words in context

Question 1

abate

As the hurricane’s force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.

Answer 1

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

Question 2

abscond

The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door. 

Answer 2

to leave secretly

Question 3

abyss

The submarine drove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths. 

Answer 3

an extremely deep hole

Question 4

aggrandize

The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own.

Answer 4

to increase in power, influence, and reputation

Question 5

amalgamate

Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Inc.

Answer 5

to combine; to mix together

Question 6

ameliorate

The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient suffering using painkillers.

Answer 6

to make better; to improve

Question 7

anachronism

The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases, like “groovy” and “far out,” that had not been popular for years.

Answer 7

something out of place in time

Question 8

anomaly

The near-boiling river in Peru called Shanay-Timpishka is a geological ANOMALY: it is the only naturally heated body of water that is not heater by its proximity to a volcano

Answer 8

deviation from what is normal

Question 9

antagonize

The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail.

Answer 9

to annoy or provoke to anger

Question 10

antipathy

The ANTIPATHY between the French and English regularly erupted into open warfare.

Answer 10

extreme dislike

Question 11

apathy

The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.

Answer 11

lack of interest or emotion

Question 12

arbitrate

Since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their divorce proceedings.

Answer 12

to judge a dispute between two opposing parties

Question 13

ardor

Bishop’s ARDOR for the landscape was evident even he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley.

Answer 13

intense and passionate feeling

Question 14

assuage

Serena used aspirin to ASSUAGE her pounding headache.

Answer 14

to make something unpleasant less severe

Question 15

attenuate

The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of governments to change laws at will.

Answer 15

to reduce in force or degree; to weaken

Question 16

audacious

Her AUDACIOUS nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving.

Answer 16

fearless and daring

Question 17

austere

 The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem AUSTERE to the civilian eye

Answer 17

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

Question 18

banal

He used BANAL phrases like “have a nice day” and “another day, another dollar.”

Answer 18

predictable, clichéd, boring

Question 19

bombastic

The ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.

Answer 19

pompous in speech and manner

Question 20

cacaphony

The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune their instruments.

Answer 20

harsh, jarring noise

Question 21

capricious

Queen Elizabeth I was quite CAPRICIOUS; her courtiers could never be sure which of the number would catch her fancy.

Answer 21

changing one’s mind quickly and often

Question 22

castigate

Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United State.

Answer 22

to punish or criticize harshly

Question 23

catalyst

The imposition of harsh taxes was the CATALYST that finally brought on the revolution.

Answer 23

something that brings about a change in something else