Common Flashcards
(302 cards)
1
Q
aberration
A
a deviation from what is normal or expected
2
Q
acrimony
A
bitterness and ill will
3
Q
amalgam
A
a mixture of multiple things
4
Q
ambiguous
A
open to multiple interpretations
5
Q
ambivalent
A
having mixed feelings about something
6
Q
amenable
A
able to be molded; easily persuadable
7
Q
amorphous
A
without shape
8
Q
anomalous
A
not normal (as an anomaly)
9
Q
artful
A
skilled in art OR conniving, clever, cunning
10
Q
auspicious
A
good, favorable
11
Q
belie
A
to deceive of one’s true nature; to misrepresent; to give false representation to
12
Q
betray
A
to (mistakenly) reveal or make something known
13
Q
calumny
A
the making of a false statement to injure one’s reputation
14
Q
castigate
A
to punish or reprimand severely
15
Q
censure
A
to express a strong disapproval of; to renounce
16
Q
chastise
A
to reprimand
17
Q
commensurate
A
to be in proportion in degree or amount
18
Q
demur
A
to object or show reluctance
19
Q
disinterested
A
apathetic, not interested or uninterested, unbiased, neutral
20
Q
egregious
A
notable in a bad way
21
Q
enervate
A
to sap energy from
22
Q
equivocal
A
confusing or ambiguous
23
Q
extant
A
still in existence
24
Q
frugal
A
not spending much money (spending wisely)
25
galvanize
to excite or inspire into action
26
gregarious
fond of company, sociable
27
harangue
(n) a pompous speech or tirade OR (v) to deliver such a speech
28
iconoclast
one who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
29
impertinent
being disrespectful or improperly forward/bold
30
intimate
to imply or hint
31
ingenuous
naive or innocent
32
innocuous
unharmful or without ill effects
33
involved
complex and difficult to understand
34
laconic
of a speech, person, or writing. using few words
35
maintain
to assert
36
mercurial
(of a person) prone to sudden changes in mood
37
parochial
of a very narrow mindset, scope, or outlook
38
parsimonious
extremely frugal or miserly
39
prevaricate
to speak in an evasive way
40
prodigal
spending resources recklessly and wastefully.
41
profligate
spending resources recklessly or wastefully. Often with connotations of moral degeneracy.
42
qualify
to limit a stance or statement
43
restive
restless
44
undermine
to weaken (as an argument)
45
upbraid
to reproach or scold
46
venality
the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption (adj form venal)
47
venerate
to respect deeply
48
veracious
truthful
49
vindicate
to clear of wrongdoing through evidence
50
wanting
lacking
51
aesthete
one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty or art and nature
52
aesthetic
(adj) concerned with the appreciation for beauty; (n) a set of principles underlying the work of an artist/artistic movement
53
apathetic
marked by lack if interest
54
audacious
willing to be bold in social situations or take risks
55
banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
56
bucolic
relating to the pleasant aspects of the country (more mood than rustic)
57
chortle
to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way
58
concede
to admit defeat; to admit to wrongdoing; to surrender or relinquish to the control of another
59
conspicuous
without any attempt at concealment, completely obvious
60
cryptic
mysterious or vague, ususally with intent
61
culminate
to reach the highest or most decisive point
62
culpability
state of guilt
63
decorous
characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
64
deferential
showing respect
65
dictatorial
expecting unqustioning obedience
66
didactic
intsructive (especially excessively)
67
diffident
showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
68
dogmatic
highly opinionated, unwilling to change one's opinions
69
engender
to give rise to
70
entrenched
(metaphorically) firmly fixed (as habits, attitudes, beliefs)
71
eschew
avoid deliberately; stay clear of
72
exacerbate
to make worse
73
fortuitous
fortunate; occurring by happy chance
74
frivilous
not serious in attitude or behavior
75
gainsay
deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
76
gall
(n) the trait or being rude and impertinent; (n) the feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
77
germane
relevant and appropriate
78
glut
(n) an excessive supply; (v) to supply an excessive amount
79
gossamer
characterized by unusual delicacy and lightness
80
impudent
improperly forward or bold
81
incisive
having the ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
82
inexorable
impossible to prevent or stop
"the seemingly inexorable march of new technology"
OR (of a person) impossible to persuade by request or entreaty; intransigent
"the doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done"
83
lambast
criticize severely or angrily
84
mawkish
overly sentimental in a negative way
85
meticulous
marked by extreme care in treatment of details
86
obscure
(v) to make unclear; (adj) known only by a few
87
perfidy
an act of betrayal; a breach of trust
88
platitude
a trite or obvious remark
89
preclude
to make impossible
90
predilection
a strong liking
91
prescience
the ability to foresee the future
92
querulous
habitually complaining
93
recondite
difficult to understand; incomprehensible to laymen
"the book is full of recondite information"
94
reticent
disinclined to talk; not revealing one's thoughts or feelings
95
rustic
characteristic of a rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial (more describing sights than mood, as bucolic)
96
superfluous
serving no purpose, unnecessary
97
torpor
inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack on vigor or energy
98
vociferous
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
99
volubility
the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
100
mitigate
(v) to make less severe; (adj - mitigating) having the effect of making something less severe
101
abstain
choose not to partake in or consume something (usually something widely enjoyed)
102
ameliorate
make something bad better
103
apathy
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
104
ascetic
(adj) practicing self denial; (n) one who practices self denial
105
avaricious
excessively greedy
106
belligerent
