180 Most Pop Vocab Flashcards
(177 cards)
1
Q
Pragmatic
A
Practical as opposed to idealistic
2
Q
Anomaly
A
Deviation from what’s normal
3
Q
Occlude
A
To stop up; to prevent the passage of
4
Q
Cogent
A
Convincing and well-reasoned
5
Q
Dilate
A
To make larger, expand
6
Q
Fanatical
A
Acting excessively enthusiastic, filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
7
Q
Aggrandize
A
To increase in power, influence and reputation
8
Q
Equivocate
A
To use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
9
Q
Advocate
A
To speak in favor of
10
Q
Bombastic
A
Pompous in speech and manner
11
Q
Disparate
A
Fundamentally different; entirely unlike
12
Q
Propriety
A
Correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
13
Q
Satiate
A
To satisfy fully or overindulge
14
Q
Ambiguous
A
Doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
15
Q
Proliferate
A
To increase in number quickly
16
Q
Paradox
A
A contradiction or dilemma
17
Q
Diffident
A
Lacking self confidence
18
Q
Attenuate
A
To reduce in force or degree; to weaken
19
Q
Alleviate
A
To make more bearable
20
Q
Euphemism
A
Use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
21
Q
Vacillate
A
To sway physically; to be indecisive
22
Q
Intransigent
A
Uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
23
Q
Plethora
A
Excess
24
Q
Plastic
A
Able to molded, altered or bent
25
Propriety
Correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
26
Esoteric
Known or understood by only a few
27
Abstain
To choose not to do something
28
Garrulous
Tending to talk a lot
29
Austere
Severe or stern in appearance, undecorated
30
Sublime
Lofty or grand
31
Rarefy
To make thinner or sparser
32
Archaic
Ancient, old fashioned
33
Candid
Impartial and honest in speech
34
Stigma
A mark of shame or discredit
35
Lament
To express sorrow; to grieve
36
Amalgamate
To combine, to mix together
37
Elegy
A sorrowful poem or speech
38
Dilatory
Intended to delay
39
Dogmatic
Dictatorial in ones opinions
40
Precipitate
To throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
41
Perfidious
Willing to betray one’s trust
42
Naive
Lacking sophistication or experience
43
Transitory
Temporary, lasting a brief time
44
Capricious
Changing ones mind quickly and often
45
Chauvinist
Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
46
Enigma
A puzzle; mystery
47
Deference
Respect, courtesy
48
Dogma
A firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
49
Malinger
To evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
50
Eclectic
Selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
51
Credulous
Too trusting; gullible
52
Efficacy
Effectiveness
53
Aesthetic
Concerning the appreciation of beauty
54
Arbitrate
To judge a dispute between two opposing parties
55
Vex
To annoy
56
Ostentation
Excessive showiness
57
Impetuous
Quick to act without thinking
58
Ephemeral
Lasting a short time
59
Waver
To fluctuate between choices
60
Paragon
Model of excellence or perfection
61
Imperturbable
Not capable of being disturbed
62
Philanthropy
Charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
63
Malleable
Capable of being shaped
64
Corroborate
To provide supporting evidence
65
Gregarious
Outgoing, social
66
Anachronism
Something out of place in time
67
Desiccate
To dry out thoroughly
68
Fawn
To grovel
69
Iconoclast
One who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
70
Metaphor
A figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
71
Exacerbate
To make worse
72
Erratic
Wandering and unpredictable
73
Soporific
Causing sleep or lethargy
74
Zeal
Passion, excitement
75
Deride
To speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
76
Gullible
Easily deceived
77
Estimable
Admirable
78
Taciturn
Silent, not talkative
79
Abate
To reduce in amount, degree or severity
80
Explicit
Clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
81
Crescendo
Steadily increasing in volume or force
82
Enumerate
To count, list, or itemize
83
Chaos
Great disorder or confusion
84
Luminous
Bright, brilliant, glowing
85
Obviate
