Define
nonchalant
(non-shuh-lont)
adj. casually unconcerned
Lauren was nonchalant about being chosen as valedictorian; she simply didn’t think it was a big deal.
Define
oscillate
(oss-ih-lehyt)
v. to move or swing from side to side
v. to waver between conflicting positions
Her feelings towards her cynical commanding officer _oscillate_d between admiration and disgust.
Define
ostentatious
(oss-ten-tay-shuss)
adj. intended to impress
adj. characterized by pretension
She loves to show off that ostentatious ring her rich husband got for her.
Define
overwrought
(oh-vur-rawt)
adj. deeply agitated or anxious
Everyone in the family was overwrought with the thought that the children might be in danger .
Define
pacific
(puh-sif-ick)
adj. of a peaceful nature
adj. promoting peace and conflict resolution
The government decided to pursue a pacific policy and call back its troops on the border.
Define
palatable
(pal-ih-tuh-bull)
adj. acceptable to one’s taste or mind
Though clearly necessary to balance the budget, unpopular tax increases are not palatable to any political party.
Define
perennial
(puh-ren-ee-ul)
adj. endless
adj. recurring over and over
Not being able to pay rent on time was a perennial problem for him.
Define
perfidy
(per-fih-dee)
n. a betrayal of trust
The soldier was known for his loyalty, so his act of perfidy was particularly shocking to his superior officers.
Define
perfunctory
(per-funk-tuh-ree)
adj. done as a formality, without attention to detail
Her apology was clearly only a perfunctory gesture and not truly heartfelt.
Define
pernicious
(per-nish-us)
adj. harmful; hurtful, especially in a slow or subtle way
The pernicious effects of money in politics are hardly unique to this country.
Define
perspicacity
(per-spih-kass-ih-tee)
n. sharp powers of observation
The writer’s perspicacity made it easy for her to understand and write about human nature.
Define
perturb
(purr-turb)
v. to disturb or cause disorder, esp. in one’s mental state
Even her sleep was _perturb_ed by her obsession over her credit card debt.
Define
placate
(play-kate)
v. to ease another’s anger
Lewis attempted to placate the angry woman whose car had been hit, but she continued screaming and pacing back and forth.
Define
placid
(plass-id)
adj. free from disturbance
There currently reigns a placid atmosphere at City Hall, but don’t expect it to last much longer.
Define
pivotal
(piv-uh-tul)
adj. of crucial importance
The audience was enraged when the film reel broke during a pivotal scene in the movie.
Define
pragmatic
(prag-mat-ick)
adj. guided by practical experience and observation
Her pragmatic attitude often put her at odds with her idealistic peers, whom she called unrealistic and naive.
Define
predilection
(pred-ih-leck-shun)
n. preference; a strong liking for
He had a predilection for expensive cars that was hard on his wallet.
Define
preside
(prih-zahyd)
v. to be in a position of authority over a group
The newly-elected president _preside_d over the first meeting of the council in September.
Define
prevaricate
(pruh-vair-ih-kate)
v. to be deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth; to lie
The guest chose to prevaricate by answering the host’s questions with unrelated anecdotes.
