Words 726 - 750

Question 1

penchant

Answer 1

a strong inclination

noun

Jill’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Mexican dishes.

Question 2

penitent

Answer 2

expressing regretful sorrow for offenses

adjective

The jury’s verdict may have been more lenient if the criminal had appeared penitent for his gruesome crimes.

Question 3

penultimate

Answer 3

next to the last

adjective

Having smoked the penultimate cigarette remaining in the pack, Cybil discarded the last cigarette and resolved to quit smoking.

Question 4

penurious

Answer 4

given to extreme stinting frugality

adjective

Stella complained that her husband’s penurious ways made it impossible to live the lifestyle she felt she deserved.

Question 5

perfidious

Answer 5

characterized by the quality of being disloyal

adjective

After the official was caught selling government secrets to enemy agents, he was executed for his perfidious ways.

Question 6

perfunctory

Answer 6

lacking in interest

adjective

The radio broadcaster announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner.

Question 7

permeate

Answer 7

to spread through

verb

Mrs. Huxtable was annoyed that the wet dog’s odor had permeated the furniture’s upholstery.

Question 8

pernicious

Answer 8

highly destructive

adjective

The new government feared that the Communist sympathizers would have a pernicious influence on the nation’s stability.

Question 9

perplex

Answer 9

to make unable to grasp something clearly

verb

Brad was perplexed by his girlfriend’s suddenly distant manner.

Question 10

perspicacity

Answer 10

of acute discernment

adjective

The detective was too humble to acknowledge that his perspicacity was the reason for his professional success.

Question 11

pert

Answer 11

flippantly cocky

adjective

My parents forgave Sandra’s pert humor at the dinner table because it had been so long since they had last seen her.

Question 12

pertinacious

Answer 12

adhering resolutely to an opinion

adjective

Harry’s parents were frustrated with his pertinacious insistence that a monster lived in his closet. Then they opened the closet door and were eaten.

Question 13

perusal

Answer 13

the act of examining something with attention

noun

The actor agreed to accept the role after a two-month perusal of the movie script.

Question 14

pervasive

Answer 14

spreading through every part of something

adjective

Stepping off the plane in Havana, I recognized the pervasive odor of sugar cane fields on fire.

Question 15

petulance

Answer 15

the quality of being insolent in behavior

noun

The Nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child’s petulance.

Question 16

philanthropic

Answer 16

characterized by goodwill to fellow members of the human race

adjective

Many people felt that the billionaire’s decision to donate her fortune to house the homeless was the ultimate philanthropic act.

Question 17

phlegmatic

Answer 17

showing a slow and stolid temperament

adjective

Monique feared her dog was ill after the animal’s phlegmatic response to his favorite chew toy.

Question 18

pillage

Answer 18

the act of plundering especially in war

verb

Invading enemy soldiers pillaged the homes scattered along the country’s border.

Question 19

pinnacle

Answer 19

the highest point of achievement

noun

Book reviewers declared that the author’s new novel was extraordinary and probably the pinnacle of Western literature.

Question 20

pithy

Answer 20

having substance and point

adjective

My father’s long-winded explanation was a stark contrast to his usually pithy statements.

Question 21

pittance

Answer 21

a small portion

noun

Josh complained that he was paid a pittance for the great amount of work he did at the firm.

Question 22

placate

Answer 22

to soothe especially by concessions

verb

The man purchased a lollipop to placate his
irritable son.

Question 23

placid

Answer 23

serenely free of disturbance

adjective

The placid lake surface was as smooth as glass.

Question 24

platitude

Answer 24

the state of being dull

noun

After reading over her paper, Helene concluded that what she thought were profound insights were actually just platitudes.

Question 25

plaudit

Answer 25

enthusiastic approval

noun

The controversial new film received plaudits from even the harshest critics.