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Vocab Builder > Vocab Junkie - Set 1 > Flashcards

Vocab Junkie - Set 1 Flashcards

Learn this group of tough but common English vocab words - in chunks of 10 at a time. Just rate your confidence on each word, and it will repeat in an interval of time optimized for your brain's maximum retention.

1
Q

Define:

odium

(oh-dee-um)

A

n. blame

n. strong dislike

The popular odium of attorneys is often unmerited.

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2
Q

Define:

officious

(uh-fish-us)

A

adj. assertive of authority in a domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters

adj. prone to give unwanted advice

The security people at the concert were very officious.

I make a habit of giving honest opinions, but I try to avoid being officious with my friends.

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3
Q

Define:

opaque

(owe-peyk)

A

adj. blocking all light

adj. hard to understand

The windows became so dirty they were almost opaque.

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4
Q

Define:

opportune

(opp-er-tune)

A

adj. happening under fitting circumstances

The students waited for an opportune moment to surprise their teacher with the bouquet of flowers they had prepared.

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5
Q

Define:

superfluous

(suh-per-flu-us)

A

adj. more than necessary; unnecessary

The student’s essay was full of superfluous phrases that needed to be deleted.

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6
Q

Define:

supersede

(sue-per-seed)

A

v. to substitute; to take precedence over

It had been my understanding that the new tax code supersedes the old one, but actually both are in vigor simultaneously.

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7
Q

Define:

supplant

(suh-plant)

A

v. to replace

The higher-ups tried to supplant rebellious teachers with conformists.

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8
Q

Define:

supplicate

(sup-lih-kate)

A

v. to humbly ask

The churchgoers then bowed their heads and supplicated God to answer their prayers.

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9
Q

Define:

surmount

(ser-mount)

A

v. to overcome

v. to rise above

Through sheer determination, he was able to surmount his disadvantages and win the contest outright.

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10
Q

Define:

surreptitious

(ser-up-tish-us)

A

adj. secretive

Since they were not allowed to speak, the couple exchanged surreptitious glances from across the room.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. blame

n. strong dislike

A

odium

(oh-dee-um)

synonyms: shame, dishonor; disgust, detestation

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. prone to give unwanted advice

A

officious

(uh-fish-us)

synonyms: forward, meddlesome

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. blocking all light

adj. hard to understand

A

opaque

(owe-peyk)

synonyms: blurred, darkened, lusterless; baffling, cryptic

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. happening under fitting circumstances

A

opportune

(opp-er-tune)

synonyms: advantageous, favorable

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. more than necessary; unnecessary

A

superfluous

(suh-per-flu-us)

synonyms: extra, excessive, overdone

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to substitute; to take precedence over

A

supersede

(sue-per-seed)

synonyms: usurp, succeed

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to replace

A

supplant

(suh-plant)

synonyms: substitute, usurp

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to ask humbly

A

supplicate

(sup-lih-kate)

synonyms: ask, pray for, desire

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to overcome

v. to rise above

A

surmount

(ser-mount)

synonyms: vanquish, transcend

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. secretive

A

surreptitious

(ser-up-tish-us)

synonyms: sneaky, secret, covert

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21
Q

Define:

symbiotic

(sim-bee-ott-ik)

A

adj. related to a relationship that is beneficial for all involved

The whale and the small fish that cling to its body have a symbiotic relationship.

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22
Q

Define:

synapse

(sin-apse)

A

n. the small gap between the cells of nerves

Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse between brain cells.

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23
Q

Define:

synchronous

(sing-kruh-nuss)

A

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.

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24
Q

Define:

tacit

(tass-it)

A

adj. implied or unspoken

There was a tacit agreement between the two companies that neither would expand into the other’s city.

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25
Q

Define:

taciturn

(tass-ih-turn)

A

adj. tending to be silent; quiet

Some of the students were quite taciturn and had to be asked to participate more.

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26
Q

Define:

exacerbate

(ig-zass-er-bate)

A

v. to make worse

The children’s screaming exacerbated their father’s headache.

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27
Q

Define:

exact

(ig-zact)

A

v. to forcibly demand and obtain

The detectives finally exacted the truth from the witness.

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28
Q

Define:

exculpate

(ek-skull-pate)

A

v. to free from blame

The political prisoner was fully exculpated only when the dictatorship was overthrown and an independent truth commission established.

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28
Q

Define:

exhort

(ig-zort)

A

v. to urge by strong appeal

Taking the loudspeaker in her hand, the policewoman exhorted the kidnapper to release his hostage.

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29
Q

Define:

exigent

(ek-suh-djunt)

A

adj. requiring immediate attention

The show’s run was cut short by an exigent lack of funds.