Define
probity
(pro-bih-tee)
n. honesty and decency
The group chose Eduardo to represent them, not only because he was the eldest, but because he had shown the most probity during their discussions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. casually unconcerned
nonchalant
(non-shuh-lont)
synonyms: easygoing, careless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to move or swing from side to side
v. to waver between conflicting positions
oscillate
(oss-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: dangle, sway; change, alternate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. intended to impress
adj. characterized by pretension
ostentatious
(oss-ten-tay-shuss)
synonyms: showy, flashy, pretentious
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deeply agitated or anxious
overwrought
(oh-vur-rawt)
synonyms: frantic, wound up, nervous
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of a peaceful nature
adj. promoting peace and conflict resolution
pacific
(puh-sif-ick)
synonyms: soothing, peaceful, conciliatory
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. acceptable to one’s taste or mind
palatable
(pal-ih-tuh-bull)
synonyms: delicious, agreeable, acceptable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. endless
adj. recurring over and over
perennial
(puh-ren-ee-ul)
synonyms: enduring, perpetual, ceaseless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a betrayal of trust
perfidy
(per-fih-dee)
synonyms: treachery, betrayal, corruption
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. done as a formality, without attention to detail
perfunctory
(per-funk-tuh-ree)
synonyms: automatic, habitual, careless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. harmful; hurtful
pernicious
(per-nish-us)
synonyms: damaging, devastating
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. acute perception
perspicacity
(per-spih-kass-ih-tee)
synonyms: insight, astuteness
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to disturb or cause disorder, esp. in one’s mental state
perturb
(purr-turb)
synonyms: unsettle, alarm
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to ease another’s anger
placate
(play-kate)
synonyms: soothe, pacify
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. free from disturbance
placid
(plass-id)
synonyms: composed, calm
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of crucial importance
pivotal
(piv-uh-tul)
synonyms: critical, crucial
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. guided by practical experience and observation
pragmatic
(prag-mat-ick)
synonyms: businesslike, efficient, practical
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. preference; a strong liking for
predilection
(pred-ih-leck-shun)
synonyms: inclination, love, fondness
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be in a position of authority over a group
preside
(prih-zahyd)
synonyms: administer, conduct, direct
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth; to lie
prevaricate
(pruh-vair-ih-kate)
synonyms: deceive, garble, misrepresent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. honesty and decency
probity
(pro-bih-tee)
synonyms: goodness, honor
Define
proclivity
(pro-kliv-ih-tee)
n. a natural inclination
Her proclivity for laziness is going to be a problem when we begin the new project.
Define
prodigal
(prod-ih-guhl)
adj. lavishly wasteful
adj. being generous or giving abundantly
n. one who spends recklessly
The woman ended up regretting her prodigal lifestyle when she went bankrupt after a few years.
Define
pugnacious
(pug-nehy-shuss)
adj. combative in nature
The pugnacious young man was eventually suspended for constantly fighting with other students.
Define
quandary
(kwon-duh-ree)
n. a state of uncertainty, a dilemma
After receiving several great offers, I was in a quandary as to which I should accept.
Define
quash
(kwash)
v. to forcibly suppress
v. to extinguish
The prosecution’s star witness _quash_ed any chance the defense had of winning the trial.
Define
quibble
(kwib-ul)
v. to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial objections
n. a trivial objection
The argument grew even more aggravating when my opponent began to quibble with me over semantics.
Define
quiescent
(kwee-ess-unt)
adj. being quiet or still
The outlying region, usually a quiescent outpost of the empire, was the unlikely origin of the rebellion that would unseat the emperor.
Define
rancor
(rang-kur)
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger
Once the game ended there was no rancor between the opponents, despite the intensity of their match.
Define
recalcitrant
(rih-kal-sih-trunt)
adj. stubborn and defiant of authority
Instead of obeying the police’s instructions, the protesters became recalcitrant and refused to move.
Define
recess
(ree-sess)
v. to suspend proceedings
n. a break from class or business
n. an indented or hollowed-out space
The legislative body will recess next week.
Define
redoubtable
(rih-dow-tuh-bull)
adj. fearsome or awe-inspiring
I knew Mauricio would be a redoubtable opponent after hearing my own coach sing his praises.
Define
sagacious
(suh-gehy-shuss)
adj. very insightful or shrewd
My best friend is quite sagacious, so I know I can always turn to her for wise advice.
Define
salubrious
(suh-loo-bree-uss)
adj. healthy or health-promoting
My new exercise routine has had a salubrious impact on my life.
Define
salutary
(sal-yuh-tare-ee)
adj. beneficial, esp. relating to health
Anti-pollution laws have salutary effects for humans and animals.
