Common Flashcards
(304 cards)
1
Q
Enervate
A
To sap energy from
To exhaust
2
Q
Undermine
A
To weaken
Compromise
3
Q
Meticulous
A
Marked by extreme care in treatment of details
4
Q
Aesthetic
A
Concerned with appreciation of beauty
Set of principles underlying and guiding work of particular artists and moment
5
Q
Audacious
A
Willing to be bold in social situations
Take risks
6
Q
Immutable
A
Not able to be changed
7
Q
Eclectic
A
Comprised of variety of style
8
Q
Derivative
A
Not original but drawl strongly in something already in existence esp in reference to a creative product
9
Q
Copious
A
In abundant supply
10
Q
Opaque
A
Not clearly understood or expressed
11
Q
Confound
A
To cause confusion
Mistake one thing for another
12
Q
Garrulous
A
Full of trivial conversation
Excessively talkative
13
Q
Sporadic
A
Recurring in scattered and irregular, unpredictable instances
14
Q
Mundane
A
Repetitive and boring, not spiritual
Relating to ordinary world
15
Q
Bolster
A
Support and strengthen
16
Q
Anomaly
A
Something that is not normal, standard, expected
17
Q
Candid
A
Straightforward and honest
18
Q
Catalyst
A
Something that speeds up an event
19
Q
Discriminate
A
Recognize and perceive the difference
20
Q
Malleable
A
Capable of being shaped, bent, drawn out
Easily influenced
21
Q
Benign
A
Kind
Gentle
22
Q
Analogous
A
Similar in same respect but otherwise different
23
Q
Ambiguous
A
Open to more than one interpretation
24
Q
Amalgam
A
Mixture of multiple things
25
Ameliorate
Make something bad better
Mitigate
26
Archaic
So old as to appear to belong to a different period
27
Alleviate
To relieve a problem
| Ease a burden
28
Anoint
To choose for a particular office, position
To use oil on a person in a religious ceremony
29
Articulate
Exhibiting considerable communication skills
| Well spoken
30
Astonishment
Total surprise
| Shock
31
Compelling
Captivating
Persuasive
32
Connoisseur
Expert in particular subject matter area usu relating to fine art ya or cultural pursuits
33
Eloquence
persuasive and articulate speech
34
facilitate
to make something easier/simpler
35
fluctuate
to shift without apparent pattern
36
forestall
to hold off/try to prevent
37
impair
to hinder/weaken something/someone
38
perseverance
persistence in the face of obstacles
39
pervasive
found everywhere, widespread
| often has negative connotation
40
buoyant
lighthearted
41
abstain
restrain from doing or enjoying something
| refrain, desist, hold back
42
artful
clever in cunning way
| exhibiting artistic skill
43
amenable
easily persuaded
44
aberration
deviation from what is normal or expected
45
apathetic
| apathy
lack of interest
| absence of emotion or enthusiasm
46
ascetic
practicing self-denial = selflessness
47
admonish
to warn strong, even to the point of reprimanding
48
arbitrary
based on random, groundless decision
capricious, whimsical
49
austere
practicing self-denial
unadorned in style/appearance
harsh in manner of temperament
50
antithetical
sharply contrasted in character/purpose
51
arcane
secret / known only to a select group
enigmatic
52
appease
pacify by accending to the demands of
make peace
53
arduous
demanding considerable mental effort and skill
testing powers of endurance
onerous, taxing, difficult, laborious
54
antipathy
intense feeling of dislike or aversion
55
avarice
greed
56
advocate
speak, plead, argue in favor of
person who pleads for a cause/ propounds an idea
57
assuage
make something intense less severe
to satisfy a need or appetite
58
artless
without cunning or deceit
59
alacrity
an eager willingness to do something
60
anachronism
something that is inappropriate for the given time period
61
abjure
formally reject or give up
62
ambivalent
having mixed feelings/contradictory ideas about something
equivocal; uncertain
63
abate
to diminish in intensity
64
abscond
to leave secretly, evading detection
65
acumen
keen judgment and perception
66
adulterate
to contaminate and make impure by introducing inferior elements
67
affectation
fake/artificial behavior, often meant to impress/conceal the truth
68
aver
to assert/allege/state
declare, maintain, assert, protest
69
belie
give false representation to
misrepresent
70
bucolic
pastoral, rustic, countrified
relating to pleasant aspects of the country
71
banal
repeated too often
| overfamiliar through overuse
72
burgeon
grow and flourish
73
brazen
unrestrained by convention/propriety
bod and without shame
74
calumny
making false statement meant to injure one's reputation
lie
slander
75
commensurate
to be in proportion/corresponding in degree/amount
76
censure
to express strong disapproval
77
castigate
to reprimand harshly
78
construe
interpreted in a particular way
79
craven
pathetically coward
80
capricious
determined by change/impulse/whim rather than necessity/reason
mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical
81
contrite
to be remorseful
82
cogent
clear and persuasive
83
chauvinist
