5/18 Flashcards
(23 cards)
assail (3)
1) to make a violent attack on
eg. US army assailed the Taliban
2) criticize someone strongly
eg. he assailed a group of editors
3) come upon unpleasant, feelings or physical sensation
eg. he was assailed by doubts and regrets
bemoan
to express sorrow/discontent over something
eg. it is no use to bemoan about a lose cause
frugal
economical, careful not to waste money or food
eg. he lived a very frugal life
sparing
moderate, economical
eg. sparing use of the ointment
thrifty
frugal, using money and resources carefully and not wastefully
succulent
tender, juicy and tasty (of food)
eg. succulent plant/fruit
ideologue
adherent of an ideology, especially someone that is uncompromising
eg. he doesn’t consider himself as a political ideologue
cynic (2)
1) people that question whether something will happen or if something is worthwhile
eg. cynics were surprised to hear the factory opened
2) someone that believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for unselfish/honorable reasons
zealot
someone that is uncompromising in pursuit of something (related to zealous), fanatically devoted to a cause
eg. political zealots often refuse to listen to opposing views
simpleton
a foolish or gullible person
eg. an analyst that is a simpleton
phony
not genuine, fraudulent
eg. his accent was a bit phony
pragmatic
dealing with things realistically in a way, practical
sensible (2)
1) in a way that shows wisdom/knowledge and prudence
eg. committee sensibly decided to not re-risk the portfolio
2) practical and functional rather than decorative
eg. sensibly dressed woman
fanatic
a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for extreme religious or political causes
eg. fanatics at the Trump rally
dogmatic
inclined to lay down principles as true
eg. share your opinion without trying to be dogmatic
incontrovertible
not able to be denied or disputed, undisputed
eg. an incontrovertible proof
pretense
the act of pretending, that is deliberate and deceptive
eg. my anger that is often masked by pretense that all is well
tenancy
possession of land or property as a tenant
eg. tenancy of the farm
prevailing (2)
1) exiting at that time, current
eg. prevailing economic conditions
2) something that is prevalent, having the most appeal, influence, widespread
eg. a prevailing mood is one of hope
predilection
preference, bias in favor or something
eg. my predilection for Asian food
mannered (2)
1) like in well-mannered
2) of an author being overly elaborate, artificial in delivery, stylized
eg. mannered writing confused me
stilted
overly formal, unnatural, stuff in speech or writing
eg. you don’t want to be presenting to clients in a stilted manner/way
accentuate
make something more noticeable, prominent
eg. the lighting accentuated the art