Define
satiate
(sehy-she-ehyt)
v. to fill to satisfaction
Sasha knew that the small portions served in the cafeteria would not satiate him.
Define
scruple
(skrew-pull)
n. an ethical or moral concern
v. to hesitate on moral grounds
The man _scruple_d to tell a blatant lie, but eventually realized that he had no choice.
Define
sedentary
(sed-en-tair-ee)
adj. sitting or seated
adj. tending to stay in the same place
Ming wanted to quit his sedentary job at the library and become a police officer.
Define
sediment
(sed-ih-munt)
n. matter deposited by some natural process
n. settled matter at the bottom of a liquid
Kate refused to drink the water from the well when she noticed the sediment at the bottom of the bucket.
Define
sordid
(sore-did)
adj. dirty or rundown
adj. immoral or unethical
During the divorce trial, the husband was asked to reveal the sordid details of his affair.
Define
specious
(spee-shuss)
adj. plausible but false
adj. deceptively pleasing
After doing some research of my own, I realized that his argument was specious at best.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a natural inclination
proclivity
(pro-kliv-ih-tee)
synonyms: tendency, disposition, leaning
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lavishly wasteful
adj. being generous or giving abundantly
adj. one who spends recklessly
prodigal
(prod-ih-guhl)
synonyms: excessive, luxurious, copious
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. combative in nature
pugnacious
(pug-nehy-shuss)
synonyms: hostile, belligerent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of uncertainty, a dilemma
quandary
(kwon-duh-ree)
synonyms: dilemma, predicament
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly suppress
v. to extinguish
quash
(kwash)
synonyms: defeat, destroy, squash
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial objections
n. a trivial objection
quibble
(kwib-ul)
synonyms: split hairs; trifle, detail
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. being quiet or still
quiescent
(kwee-ess-unt)
synonyms: inactive, motionless, inert
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger
rancor
(rang-kur)
synonyms: antagonism, hatred
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. stubborn and defiant of authority
recalcitrant
(rih-kal-sih-trunt)
synonyms: disobedient, resistant, rebellious
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to suspend proceedings
n. a break from class or business
n. an indented or hollowed-out space
recess
(ree-sess)
synonyms: halt; breather; nook
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. fearsome or awe-inspiring
redoubtable
(rih-dow-tuh-bull)
synonyms: dreadful, admirable, worthy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. very insightful or shrewd
sagacious
(suh-gehy-shuss)
synonyms: smart, acute, sensible
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. healthy or health-promoting
salubrious
(suh-loo-bree-uss)
synonyms: beneficial, good, hygienic
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beneficial, esp. relating to health
salutary
(sal-yuh-tare-ee)
synonyms: aiding, restorative
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to fill to satisfaction
satiate
(sehy-she-ehyt)
synonyms: satisfy, stuff, gratify
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an ethical or moral concern
v. to hesitate on moral grounds
scruple
(skrew-pull)
synonyms: conscience, qualm; to balk at
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sitting or seated
adj. tending to stay in the same place
sedentary
(sed-en-tair-ee)
synonyms: desk-bound, motionless, stationary
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. matter deposited by some natural process
n. settled matter at the bottom of a liquid
sediment
(sed-ih-munt)
synonyms: debris, deposit
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. dirty or rundown
adj. immoral or unethical
sordid
(sore-did)
synonyms: nasty, vile; corrupt
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. plausible but false
adj. deceptively pleasing
specious
(spee-shuss)
synonyms: misleading, deceptive, apparent
Define
sporadic
(spuh-rad-ik)
adj. occurring occasionally and without pattern
Our vacation plans were ruined by sporadic rain that seemed to start every time we headed towards the beach.
Define
spurious
(spure-ee-us)
adj. intending to deceive
adj. not valid or genuine
The tabloid writers made up spurious accusations against the young actor.
Define
squalor
(skwol-er)
n. filth; poverty
The town’s poorest inhabitants live in squalor due to their inability to access clean water.