person who believes in the superiority of their group
exaggerated patriotism
84
credence
belief in something
| trust
85
credulity
tendency to believe readily
| gullible
86
convoluted
highly complex or intricate
roundabout; not straightforward
87
coalesce
fuse or cause to grow together
| come together to form one mass/whole
88
cosmopolitan
comprising many cultures
global in reach and outlook
sophisticated; relating to city/urban area
89
contentious
likely to argue
controversial; involving conflict
90
canonize
official declare to be a saint
treat as being above reproach/of great significant
91
contending
struggle to surmount (overcome, stand/be placed on top of)
assert something as a position in an argument
92
canon
accepted rules and tenets of a discipline
sacred works/scriptive, also used to refer to notable literary and artistic works of a culture/discipline
93
caustic
corrosive
| bitterly sarcastic
94
chicanery
trickery/deception
95
condone
to approve/allow
96
covet
to desire something that does not belong to you
97
cacophony
loud and chaotic noise
98
demur
to object or show reluctance
99
dogmatic
highly opinionated, not accepting that one's own beliefs may not be correct
doctrinaire, opinionated
100
didactic
instructive/educational
101
deferential
showing respect
102
diffident
showing modest reserve; lacking self confidence
shy, timid, reserved due to lack of confidence
103
delineate
describe in detail
to clearly demarcate a boundary
104
decorum
propriety in manners and conduct
105
denigrate
charge falsely/ with malicious intent
| attack the good name and reputation of someone
106
dilettente
amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and pretends to have knowledge
107
disseminate
cause to become widely known
spread widely
108
dispassionate
unaffected by strong emotion/prejudice
impartial/cool
109
dupe
to trick or swindle
person who is easily tricked/swindled
110
disparate
two things are fundamentally different
111
deride
treat/speak of with contempt
mock/ridicule
112
diatribe
strong verbal attack against a person/institution
113
disabuse
to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid
dispel someone's illusions/false impressions about something
114
dissemble
conceal one's true motives, usu through deceit
115
deftness
skill, acumen
manual dexterity
116
dessicate
to dry out completely
to suck out the vitality and passion
117
desultory
halfhearted
inconsistent/random
118
dirge
funeral/mourning lament
any sad, slow song
119
discern
to perceive
120
discrepancy
inconsistency
121
disparage
to belittle
122
dogma
the official beliefs/tenets of particular sect/group
123
engender
to give rise to
124
eschew
avoid and stay away from deliberately
abstain
125
exacerbate
make worse
126
eminent
standing above others in quality/position
well-known, respected, distinguished
127
ephemeral
lasting a very short time
= transient; cursory
128
exacting
requiring and demanding accuracy
challenging, demanding, grueling
129
exonerate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charge
130
elicit
call forth
provoke a response
131
erudite
having/showing profound knowledge
learned
132
esoteric
confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
obscure, arcane
133
efficacious
producing the intending result
134
eccentric
unconventional and slightly strange
135
emulate
strive to equal/match, esp by imitating
compete with successfully
136
equivocate
to speak vaguely, usu with the intention to mislead and deceive
137
empiricism
any method that derives knowledge from experience
based on evidence
138
elegiac
| elegy
expressing sorrow
| sad poem/song, often in remembrance of someone decease
139
extrapolate
draw from specific cases for more general cases
to estimate/conjecture about the future based on presently available info/facts
140
ebullient
joyously unrestrained
cheerful, enthusiastic, excited
141
estimable
deserving of esteem and respect
| admiration
142
explicit
explicate
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion/doubt
explain in detail
143
equable
even-tempered
not given to much change/variation
144
exculpate
to exonerate/vindicate
show/declare that one is not guilty of wrongdoing
145
exigent
urgent/pressing
146
expatiate
to elaborate on something in great detail
147
exposition
thorough explanation
public show/fair
148
extraneous
irrelevant
| superfluous
149
fortuitous
occurring by happy change, having no cause/apparent cause
fortunate; lucky
150
fallacious
belief that is based on faulty reasoning = fallacy
151
foment
try to stir up public opinion; to foster unrest/discontent
152
fastidious
overly concerned with details; fussy
meticulous; invested in cleanliness
153
facetious
cleverly amusing in tone
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor = flippant = glib
154
galvanize
to excite/inspire someone to action
155
gregarious
likely to socialize with others
genial
156
germane
relevant and appropriate
157
gainsay
