
“let’s return to the main topic after that brief digression”
Duplicitous
Deceitful
Expedient
of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral.
“either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so”
Harbinger
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
“witch hazels are the harbingers of spring”
Intrinsic
Innate inherent
belonging naturally; essential.
“access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life”
Libertine
Freeee hippieee
a person, especially a man, who freely indulges in sensual pleasures without regard to moral principles.
“his image as an unbridled libertine is a total myth”
Malfeasance
Wrong doing
Modish
conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable.
“it seems sad that such a scholar should feel compelled to use this modish jargon”
Nascent
Fresh, just into existence
especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
“the nascent space industry”
Perennial
Per ennial
1.
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.
“his perennial distrust of the media”
Pious
devoutly religious.
“a deeply pious woman”
Providential
1.
occurring at a favourable time; opportune.
“his appearance had seemed more than just providential”
Prowess
skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
“his prowess as a fisherman”
Schism
split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
“the widening schism between Church leaders and politicians”
Slander
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.
“he is suing the TV company for slander”
Stalwart
loyal, reliable, and hard-working.
“he remained a stalwart supporter of the cause
Supplicate
ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly.
“the plutocracy supplicated to be made peers”
Terse
being brief and to the point
Tirade
a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation.
“a tirade of abuse”
Vanquish
Defeat thoroughly
Woeful
very bad; deplorable.
“the remark was enough to establish his woeful ignorance about the theatre”