Define
stark
(stark)
adj. complete or extreme
adj. very simple
adj. bare or blunt
The expensive car that he parked outside stood in stark contrast to the impoverished neighborhood surrounding it.
Define
stoic
(stow-ick)
adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain
n. one who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
The defendant remained stoic throughout the trial despite the harshness of the prosecution’s questions.
Define
stratum
(strat-um)
n. a horizontal layer of material
n. a level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status
Friction between two social strata can often lead to political upheaval.
Define
stria
(strahy-uh)
n. a linear mark, ridge, or groove, esp. one of a number of similar parallel features
We examined the striae on the rocks to see if they were really from the same underground cave.
Define
strident
(strahyd-unt)
adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh
Her strident voice made me dread our weekly phone conversations.
Define
stringent
(strin-djunt)
adj. strictly controlled or enforced
Since accidents on roller coasters can often be fatal, amusement parks must undergo stringent testing before being opened to the public.
Define
stymie
(stahy-mee)
n. a situation that defies progress or resolution
v. to prevent or hinder the progress of something
The guard dogs managed to stymie the thief as he tried to break into the house.
Define
succinct
(suck-singkt)
adj. brief
Since there were only a few minutes left in the meeting, the final speaker had to keep his comments succinct and to the point.
Define
transient
(tran-zee-uhnt)
adj. not permanent
adj. moving from place to place
n. one who moves from place to place
The transient relied on the kindness of strangers whenever he arrived in a new town.
Define
trepidation
(trep-ih-dehy-shun)
n. a feeling of fear or agitation
Janice had to face her trepidation about flying in order to make the trip to California.
Define
turbid
(tur-bid)
adj. clouded due to sediment
adj. confused
I dropped my phone in the lake and couldn’t find it in the turbid water.
Define
ubiquitous
(you-bick-wih-tuss)
adj. present everywhere
In her neighborhood, Starbucks shops had become ubiquitous; she couldn’t walk two blocks without passing one.
Define
unfeigned
(un-feynd)
adj. sincerely felt or expressed
Although it seemed a ridiculous concern to us, Joyce’s preoccupation with her little sister’s sprained ankle was unfeigned.
Define
unimpeachable
(un-im-pee-chuh-bull)
adj. beyond doubt or suspicion
To win the case, the defense would need an unimpeachable witness to prove their client’s virtuous character.
Define
untenable
(un-ten-ih-bull)
adj. impossible to maintain or defend, as of an opinion
Kate is argumentative enough to support even the most untenable positions.
Define
vacillate
(vass-ih-lehyt)
v. to waver between conflicting positions
Both sides made such convincing arguments that the judge _vacillate_d between them for days before coming to a decision.
Define
vacuous
(vak-yoo-us)
adj. devoid of significance or matter; empty
adj. lacking serious purpose or occupation
I told him pointedly to stop wasting my time with his vacuous comments.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. occurring occasionally and without pattern
sporadic
(spuh-rad-ik)
synonyms: random, scattered, seldom
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. intending to deceive
adj. not valid or genuine
spurious
(spure-ee-us)
synonyms: deceitful, false, inaccurate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. filth; poverty
squalor
(skwol-er)
synonyms: dirtiness, destitution
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. complete or extreme
adj. very simple
adj. bare or blunt
stark
(stark)
synonyms: absolute, utter; austere; barren
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain
n. one who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
stoic
(stow-ick)
synonyms: apathetic, detached
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a horizontal layer of material
n. a level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status
stratum
(strat-um)
synonyms: layer, gradation
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a linear mark, ridge, or groove, esp. one of a number of similar parallel features
stria
(strahy-uh)
synonyms: banding, groove, stripe
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh
strident
(strahyd-unt)
synonyms: grating, shrill
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. strictly controlled or enforced
stringent
(strin-djunt)
synonyms: binding, strict