deny/contradict; speak against/oppose
158
guileless
guile
free of deceit
craftiness and cunning
159
gauche
lacking social polish
unsophisticated and socially awkward
160
glib
speaking with ease but without sincerity
161
harangue
long pompous speech; tirade
deliver long pompous speech/tirate
diatribe/rant
162
hackneyed
lacking significant through having been overused
cliche, trite, banal
163
hedonism
pursuit of pleasure
164
innocuous
harmless and doesn't produce any ill effects
165
iconoclast
one who attacks cherished beliefs/institutions
166
ingenuous
to be naive and innocent
167
intimate
to suggest something subtly; to imply
close, particularly private
168
impudent
improperly forward/bold
disrespectful
169
implausible
plausible
describing a statement that is not believable
believable, reasonable
170
implacable
incapable of making less angry/hostile
unforgiving, relentless
171
intransigent
unwilling to change one's beliefs/course of action
uncompromising; obstinate
172
inscrutable
not easily understood; unfathomable (incapable of being fully explored or understood)
enigmatic (difficult to interpret/understood; mysterious), incomprehensible
173
inveterate
habitual, ingrained
174
inimical
hostile (describing conditions and environments)
175
intrepid
fearless; bold and adventurous
176
imprudent
imprudence
not wise
bad judgment
177
irresolute
uncertain how to act or proceed
wishy-washy; hesitant
178
inadvertent
happening by chance/unexpectedly/unintentionally
by accident, unintentional
179
insipid
dull and uninteresting
bland, uninspired, inane (stupid, silly)
180
irascible
quickly aroused to anger
irritable, testy, touchy
181
inarticulate
without/deprived of the use of speech or words
182
inchoate
only partly in existence, imperfectly formed
rudimentary, in the beginning stages
183
impediment
hindrance/obstruction in doing something
184
ideological
relating to particular belief system/theory
185
imminent
about to happen
186
imperturbable
remaining calm under any circumstances
187
implicit
implied/insinuated without being directly stated
188
indefatigable
cannot be made tired
189
indolent
lazy
| idle
190
infer
to conclude from implicit evidence
191
insular
tight-knit and isolated; uninterested in matters outside one's immediate sphere
192
intractable
unmanageable
stubborn/obstinate
193
laconic
using very few words
taciturn, reserved, succinct
194
laudable
worthy of high praise
195
lucid
transparently clear; easily understandable
196
litigation
legal proceedings = process of taking legal action
197
loquacious
talkative
198
mitigate
make less severe/harsh
lessen the severity of an offense
ameliorate
199
mercurial
prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood
fickle; easily changeable
200
mollify
to make someone angry less angry
placate
201
magnanimous
noble and generous in spirit, esp. toward rival/someone less powerful
202
munificent
very generous
203
mendacity
tendency to be untruthful
204
maverick
someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
unorthodox person/rebel
205
maladroit
adroit
clumsy; awkward; inept
skillful, adept, dexterous
206
misanthrope
hater of mankind
207
malign
evil in nature/effect
| malevolent
208
nonplussed
unsure how to act/respond
confused and baffled
209
nuance
subtle difference in meaning/opinion/attitude
subtle shades of difference
210
notoriety
state of being famous/well known for some bad quality/deed
211
nascent
just beginning/in the early stages
212
ostentatious
intended to attract notice and impress others
tawdry/vulgar
213
obsequious
attentive in an ingratiating/servile manner
| attempt to win favor from influential people by flattery
214
obdurate
unable to be persuaded/moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding
obstinate
215
obstinate
resistant to guidance/discipline
stubbornly persistent
stubborn, uncompromising
216
obscure
not discovered/known about; uncertain
| keep from being seen/conceal
217
obviate
to forestall the need for something
to prevent
218
occlude
to block/obstruct
219
occult
mystical and supernatural
220
offset
counterbalance and counteract
221
omniscience
quality/state of being all-knowing
222
onerous
difficult/burdensome
223
opprobrium
criticism/condemnation
224
outstrip
to overtake/outrun
225
prodigal
rashly/wastefully extravagant
reckless spender
226
profligate
spending resources recklessly/wastefully
someone who spends resources recklessly/wastefully
227
prevaricate
to speak in an evasive way
to evade/deceive without outright lying
228
prescience
prescient
power to foresee the future = foresight
prophetic; knowing things before they happen
229
platitude
trite; obvious remark
230
perfidy
act of deliberate betrayal; breach of trust
treachery; deceit
231
pedantic
marked by narrow focus on/display of learning esp. its trivial aspects
232
pragmatic
guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
233
pedestrian
lacking imagination
boring, monotonous
