N

Question 1

narcissistic

Answer 1

(adjective) showing excessive love for oneself; egoistic.

Andre’s room, decorated with photos of him and the sports trophies he has won, suggests a narcissistic personality.

narcissism (noun)

Question 2

nocturnal

Answer 2

(adjective) of the night; active at night.

Travelers on the Underground Railroad escaped from slavery to the North by a series of nocturnal flights. The eyes of nocturnal animals must be sensitive in dim light.

Question 3

nonchalant

Answer 3

(adjective) appearing to be unconcerned.

Unlike the other players on the football team who pumped their fists when their names were announced, John ran on the field with a nonchalant wave.

nonchalance (noun)

Question 4

nondescript

Answer 4

(adjective) without distinctive qualities; drab.

The bank robber’s clothes were nondescript; none of the witnesses could remember their color or style.

Question 5

notorious

Answer 5

(adjective) famous, especially for evil actions or qualities.

Warner Brothers produced a series of movies about notorious gangsters such as John Dillinger and Al Capone.

notoriety (noun)

Question 6

novice

Answer 6

(noun) beginner.

Lifting your head before you finish your swing is a typical mistake committed by the novice at golf.

Question 7

nuance

Answer 7

(noun) a subtle difference or quality.

At first glance, Monet’s paintings of water lilies all look much alike, but the more you study them, the more you appreciate the nuances of color and shading that distinguish them.

Question 8

nurture

Answer 8

(verb) to nourish or help to grow.

The money given by the National Endowment for the Arts helps nurture local arts organizations throughout the country.

nurture (noun)