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a situation that defies progress or resolution
v. to prevent or hinder the progress of something
stymie
(stahy-mee)
synonyms: confound, impede
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. brief
succinct
(suck-singkt)
synonyms: blunt, compact, brief
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not permanent
adj. moving from place to place
n. one who moves from place to place
transient
(tran-zee-uhnt)
synonyms: passing, fleeting, ephemeral
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of fear or agitation
trepidation
(trep-ih-dehy-shun)
synonyms: anxiety, worry
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. clouded due to sediment
adj. confused
turbid
(tur-bid)
synonyms: cloudy, muddled, sedimentary
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. present everywhere
ubiquitous
(you-bick-wih-tuss)
synonyms: everywhere, omnipresent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sincerely felt or expressed
unfeigned
(un-feynd)
synonyms: genuine, heartfelt
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beyond doubt or suspicion
unimpeachable
(un-im-pee-chuh-bull)
synonyms: blameless, spotless, immaculate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. impossible to maintain or defend, as of an opinion
untenable
(un-ten-ih-bull)
synonyms: inexcusable, faulty
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to waver between conflicting positions
vacillate
(vass-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: fluctuate, hesitate, to be unsure
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. devoid of significance or matter; empty
adj. lacking serious purpose or occupation
vacuous
(vak-yoo-us)
synonyms: lacking, vacant
Define
vociferous
(voe-siff-er-uss)
adj. loud and insistent, esp. to compel attention
The vociferous mob gathered outside the store and awakened its owner.
Define
wanderlust
(wawn-der-lust)
n. the desire to travel
A sudden feeling of wanderlust encouraged me to pack my bags and head to Mexico.
Define
wheedle
(weed-ul)
v. to coax or persuade
Eventually the ice-cream truck driver was _wheedle_d into giving the sullen child a free scoop.
Define
volatile
(voll-ih-tull)
adj. likely to change suddenly
adj. liable to lead to violence
adj. evaporating easily
The situation in the war-torn country soon became too volatile for most reporters and travelers to stay there safely.
Define
zenith
(zee-nith)
n. the highest point or peak
n. the point directly above one’s head
Climbing to the zenith of the mountain will be difficult, but it has been a dream of mine since childhood.
Define
abjure
(ab-djoor)
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
The monks had to abjure all indulgences.
Define
condign
(kon-dahyn)
adj. deserved, adequate
Though I believe I am compassionate, I will not hesitate to mete out a condign punishment to wrongdoers.
Define
debonair
(deb-uh-nair)
adj. suave, urbane, affable, genial, charming,stylish
The ladies were all drawn to the debonair newcomer.
Define
inveigle
(in-vey-guhl)
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
He _inveigle_d the information from the president’s wife.
Define
philistine
(fil-uh-steen)
adj. barbaric; lacking culture
n. an individual guided by commonplace, rather than artistic or intellectual, values
Why, the philistine even declared that he hated the theater!
Define
suffuse
(suh-fyooz)
v. to spread through or over something, as with liquid, color, or light
The sky was _suffuse_d with deep colors.
Define
mettlesome
(met-uhl-sum)
adj. courageous, high-spirited
The mettlesome police officer saved the hostage.
Define
compunction
(kuhm-punk-shun)
n. hesitation or unease at committing (or having committed) an act
A hardened criminal usually has no compunction about hurting bystanders in order to evade the police.
Define
contravene
(kon-truh-veen)
v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle
Until recently, Americans could not visit that country without _contraven_ing federal law.
Define
limn
(lim)
v. to draw; to describe; to depict
Here, the philosopher _limn_s a basic theory of just governance.
Define
obloquy
(ob-luh-kwee)
n. abusive language; damage to one’s reputation; disgrace
The president earned obloquy for his tax hikes.
Define
abate
(uh-behyt)
v. to decrease in intensity
The ferocity of the fighting has started to abate, though the civilian population is still in great danger.
Define
abdicate
(ab-dih-kate)
v. to willingly let go of; to relinquish
The king _abdicate_d the throne rather than expose his nation to a potentially crippling civil war.