To prevent; to make unnecessary
86
Dilettante
Someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
87
Abscond
To leave secretly
88
Guile
Deceit or trickery
89
Obstinate
Stubborn, unyielding
90
Mitigate
To soften, to lessen
91
Loquacious
Talkative
92
Obdurate
Hardened to feeling, resistant to persuasion
93
Fervid
Intensely emotional; feverish
94
Antagonize
To annoy or provoke to anger
95
Perfunctory
Done in a routine way; indifferent
96
Convoluted
Intricate and complicated
97
Diatribe
An abusive, condemnatory speech
98
Articulate
Able to speak clearly and expressively
99
Impervious
Impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
100
Abyss
An extremely deep hole
101
Stolid
Unemotional; lacking sensitivity
102
Eloquent
Persuasive and moving, especially in speech
103
Volatile
Easily aroused or changeable, lively or explosive
104
Ardor
Intense and passionate feeling
105
Prudence
Wisdom, caution, or restraint
106
Chicanery
Deception by means of craft or guile
107
Implacable
Unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
108
Exonerate
To clear of blame
109
Prevaricate
To lie or deviate from the truth
110
Analogous
Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
111
Propitiate
To conciliate; to appease
112
Erudite
Learned, scholarly, bookish
113
Engender
To produce, cause or bring about
114
Venerate
To respect deeply
115
Onerous
Troublesome and oppressive, burdensome
116
Specious
Deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
117
Cacophony
Harsh, jarring noise
118
Florid
Excessively decorated or embellished
119
Repudiate
To reject the validity of
120
Enervate
To reduce in strength
121
Laconic
Using few words
122
Dirge
A funeral hymn or mournful speech
123
Ameliorate
To make better; improve
124
Obsequious
Overly submissive and eager to please
125
Innocuous
Harmless
126
Discern
To perceive; to recognize
127
Permeate
To penetrate
128
Dissonance
A harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
129
Inimical
Hostile, unfriendly
130
Misanthrope
A person who dislikes others
131
Mollify
To calm or make less severe
132
Condone
To overlook, pardon, disregard
133
Dissemble
To prevent a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
134
Eulogy
Speech in praise of someone
135
Pungent
Sharp and irritating to the senses
136
Torpor
Extreme mental and physical sluggishness
137
Veracity
Truthfulness; accuracy
138
Inchoate
Not fully formed, disorganized
139
Homogenous
Of a similar kind
140
Audacious
Fearless and daring
141
Foment
To arouse or incite
142
Exculpate
To clear from blame; prove innocent
143
Ingenuous
Showing innocence or childlike simplicity
144
Dupe
To deceive; a person who is easily deceived
145
Irascible
Easily made angry
146
Laud
To give praise, to glorify
147
Whimsical
Acting in a fanciful or capricious manner
148
Prodigal
Lavish, wasteful
149
Tacit
Done without using words
150
Antipathy
Extreme dislike
151
Assuage
To make something unpleasant less severe
152
Banal
Predictable, boring
153
Opprobrium
Public disgrace
154
Insipid
Lacking interest or flavor
155
Reticent
Silent, reserved
156
Pedant
Someone who shows off learning
157
Placate
To soothe or pacify
158
Castigate
To punish or criticize harshly
159
Monotony
Lack of variation
160
Rhetoric
Effective writing or speaking
161
Emulate
To copy; to try to equal or excel
162
Bolster
To support; to prop up
163
Exigent
Urgent; requiring immediate action
164
Catalyst
Something that brings about a change in something else
165
Tirade
Long, harsh speech or verbal attack
166
Frugality
A tendency to be thrifty or cheap
167
Verbose
Wordy
168
Meticulous
Extremely careful about details
169
Decorum
Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
170
Apathy
Lack of interest or emotion
171
Inundate
To overwhelm; to cover with water
172
Adulterate
To make impure
173
Quiescent
Motionless
174
Caustic
Biting in wit
175
Pristine
Fresh and clean, incorrupted
176
Desultory
Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
177
Disabuse
To set right; to free from error
