Advanced Vocab Words - Set 2 Flashcards
Learn to understand and effectively use 100 advanced vocabulary words. Improve your test scores, or simply be more articulate in your daily life. Each word is used in context in a sample sentence and includes synonyms and a pronunciation guide.
Define
odium
(oh-dee-um)
n. repugnance, hatred
n. strong dislike
The popular odium of attorneys is often unmerited.
Define
officious
(uh-fish-us)
adj. prone to giving unwanted advice
I make a habit of giving honest opinions, but I try to avoid being officious with my friends.
Define
opaque
(owe-peyk)
adj. blocking all light
adj. hard to understand
The windows became so dirty they were almost opaque.
Define
opportune
(opp-er-tune)
adj. happening under fitting circumstances, or at an appropriate or favorable time
The students waited for an opportune moment to surprise their teacher with the bouquet of flowers they had prepared.
Define
superfluous
(suh-per-flu-us)
adj. more than necessary; unnecessary
The student’s essay was full of superfluous phrases that needed to be deleted.
Define
supersede
(sue-per-seed)
v. to substitute; to take precedence over
It had been my understanding that the new tax code _supersede_s the old one, but actually both are in vigor simultaneously.
Define
supplant
(suh-plant)
v. to replace
The higher-ups tried to supplant rebellious teachers with conformists.
Define
supplicate
(sup-lih-kate)
v. to humbly ask
The churchgoers then bowed their heads and _supplicate_d God to answer their prayers.
Define
surmount
(ser-mount)
v. to overcome
v. to rise above
Through sheer determination, he was able to surmount his disadvantages and win the contest outright.
Define
surreptitious
(ser-up-tish-us)
adj. secretive
Since they were not allowed to speak, the couple exchanged surreptitious glances from across the room.
Define
symbiotic
(sim-bee-ott-ik)
adj. related to a relationship between two or more organisms living together
The whale and the small fish that cling to its body have a symbiotic relationship.
Define
synapse
(sin-apse)
n. the small gap between the cells of nerves
Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse between brain cells.
Define
synchronous
(sing-kruh-nuss)
adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate
The film was notable for its synchronous premiere in 11 capital cities around the globe.
Define
tacit
(tass-it)
adj. implied or unspoken
There was a tacit agreement between the two companies that neither would expand into the other’s city.
Define
taciturn
(tass-ih-turn)
adj. tending to be silent; quiet
Some of the students were quite taciturn and had to be asked to participate more.
Define
exacerbate
(ig-zass-er-bate)
v. to make worse
The children’s screaming _exacerbate_d their father’s headache.
Define
exact
(ig-zact)
v. to forcibly obtain
The detectives finally _exact_ed the truth from the witness.
Define
exculpate
(ek-skull-pate)
v. to free from blame
The political prisoner was fully _exculpate_d only when the dictatorship was overthrown and an independent truth commission established.
Define
exhort
(ig-zort)
v. to urge by strong appeal
Taking the loudspeaker in her hand, the policewoman _exhort_ed the kidnapper to release his hostage.
Define
exigent
(ek-suh-djunt)
adj. requiring immediate attention; pressing, demanding
The show’s run was cut short by an exigent lack of funds.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. blame
n. strong dislike
odium
(oh-dee-um)
synonyms: shame, dishonor; disgust, detestation
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. prone to giving unwanted advice
officious
(uh-fish-us)
synonyms: forward, meddlesome
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. blocking all light
adj. hard to understand
opaque
(owe-peyk)
synonyms: blurred, darkened, lusterless; baffling, cryptic
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. happening under fitting circumstances
opportune
(opp-er-tune)
synonyms: advantageous, favorable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. more than necessary; unnecessary
superfluous
(suh-per-flu-us)
synonyms: extra, excessive, overdone
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to substitute; to take precedence over
supersede
(sue-per-seed)
synonyms: usurp, succeed
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to replace
supplant
(suh-plant)
synonyms: substitute, usurp
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to humbly ask
supplicate
(sup-lih-kate)
synonyms: ask, pray for, desire
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to overcome
v. to rise above
surmount
(ser-mount)
synonyms: vanquish, transcend
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. secretive
surreptitious
(ser-up-tish-us)
synonyms: sneaky, secret, covert
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to a relationship between two or more organisms living together
symbiotic
(sim-bee-ott-ik)
synonyms: coactive, harmonious, joining
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the small gap between the cells of nerves
synapse
(sin-apse)
synonyms: break, gap, divide
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate
synchronous
(sing-kruh-nuss)
synonyms: concurrent, simultaneous
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. implied or unspoken
tacit
(tass-it)
synonyms: suggested, unsaid, understood
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tending to be silent; quiet
taciturn
(tass-ih-turn)
synonyms: aloof, silent, mum
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make worse
exacerbate
(ig-zass-er-bate)
synonyms: intensify, worsen
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly obtain
exact
(ig-zact)
synonyms: claim, take
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to free from blame
exculpate
(ek-skull-pate)
synonyms: forgive, excuse
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to urge by strong appeal
exhort
(ig-zort)
synonyms: warn, beseech
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. requiring immediate attention; pressing, demanding
exigent
(ek-suh-djunt)
synonyms: urgent, pressing
Define
exonerate
(ig-zawn-ih-rate)
v. to clear of blame, guilt, or burden
Though the defendant had clearly done something wrong, the court had no choice but to exonerate her on the present charges.