Define
aberrant
(ab-buh-runt)
adj. abnormal, deviating from the norm
The aberrant accounting numbers led officials to conclude that a crime had been committed.
Define
abrade
(uh-brehyd)
v. to erode or rub away
The statue’s hand was _abrade_d from all of the tourists rubbing it for luck.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. loud and insistent, esp. to compel attention
vociferous
(voe-siff-er-uss)
synonyms: clamorous, noisy, distracting
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the desire to travel
wanderlust
(wawn-der-lust)
synonyms: journey, wayfaring, excursion
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to coax or persuade
wheedle
(weed-ul)
synonyms: to influence through flattery, to entice
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. likely to change suddenly
adj. liable to lead to violence
adj. evaporating easily
volatile
(voll-ih-tull)
synonyms: explosive, changeable, inconsistent; vaporizable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the highest point or peak
n. the point directly above one’s head
zenith
(zee-nith)
synonyms: acme, summit, pinnacle
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
abjure
(ab-joor)
synonyms: forswear, abandon
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deserved, adequate
condign
(kon-dahyn)
synonyms: appropriate, proper, fair
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. suave, urbane, affable, genial, charming
debonair
(deb-uh-nair)
synonyms: refined, well-bred, sophisticated
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
inveigle
(in-vey-guhl)
synonyms: manipulate, cajole, ensnare
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. barbaric; lacking culture
n. an individual guided by commonplace, rather than artistic or intellectual, values
philistine
(fil-uh-steen)
synonyms: coarse, crass; barbarian, boor
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to spread through or over something, as with liquid, color, or light
suffuse
(suh-fyooz)
synonyms: bathe, cover, saturate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. courageous, high-spirited
mettlesome
(met-uhl-sum)
synonyms: plucky, spirited, valiant
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. hesitation or unease at committing (or having committed) an act
compunction
(kuhm-punk-shun)
synonyms: regret, sorrow, qualm
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle
contravene
(kon-truh-veen)
synonyms: breach, break, defy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to draw; to describe; to depict
limn
(lim)
synonyms: characterize, chart
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. abusive language; damage to one’s reputation; disgrace
obloquy
(ob-luh-kwee)
synonyms: defamation, slander, disgrace
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to decrease in intensity
abate
(uh-behyt)
synonyms: lessen, moderate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to willingly let go of; to relinquish
abdicate
(ab-dih-kate)
synonyms: abandon, leave
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. abnormal, deviating from the norm
aberrant
(ab-buh-runt)
synonyms: atypical, bizarre
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to erode or rub away
abrade
(uh-brehyd)
synonyms: rub, chafe, wear down
Define
abridge
(uh-bridge)
v. to condense; to shorten
The author threw a fit when his editor suggested that he abridge his novel in order to make it more accessible.
Define
abscond
(ab-skond)
v. to run away secretly and hide
The guilty man _abscond_ed during the night and was never heard from again.
Define
abstruse
(ab-strewss)
adj. difficult to comprehend
That film has been praised as a visionary masterpiece, but I found it more abstruse than enlightening.
Define
accolade
(ack-uh-lehyd)
n. recognition for an accomplishment
Cindy received _accolade_s in the media for her breathtaking performance.
Define
acerbic
(uh-sir-bick)
adj. sour or bitter tasting, or of a bitter temperament
My friends’ acerbic reaction to bringing my boyfriend to the game led me to believe that they didn’t care much for him.
Define
acumen
(ack-cue-men)
n. insightfulness
Kofi was known for his acumen in literary analysis.
Define
adhesion
(ad-hee-zhun)
n. the state of being physically attached
n. the state of belonging to an organization
Adhesion to the regional economic union became a popular cause among the elites of the recession-weary nation.
Define
admonish
(ad-mon-ish)
v. to warn, to gently reprimand
The pilot _admonish_ed the passengers to remain seated during take off.
