Words from defintions Flashcards
heinous
(of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked.
“a battery of heinous crimes”
jaded
tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something.
“meals to tempt the most jaded appetites”
ruse
an action intended to deceive someone; a trick.
“Eleanor tried to think of a ruse to get Paul out of the house”
interminable
endless (often used hyperbolically).
banter
the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
“there was much singing and good-natured banter”
sensibilities
the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences; sensitivity.
“the study of literature leads to a growth of intelligence and sensibility”
vehement
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
“her voice was low but vehement”
predate
exist or occur at a date earlier than (something).
“this letter predates her illness”
gluttony
greed or excess in eating - habitual greed or excess in eating. “the gluttony you displayed last evening was reprehensible”
reprehensible
deserving censure or condemnation. “his complacency and reprehensible laxity”
nuanced
characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression. “Lowe’s work has gradually grown more nuanced”
unceremoniously
with a lack of courtesy; roughly or abruptly.
“he was unceremoniously dumped by the record company”
tawdry
showy but cheap and of poor quality.
“tawdry jewelry”
foresight
the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future.
“he had the foresight to check that his escape route was clear”
lavish
sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious. “a lavish banquet”
sumptously
extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent
sumptuous banquets
servile
having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.
“bowing his head in a servile manner”
hawking
carry around and offer (goods) for sale, typically advertising them by shouting.
“street traders were hawking costume jewelry”
prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future. Wise, “no prudent money manager would authorize a loan without first knowing its purpose”
pretense
an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.
“his anger is masked by a pretense that all is well”
adept
very skilled or proficient at something. “they are adepts at kung fu and karate”
blunder
make a stupid or careless mistake; act or speak clumsily.
“the mayor and the City Council have blundered in an ill-advised campaign”
sordid
involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.
“the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams”
soiree
an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.
garret
a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one (traditionally inhabited by an artist).
nab
catch (someone) doing something wrong.
“Olympic drug tests nabbed another athlete yesterday”
unremitting
never relaxing or slackening; incessant.
“unremitting drizzle”
indignation
anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.
“the letter filled Lucy with indignation”
flounder
be in serious difficulty. Struggle “many firms are floundering”
grisly
causing horror or disgust.
“the town was shaken by a series of grisly crimes”
conspirators
a person who takes part in a conspiracy.
mired
involve someone or something in (a difficult situation).
“the economy is mired in its longest recession since World War II”
bilk
obtain or withhold money from (someone) by deceit or without justification; cheat or defraud.
“government waste has bilked the taxpayer of billions of dollars”
indigent
poor and needy
bibliophile
a person who collects or has a great love of books.
facade
the face of a building, especially the principal front that looks onto a street or open space. Or an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality. “her flawless public facade masked private despair”
penury
extreme poverty; destitution.
“he died in a state of virtual penury”
unabated
without any reduction in intensity or strength.
“the storm was raging unabated”
megalopolis
a very large, heavily populated city or urban complex.
bootlegging
make, distribute, or sell (illicit goods, especially liquor, computer software, or recordings) illegally.
“domestic bootlegging was almost impossible to control”
plunder
steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder.
“looters moved into the disaster area to plunder stores”
exorbitant
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.
“the exorbitant price of tickets”
invective
insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
“he let out a stream of invective”
avuncular
kind and friendly toward a younger or less experienced person.
adjective: avuncular
“an avuncular manner”
loafer
a person who idles time away.
emaciated
abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.
taunt
a remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke someone.
pummeled
strike repeatedly, typically with the fists.
disparage
regard or represent as being of little worth.
“he never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors”
adherent
someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.
“he was a strong adherent of monetarism”
huff
a fit of petty annoyance.
“she walked off in a huff”
pleasantry
an inconsequential remark made as part of a polite conversation.
“after an exchange of pleasantries, I proceeded to outline a plan”
contend
struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger).
“she had to contend with his uncertain temper”
fraught
(of a situation or course of action) filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable).
“marketing any new product is fraught with danger”
relish
enjoy greatly.
“he was relishing his moment of glory”
gilded
covered or highlighted with gold or something of a golden color. having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth.
punctuated
occur at intervals throughout (a continuing event or a place).
“the country’s history has been punctuated by coups”
heckler
a person who interrupts a performer or public speaker with derisive or aggressive comments or abuse.
“he was adept at dealing with hecklers”
surreptitious
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
“they carried on a surreptitious affair”
prenaturally
exceeding what is natural or regular… wits trained to preternatural acuteness by the debates
omniscient
knowing everything.
“the story is told by an omniscient narrator”
intone
say or recite with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice.
“he intoned a short Latin prayer”
depravity
moral corruption; wickedness.
“a tale of wickedness and depravity”
bent
a natural talent or inclination.
“a man of religious bent” or he had no such bent for the visual medium
numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects.
amassed
gather together or accumulate (a large amount or number of valuable material or things) over a period of time.
“starting from nothing he had amassed a huge fortune”
subservient
prepared to obey others unquestioningly.
“she was subservient to her parents”
disdainful
showing contempt or lack of respect.
“with a last disdainful look, she turned toward the door”
lest
with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of.
“he spent whole days in his room, headphones on lest he disturb anyone”
gaudy
extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless.
“silver bows and gaudy ribbons”
abetting
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense.
“he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others”
loot
steal goods from (a place), typically during a war or riot.
“police confronted the rioters who were looting shops”
indomitable
impossible to subdue or defeat
plied
work with (a tool, especially one requiring steady, rhythmic movements). "a tailor delicately plying his needle"
aflutter
nervously excited, filled with or marked by the presence of fluttering things, roofs aflutter with flags
cavort
jump or dance around excitedly.
“spider monkeys leap and cavort in the branches”
haute
fashionably elegant or high-class.
astute
having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage.
asides
a comment or discussion that does not relate directly to the main subject being discussed, digressions He frequently interrupted his narrative with amusing asides.
contendedness
Satisfied with things as they are; content
rogue
a dishonest or unprincipled man.
“you are a rogue and an embezzler”
gourmand
a person who enjoys eating and often eats too much.
gamut
the complete range or scope of something.
“the whole gamut of human emotion”
revel
enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing.
“a night of drunken reveling”
pastiche
an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
“the operetta is a pastiche of 18th century styles”
espionage
the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information.
plunder
steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder.
“looters moved into the disaster area to plunder stores”
levity
humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect.
epithet
an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.
“old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet “dirty.””
preposessing
attractive or appealing in appearance.
“he was not a prepossessing sight”
disdainful
full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior : full of or expressing scorn or disdain.
dissolution
dissipated living.
“a descent into drunkenness and sexual dissipation” synonym dissolution or debauchery
idyllic
(especially of a time or place) like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
“an attractive hotel in an idyllic setting”