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30
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to a relationship that is beneficial for all involved

A

symbiotic

(sim-bee-ott-ik)

synonyms: coactive, harmonious, joining

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the small gap between the cells of nerves

A

synapse

(sin-apse)

synonyms: break, gap, divide

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. operating at the same time or at the same rate

A

synchronous

(sing-kruh-nuss)

synonyms: concurrent, simultaneous

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. implied or unspoken

A

tacit

(tass-it)

synonyms: suggested, unsaid, understood

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. tending to be silent; quiet

A

taciturn

(tass-ih-turn)

synonyms: aloof, silent, mum

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make worse

A

exacerbate

(ig-zass-er-bate)

synonyms: intensify, worsen

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to demand, to require

A

exact

(ig-zact)

synonyms: claim, take

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to urge by strong appeal

A

exhort

(ig-zort)

synonyms: warn, beseech

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to free from blame

A

exculpate

(ek-skull-pate)

synonyms: forgive, excuse

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. requiring immediate attention

A

exigent

(ek-suh-djunt)

synonyms: urgent, pressing

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39
Q

Define:

exonerate

(ig-zawn-ih-rate)

A

v. to clear of blame or guilt

Though the defendant had clearly done something wrong, the court had no choice but to exonerate her on the present charges.

40
Q

Define:

expedient

(ek-spee-dee-unt)

A

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.

41
Q

Define:

expedite

(ek-spuh-dahyt)

A

v. to speed up

For an extra fee, the post office can expedite your package’s delivery.

42
Q

Define:

expiate

(ek-spee-ate)

A

v. to atone for wrongdoing

After destroying his friend’s car, Jim hoped the fruit basket he sent would expiate his guilt.

43
Q

Define:

extemporaneous

(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)

A

adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed

To be a news anchor, she would have to improve her extemporaneous speaking skills.

44
Q

Define:

extol

(ik-stole)

A

v. to praise

Melinda was often heard extolling her daughter’s many talents.

45
Q

Define:

extrapolate

(ek-strap-ih-late)

A

v. to make a guess based on facts

Pete figured it was possible to extrapolate her personality from her Facebook profile.

46
Q

Define:

extricate

(ek-strih-kate)

A

v. to disentangle, to break free from

It was heartbreaking to watch the butterfly struggle in vain to extricate itself from the spider web.

47
Q

Define:

churl

(churl)

A

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.

48
Q

Define:

circuitous

(sir-cue-ih-tuss)

A

adj. roundabout

Because of the traffic accident, we had to take a circuitous route to the bank.

49
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clear of blame or guilt

A

exonerate

(ig-zawn-ih-rate)

synonyms: absolve, acquit, vindicate

50
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. beneficial for one’s goal

n. a hastily prepared solution to a sudden problem

A

expedient

(ek-spee-dee-unt)

synonyms: worthwhile, advantageous; means

51
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to speed up

A

expedite

(ek-spuh-dahyt)

synonyms: accelerate, hasten

52
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to atone for wrongdoing

A

expiate

(ek-spee-ate)

synonyms: amend, atone

53
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. made up on the spot, ad-libbed

A

extemporaneous

(ik-stem-puh-ray-nee-us)

synonyms: improvised, impromptu

54
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to praise

A

extol

(ik-stole)

synonyms: praise, celebrate, laud

55
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make a guess based on facts; to conjecture

A

extrapolate

(ek-strap-ih-late)

synonyms: assume, hypothesize

56
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to disentangle, to break free from

A

extricate

(ek-strih-kate)

synonyms: clear, disburden, extract

57
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a rude person

n. a cheap person

A

churl

(churl)

synonyms: lout, oaf; miser, peasant

58
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. roundabout

A

circuitous

(sir-cue-ih-tuss)

synonyms: indirect, labyrinthine

59
Q

Define:

circumscribe

(sir-come-skrahyb)

A

v. to draw or contain in a circle

v. to limit or restrain

I believe our government’s actions are circumscribed by financial interests as well as moral imperatives.

60
Q

Define:

circumspect

(sir-come-spekt)

A

adj. prudent; cautious

Though her mother’s boyfriend attempted to win affection with toys and treats, Elise remained circumspect around him.

61
Q

Define:

circumvent

(sir-kum-vent)

A

v. to get around an obstacle

She managed to circumvent security and approached her favorite actor backstage.

62
Q

Define:

cleave

(kleev)

A

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.

63
Q

Define:

cloister

(cloy-stur)

A

v. to isolate

n. a place for religious isolation

The boy’s parents tended to cloister him from the harsher realities of the world.

