Words 726 - 750 Flashcards
penchant
a strong inclination
noun
Jill’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Mexican dishes.
penitent
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.
penultimate
next to the last
adjective
Having smoked the penultimate cigarette remaining in the pack, Cybil discarded the last cigarette and resolved to quit smoking.
penurious
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.
perfidious
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.
perfunctory
lacking in interest
adjective
The radio broadcaster announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner.
permeate
to spread through
verb
Mrs. Huxtable was annoyed that the wet dog’s odor had permeated the furniture’s upholstery.
pernicious
highly destructive
adjective
The new government feared that the Communist sympathizers would have a pernicious influence on the nation’s stability.
perplex
to make unable to grasp something clearly
verb
Brad was perplexed by his girlfriend’s suddenly distant manner.
perspicacity
of acute discernment
adjective
The detective was too humble to acknowledge that his perspicacity was the reason for his professional success.
pert
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.
pertinacious
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.
perusal
the act of examining something with attention
noun
The actor agreed to accept the role after a two-month perusal of the movie script.
pervasive
spreading through every part of something
adjective
Stepping off the plane in Havana, I recognized the pervasive odor of sugar cane fields on fire.
petulance
the quality of being insolent in behavior
noun
The Nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child’s petulance.
philanthropic
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.
phlegmatic
showing a slow and stolid temperament
adjective
Monique feared her dog was ill after the animal’s phlegmatic response to his favorite chew toy.
pillage
the act of plundering especially in war
verb
Invading enemy soldiers pillaged the homes scattered along the country’s border.
pinnacle
the highest point of achievement
noun
Book reviewers declared that the author’s new novel was extraordinary and probably the pinnacle of Western literature.
pithy
having substance and point
adjective
My father’s long-winded explanation was a stark contrast to his usually pithy statements.
pittance
a small portion
noun
Josh complained that he was paid a pittance for the great amount of work he did at the firm.
placate
to soothe especially by concessions
verb
The man purchased a lollipop to placate his
irritable son.
placid
serenely free of disturbance
adjective
The placid lake surface was as smooth as glass.
platitude
the state of being dull
noun
After reading over her paper, Helene concluded that what she thought were profound insights were actually just platitudes.
plaudit
enthusiastic approval
noun
The controversial new film received plaudits from even the harshest critics.
