Words 926 - 950 Flashcards
torpid
lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
adjective
The torpid whale floated, wallowing in the water for hours.
torrid
very hot and usually dry
adjective
John couldn’t stand the torrid summers in southern Arizona
tortuous
winding
adjective
The scary thing about driving in mountains are the narrow, tortuous roads.
tractable
easily controlled
adjective
The horse was so tractable, Myra didn’t even need a bridle.
tranquil
calm
adjective
There is a time of night when nothing moves and everything is tranquil.
transgress
to violate, go over a limit
verb
The criminal’s actions transgressed morality and human decency.
transient
not lasting or staying long
adjective
The mountain lies between his residence and the main road and occludes the expectation of transient visits.
transmute
to change or alter in form
verb
Ancient alchemists believed that it was possible to transmute lead into gold.
travesty
a grossly inferior imitation
noun
According to the school newspaper’s merciless theater critic, Pacific Coast High’s rendition of the musical Oklahoma was a travesty of the original.
tremulous
fearful
adjective
I always feel a trifle tremulous when walking through a graveyard.
trenchant
effective, articulate, clear-cut
adjective
The directions that accompanied my new cell phone were trenchant and easy to follow.
trepidation
fear, apprehension
noun
Feeling great trepidation, Anya refused to jump into the pool because she thought she saw a shark in it.
trite
not original, overused
adjective
Keith thought of himself as being very learned, but everyone else thought he was trite because his observations about the world were always the same as David Letterman’s.
truculent
ready to fight, cruel
adjective
This club doesn’t really attract the dangerous types, so why was that bouncer being so truculent?
truncate
to shorten by cutting off
verb
After winning the derby, the jockey truncated the long speech he had planned and thanked only his mom and his horse.
turgid
excessively embellished in style or language
adjective
The haughty writer did not realize how we all really felt about his turgid prose.
turpitude
depravity, moral corruption
noun
Sir Marcus’s chivalry often contrasted with the turpitude he exhibited with the ladies at the tavern.
ubiquitous
existing everywhere, widespread
adjective
It seems that everyone in the United States has a television. The technology is ubiquitous here.
umbrage
resentment, offense
noun
He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took umbrage at the insult.
uncanny
of supernatural character or origin
adjective
Luka had an uncanny ability to know exactly what other people were thinking. She also had an uncanny ability to shoot fireballs from her hands.
unctuous
smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner
adjective
The unctuous receptionist seemed untrustworthy, as if she was only being helpful because she thought we might give her a big tip.
undulate
to move in waves
verb
As the storm began to brew, the placid ocean began to undulate to an increasing degree.
upbraid
to criticize or scold severely
verb
The last thing Lindsay wanted was for Lisa to upbraid her again about missing the rent payment.
usurp
to seize and hold by force or without right
verb
The rogue army general tried to usurp control of the government, but he failed because most of the army backed the legally elected president.
utilitarian
relating to or aiming at usefulness
adjective
The beautiful, fragile vase couldn’t hold flowers or serve any other utilitarian purpose.
