Words 851 - 875 Flashcards
restive
resistant, stubborn, impatient
adjective
The restive audience pelted the band with mud and yelled nasty comments.
retract
withdraw
verb
As the media worked itself into a frenzy, the publicist hurriedly retracted his client’s sexist statement.
revel
to enjoy intensely
verb
Theodore reveled in his new status as Big Man on Campus.
revere
to esteem, show deference, venerate
verb
The doctor saved countless lives with his combination of expertise and kindness and became universally revered.
revoke
to take back
verb
After missing the curfew set by the court for eight nights in a row, Marcel’s freedom of movement was revoked.
rhapsodize
to speak or write in an excessively emotional manner
verb
The critic rhapsodized about the movie, calling it an instant classic.
ribald
coarsely, crudely humorous
adjective
While some giggled at the ribald joke involving a parson’s daughter, most sighed and rolled their eyes.
rife
abundant
adjective
Surprisingly, the famous novelist’s writing was rife with spelling errors.
ruminate
to contemplate, reflect
verb
Terry liked to ruminate while sitting on the banks of the river, staring pensively into the water.
ruse
a trick
noun
Oliver concocted an elaborate ruse for sneaking out of the house to meet his girlfriend while simultaneously giving his mother the impression that he was asleep in bed.
saccharine
sickeningly sweet
adjective
Tom’s saccharine manner, although intended to make him popular, actually repelled his classmates.
sacrosanct
holy, something that should not be criticized
adjective
In the United States, the Constitution is often thought of as a sacrosanct document.
sagacity
shrewdness, soundness of perspective
noun
With remarkable sagacity, the wise old man predicted and thwarted his children’s plan to ship him off to a nursing home.
salient
significant, conspicuous
adjective
One of the salient differences between Alison and Nancy is that Alison is a foot taller.
salutation
a greeting
noun
Andrew regularly began letters with the bizarre salutation “Ahoy ahoy.”
salve
a soothing balm
noun
After Tony applied a salve to his brilliant red sunburn, he soon felt a little better.
sanctimonious
giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
adjective
The sanctimonious Bertrand delivered stern lectures on the Ten Commandments to anyone who would listen, but thought nothing of stealing cars to make some cash on the side.
sanguine
optimistic, cheery
adjective
Polly reacted to any bad news with a sanguine smile and the chirpy cry, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”
satiate
to satisfy excessively
verb
Satiated after eating far too much turkey and stuffing, Liza lay on the couch watching football and suffering from stomach pains.
scathing
sharp, critical, hurtful
adjective
Two hours after breaking up with Russell, Suzanne thought of the perfect scathing retort to his accusations.
scintilating
sparkling
adjective
The ice skater’s scintillating rhinestone costume nearly blinded the judges.
scrupulous
painstaking, careful
adjevtive
With scrupulous care, Sam cut a snowflake out of white paper.
scurrilous
vulgar, coarse
adjetive
When Bruno heard the scurrilous accusation being made about him, he could not believe it because he always tried to be nice to everyone.
sedentary
sitting, settled
adjective
The sedentary cat did little but loll in the sun.
semaphore
a visual signal
noun
Anne and Diana communicated with a semaphore involving candles and window shades.