234
polemic
strong verbal/written attack on someone/thing
angry, hostile, harshly critical
235
placate
cause to be more favorable inclined; gain the good will of
less angry/hostile
236
precariously
in a way that is not securely in position and is likely to fall or collapse
in a way that is uncertain/dependent on chance
uncertain/unstable
237
peruse
to read very carefully and closely
to read something informally/quickly
(context is critical)
238
paucity
lack of something
scarcity, poverty
239
pristine
unspoiled, untouched
immaculately clean and unused
240
precedent
an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
model, example
241
presumptuous
excessively forward
overly familiar, invades social boundaries
242
prevail
be widespread in a particular area of a particular time
be current to succeed esp. with respect to vanquishing an opponent
prove superior
to convince/persuade
243
precipitate
hasty/rash
to cause to happen
244
perfunctory
done routinely and with little interest/care
cursory
245
propitiate
to placate/appease
to obtain special favor from someone, esp a powerful person/deity; performing a pleasing action
246
probity
integrity, strong moral principles
247
patent
glaringly obvious
blatant
248
pith
most essential part of something
249
phlegmatic
showing little emotion
cool and unruffled
250
painstaking
attentive to detail, meticulous
251
partisan
devoted supporter of a group, cause, person
252
permeate
pervade/penetrate throughout
253
phenomena
things that happen
254
plastic
easily shaped/molded
255
plethora
surplus/overabundance of something
256
polarize
to cause sharp division between two groups
257
propriety
appropriateness, manners, decorum
258
qualify
qualification
to make less severe, to limit
credential, modifying statement
259
quotidian
found in ordinary course of events
mundane
260
recondite
difficult to penetrate, incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding/knowledge
arcane, obscure
261
reticent
disinclined to talk, not revealing one's thoughts
hesitant to talk, introverted/silent
262
reconcile
make compatible with
restore friendly relations between
to bring into harmony
263
refute
to prove to be false/incorrect
to rebut/disprove
264
reverent
feeling/showing profound respect/veneration; solemn
265
rescind
cancel officially
to take back/retract
266
repudiate
reject as untrue/unfounded
to renounce/disown
267
reproach
to express criticism towards
268
relentlessly
in an unceasingly intense/harsh way
never stopping, constant
269
rhetoric
the art of effective communication
270
supplant
take the place/move into the position of
overtake/replace
271
spurious
plausible but false
fake
272
soporific
inducing mental lethargy, sleep-inducing
273
subversive
subvert
in opposition to an established system/institution
meant to undercut established institutions/norms
undermine the power and authority of
274
sanction
give authority/permission to
legal penalty for a forbidden action
275
sycophant
person who tries to please someone in order to gain personal advantage
having sense of right and wrong; principled
276
specious
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
plausible but false
spurious
277
stolid
having/revealing little emotions/sensibility
calm, dependable
278
sedulous
done diligently and carefully
279
solicitous
showing hovering attentiveness
| considerate; attentive
280
salubrious
health-promoting
281
satiate
to completely satisfy
282
secular
of or relating to the world/worldly matters
nonreligious
283
spouse
scattered/scarce
austere and unadorned
284
substantiate
```
to corroborate (give support)
give evidence of something
```
285
supine
laying back with the face upward
prone, recumbent, prostrate
morally slack
286
torpor
inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor/energy
tiredness
287
temperance
trait of avoiding excesses = abstinence from alcoholic drinks
288
tortuous
marked by repeated turns and bends
not straightforward, complicated
289
tractable
readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed
easy to deal with; easy to control/influence
290
taciturn
habitually reserved and incommunicable
reticent/reserved; tending towards silence
291
timorous
timid by nature/revealing fear and nervousness
meek
292
transient
lasting a very short time
293
tirade
angry speech
294
tacit
unspoken; implicit
295
tenuous
weak, flimsy, insubstantial
296
underscore
to give extra weight to
emphasize
297
unadorned
plain, unembellished
298
venerate
to respect deeply; may border on worship
299
veracious
veracity
truthful
truth and factual accuracy
300
venality
condition of being susceptible to bribes/corruption
301
vacillate
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions/courses of action
302
vexation
state of being frustrated, irritated, concerned
303
whimsical
determined by impulse/whim rather than by necessity/reason
304
zeal
passion/fervor (intense and passionate feeling)