Define
expedient
(ek-spee-dee-unt)
adj. beneficial for one’s goal
n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem
The politician tended to bring up his humble origins when it was politically expedient.
Define
expedite
(ek-spuh-dahyt)
v. to speed up
For an extra fee, the post office can expedite your package’s delivery.
Define
expiate
(ek-spee-ate)
v. to atone for
After destroying his friend’s car, Jim hoped the fruit basket he sent would expiate his guilt.
Define
extemporaneous
(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)
adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed
To be a news anchor, she would have to improve her extemporaneous speaking skills.
Define
extol
(ik-stole)
v. to praise
Melinda was often heard _extol_ling her daughter’s many talents.
Define
extrapolate
(ek-strap-ih-late)
v. to make a guess based on facts
Pete figured it was possible to extrapolate her personality from her Facebook profile.
Define
extricate
(ek-strih-kate)
v. to disentangle, to break free from
It was heartbreaking to watch the butterfly struggle in vain to extricate itself from the spider web.
Define
churl
(churl)
n. a rude person
n. a cheap person
I had been waiting in line for hours when some churl tried to cut in front of me.
Define
circuitous
(sir-cue-ih-tuss)
adj. roundabout
Because of the traffic accident, we had to take a circuitous route to the bank.
Define
circumscribe
(sir-come-skrahyb)
v. to draw or contain in a circle
v. to limit or restrain
I believe our government’s actions are _circumscribe_d by financial interests as well as moral imperatives.
Define
circumspect
(sir-come-spekt)
adj. prudent; cautious
Though her mother’s boyfriend attempted to win affection with toys and treats, Elise remained circumspect around him.
Define
circumvent
(sir-kum-vent)
v. to get around an obstacle
She managed to circumvent security and approached her favorite actor backstage.
Define
cleave
(kleev)
v. to cut off with force
v. to be loyal to
v. to develop an emotional bond with
She vowed that even when tempted she would cleave to her principles.
Define
cloister
(cloy-stur)
v. to isolate
n. a place for religious isolation
The boy’s parents tended to cloister him from the harsher realities of the world.
Define
coagulate
(koh-ag-yuh-late)
v. to clot or solidify
The poorly-made syrup began to coagulate on the pancakes after a few minutes.
Define
coalesce
(koh-ih-less)
v. to come together to form a single unit
Our county’s many poverty initiatives are too different to coalesce into an effective whole.
Define
cogent
(koh-djunt)
adj. clear and convincing
adj. relevant
We won the debate because the other team was unable to mount a cogent counter argument.
Define
cohere
(koh-heer)
v. to be logically connected to
v. to stick to each other
These short stories are quite charming when taken separately, but they will not cohere if published together as a collection.
Define
intransigent
(in-tran-suh-junt)
adj. unwilling to compromise
The government remained intransigent despite the people’s protest.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to clear of blame or guilt
exonerate
(ig-zawn-ih-rate)
synonyms: absolve, acquit, vindicate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beneficial for one’s goal
n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem
expedient
(ek-spee-dee-unt)
synonyms: worthwhile, advantageous; means
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to speed up
expedite
(ek-spuh-dahyt)
synonyms: accelerate, hasten
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to atone for wrongdoing
expiate
(ek-spee-ate)
synonyms: amend, atone
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed
extemporaneous
(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)
synonyms: improvised, impromptu
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to praise
extol
(ik-stole)
synonyms: praise, celebrate, laud
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make a guess based on facts; to conjecture
extrapolate
(ek-strap-ih-late)
synonyms: assume, hypothesize
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to disentangle, to break free from
extricate
(ek-strih-kate)
synonyms: clear, disburden, extract
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a rude person
n. a cheap person
churl
(churl)
synonyms: lout, oaf; miser, peasant
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. roundabout
circuitous
(sir-cue-ih-tuss)
synonyms: indirect, labyrinthine
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to draw or contain in a circle
v. to limit or restrain
circumscribe
(sir-come-skrahyb)
synonyms: mark off, bound, confine
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. prudent; cautious
circumspect
(sir-come-spekt)
synonyms: discreet, guarded
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to get around an obstacle
circumvent
(sir-kum-vent)
synonyms: avoid, bypass
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cut off with force
v. to be loyal to
v. to develop an emotional bond with
cleave
(kleev)
synonyms: divide, split; devote, join; bond, affix
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to isolate
n. a place for religious isolation
cloister
(cloy-stur)
synonyms: secluded; convent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to clot or solidify (for liquids)
coagulate
(koh-ag-yuh-late)
synonyms: condense, concrete, thicken
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to come together to form a single unit
coalesce
(koh-ih-less)
synonyms: adhere, cling
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. clear and convincing
adj. relevant
cogent
(koh-djunt)
synonyms: apt, compelling, valid
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be logically connected to
v. to stick to each other
cohere
(koh-heer)
synonyms: adhere, conform
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unwilling to compromise
intransigent
(in-tran-suh-junt)
synonyms: stubborn, unwilling, bullheaded