64
Q

Define:

coagulate

(koh-ag-yuh-late)

A

v. to clot or solidify

The poorly-made syrup began to coagulate on the pancakes after a few minutes.

65
Q

Define:

coalesce

(koh-ih-less)

A

v. to come together to form a single unit

Our county’s many poverty initiatives are too different to coalesce into an effective whole.

66
Q

Define:

cogent

(koh-djunt)

A

adj. clear and convincing

adj. relevant

We won the debate because the other team was unable to mount a cogent counterargument.

67
Q

Define:

cohere

(koh-heer)

A

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.

68
Q

Define:

intransigent

(in-tran-suh-junt)

A

adj. unwilling to compromise

The government remained intransigent despite the people’s protest.

69
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to draw or contain in a circle

v. to limit or restrain

A

circumscribe

(sir-come-skrahyb)

synonyms: mark off, bound, confine

70
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. prudent; cautious

A

circumspect

(sir-come-spekt)

synonyms: discreet, guarded

71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to get around an obstacle

A

circumvent

(sir-kum-vent)

synonyms: avoid, bypass

72
Q

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

A

cleave

(kleev)

synonyms: divide, split; devote, join; bond, affix

73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to isolate

n. a place for religious isolation

A

cloister

(cloy-stur)

synonyms: secluded; convent

74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clot or solidify (for liquids)

A

coagulate

(koh-ag-yuh-late)

synonyms: condense, concrete, thicken

75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to come together to form a single unit

A

coalesce

(koh-ih-less)

synonyms: adhere, cling

76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. believable

adj. relevant

A

cogent

(koh-djunt)

synonyms: apt, compelling, valid

77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to be logically connected to

v. to stick to each other

A

cohere

(koh-heer)

synonyms: adhere, conform

78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unwilling to compromise

A

intransigent

(in-tran-suh-junt)

synonyms: stubborn, unwilling, bullheaded

79
Q

Define:

intrepid

(in-trep-id)

A

adj. courageous

The intrepid naturalist routinely braved storms and mudslides to document new species.

80
Q

Define:

intrinsic

(in-trin-zik)

A

adj. related to an object’s essence

Unfortunately, some degree of inefficiency is intrinsic to all democracies.

81
Q

Define:

inure

(in-your)

A

v. to accustom to something negative or unpleasant

Nearby residents soon became inured to the noise from the construction project.

82
Q

Define:

invective

(in-vek-tiv)

A

adj. verbally abusive
n. abusive or stern language

What this debate needs is a little less invective language and a little more substance

83
Q

Define:

irrevocable

(ih-rev-ih-kuh-bull)

A

adj. unable to be revoked; permanent

The laws the king decreed were irrevocable even after he left the throne.

84
Q

Define:

jocular

(jock-yuh-lur)

A

adj. related to jokes

The boy was popular with his classmates due to his cheerful, jocular nature.

85
Q

Define:

kernel

(kur-null)

A

n. the central part of a situation or seed

The kernel of the matter was that she didn’t even know where to begin looking for a new house.

86
Q

Define:

lackluster

(lack-luss-tur)

A

adj. not lively; not bright

Tired from a long day, Susan gave a very lackluster performance during the dress rehearsal.

87
Q

Define:

refractory

(rih-frack-tuh-ree)

A

adj. stubborn; difficult to treat or handle

The doctors did not know how to deal with such a refractory infection.

88
Q

Define:

regiment

(redj-ih-munt)

A

n. a military unit of troops

v. to enforce a strict order or conformity

Four army regiments occupied the city last week.

89
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. courageous

A

intrepid

(in-trep-id)

synonyms: brave, heroic

90
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to an object’s essence

A

intrinsic

(in-trin-zik)

synonyms: basic, inborn, fundamental

91
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to accustom to something negative or unpleasant

A

inure

(in-your)

synonyms: desensitize, familiarize, habituate

92
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. verbally abusive

n. abusive or stern language

A

invective

(in-vek-tiv)

synonyms: berating, abuse, denunciation

93
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unable to be revoked; permanent

A

irrevocable

(ih-rev-ih-kuh-bull)

synonyms: unchangeable, unalterable

94
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. related to jokes

A

jocular

(jock-yuh-lur)

synonyms: amusing, campy, jokey

95
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the central part of a situation or seed

A

kernel

(kur-null)

synonyms: core, crux

96
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. not lively; not bright

A

lackluster

(lack-luss-tur)

synonyms: dull, colorless, muted

97
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. stubborn; difficult to treat or handle

A

refractory

(rih-frack-tuh-ree)

synonyms: resistant, immune, unresponsive

98
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a military unit of troops

v. to enforce a strict order or conformity

A

regiment

(redj-ih-munt)

synonyms: military unit, command, designate

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