Define
adroit
(ad-royt)
adj. skillful, competent
The boy scout was an adroit survivalist and so managed to cling to life until a rescue team arrived.
Define
adulate
(adge-uh-lehyt)
v. to give excessive praise
Rather than adulate his superiors, Moncef preferred to show his regard by emulating them.
Define
affable
(aff-uh-buhl)
adj. gentle, friendly, or of a kind nature
Stacy was an affable acquaintance to many but a real friend to few.
Define
affluent
(aff-loo-uhnt)
adj. wealthy
Membership in the private club was only open to affluent members of society.
Define
aggrandize
(uh-gran-dahyz)
v. to exaggerate; to increase the scope of or to make greater
Luke had _aggrandize_d his credentials so much that he was fired on the spot when it was discovered that he was just a novice.
Define
affront
(uh-front)
n. an offensive act or statement
v. to insult openly
Lucia’s ingratitude was an affront to all of us who had supported her.
Define
agrarian
(uh-grair-ee-uhn)
adj. pertaining to farming or land matters
The farmer switched from his habitual agrarian routine to that of a high-powered business CEO in just a few years.
Define
alacrity
(uh-lack-ruh-tee)
n. enthusiasm; speed
Children approach their homework with more alacrity if they know that a reward awaits them when they finish.
Define
vug
(vuhg)
n. a small cavity in a rock
She hid her trinkets in the vug for safekeeping.
Define
petrous
(pet-ruhss)
adj. rock-hard; stony
The skull of the fetus has not yet become petrous; in fact, it is still translucent to x-rays at this stage.
Define
tautology
(tawt-aw-luh-djee)
n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition
It is no help to anybody when you spout _tautologi_es like “Whatever will be will be”.
Define
gambol
(gam-buhl)
v. to skip playfully, to frolic
The youngsters went _gambol_ing through the fields.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to condense; to shorten
abridge
(uh-bridge)
synonyms: reduce, refine, abbreviate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to run away secretly and hide
abscond
(ab-skond)
synonyms: depart, escape, flee
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. difficult to comprehend
abstruse
(ab-strewss)
synonyms: abstract, enigmatic, incomprehensible
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. recognition for an accomplishment
accolade
(ack-uh-leyhd)
synonyms: acclaim, kudos
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sour or bitter tasting or with bitter temperament
acerbic
(uh-sir-bick)
synonyms: acrid, caustic
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. insightfulness
acumen
(ack-cue-men)
synonyms: acuteness, intelligence
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the state of being physically attached
n. the state of belonging to an organization
adhesion
(ad-hee-zhun)
synonyms: adherence, membership
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to warn, to gently reprimand
admonish
(ad-mon-ish)
synonyms: check, counsel, scold, notice
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. skillful, competent
adroit
(ad-royt)
synonyms: adept, apt, expert
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give excessive praise
adulate
(adge-uh-lehyt)
synonyms: fawn, acclaim, laud
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. gentle, friendly, or of a kind nature
affable
(aff-uh-buhl)
synonyms: cordial, pleasant, friendly
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wealthy
affluent
(aff-loo-uhnt)
synonyms: rich, prosperous
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to exaggerate; to increase the scope of
aggrandize
(uh-gran-dahyz)
synonyms: enlarge, glorify, augment
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an offensive act or statement
v. to insult openly
affront
(uh-front)
synonyms: criticize, antagonize
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pertaining to farming or land matters
agrarian
(uh-grair-ee-un)
synonyms: agricultural, country
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. enthusiasm; speed
alacrity
(uh-lack-rih-tee)
synonyms: liveliness, fervor
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a small cavity in a rock
vug
(vuhg)
synonyms: cavity, depression
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rock-hard; stony
petrous
(pet-ruhss)
synonyms: rugged, rocky, petrified
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition
tautology
(tawt-aw-luh-djee)
synonyms: equivalence, redundancy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to skip playfully, to frolic
gambol
(gam-buhl)
synonyms: cavort, skip, rollick