characteristic of one eager to fight
"a bull-necked, belligerent old man"
107
circumvent
to find away around (either a physical obstacle or one's duties or obligations)
108
contrive
to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
109
delineate
to describe in detail
110
denote
be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
111
derivative
not original but drawing strongly on something already in existence, especially in reference to a creative product
112
derive
come from; or reason by dedcution
113
disaffected
dissatisfied with people in authority and no longer willing to support them
114
eclectic
comprised of a variety of styles
115
elucidate
to make clearer in meaning
116
eminent
standing above others in quality
117
ephemeral
lasting for a short time; impermanent
118
fallacious
of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
119
forlorn
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
120
frustrate
to hinder to prevent (the plans, efforts)
121
guileless
free of deceit
122
haughty
having or showing arrigant superiority to and disdain of those viewed as unworthy
123
heretic
a person who holds unorthodox views in any field
124
immutable
not able to be changed
125
incongruous
lacking in harmony or appropriateness
126
insidious
working in a subtle but destructive way
127
itinerant
traveling from place to place for work
128
jingoism
fanatical patriotism
129
jubilant
full of high spirited delight due to triumph or success
130
juxtapose
place side by side for contrast
131
languid
not inclined towardds exerting physical effort; slow and relaxed
132
magnanimous
noble and generous in spirit, especially towards rivals or someone less powerful
133
mollify
to make someone less angry; placate
134
negligible
so small to be meaningless
135
panache
distinctive and showy elegance
136
precocious
characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
137
quotidian
found in the ordinary course of events
138
refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
139
rudimentary
being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
140
spurious
plausible but false
141
staunch
firm and dependable; especially in loyalty
142
subsume
to include or absorb (something) in something else; to consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
143
supplant
to take the place or move into the position of
144
tantamount
being essentially equal to something
145
tenacious
stubbornly unyielding; difficult to dispel
146
travesty
an absurd presentation on something; a mockery
147
treacherous
tending to betray (as a person); dangerously unstable and unpredictable (as terrain)
148
unequivocal
admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meanign and leading to only one conclusion
149
vehement
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
150
vilify
to spread negative information about
151
aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm
152
abstruse
difficult to understand; incomprehensible
153
adamant
refusing to change on's mind
154
admonitory
serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
155
apocryphal
being of questionable authenticity
156
ascerbic
harsh in tone
157
blatant
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
158
bumbling
lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
159
burgeon
grow and flourish
160
confound
to cause confusion OR to mistake one thing for another
161
construe
interpret in a particular way
162
contingent
(n) a gathering of persons representative of some larger group; (adj) dependent (upon)
163
copious
in abundant supply
164
decorum
propriety in manner and conduct
165
denigrate
to treat or represent as lacking in value or importance; attack the good name and reputation of someone
166
discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
167
eradicate
to destroy completely
168
espouse
to adopt or support an idea or cause
169
exacting
requiring and demanding accuracy
170
exalt
praise or glorify
171
exonerate
to pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
172
expound
to add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
173
forthcoming
planned or about to happen in the near future OR available when required or as promised OR at ease in talking with others
174
hackneyed
lacking significance through having been overused
175
iconoclastic
defying tradition or convention
176
idiosyncrasy
a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
177
ignoble
dishonorable
178
implacable
incapable of making less hostile or angry
179
implausible
unbelievable
180
incorrigible
impervious to correction by punishment
181
indifference
the trait of seeming not to care
182
ingratiate
to gain favor with someone by deliberate efforts
183
intransigent
unwilling to change one's opinions or course of action
184
largess
extreme generosity and giving
185
laudable
worthy of high praise
186
myopic
lacking foresight or imagination
187
opaque
not clearly understood or expressed
188
ostentatious
intended to attract noise and impress others; tawdry; vulgar (Trump)
189
pedantic
a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning
190
petulant
easily irritated or annoyed
191
pragmatic
guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
192
provincial
characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
193
pundit
someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
194
reconcile
to make (one thing) compatible with (another)
195
refute
prove to be false or incorrect
196
soporific
inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
197
temperance
the trait of avoiding excesses
198
tortuous
marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
199
underscore
give extra weight to (a statement)
200
unscrupulous
without scruples or principles
201
accolade
an award or praise granted as a special honor
202
admonish
to warn strongly, even to a point of reprimanding
203
antithetical
directly opposed or contrasted
204
arbitrary
based on random, groundless decision
205
arcane
requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
206
audacity
aggressive boldness in social situations OR rudeness, impudence
207
austere
practicing self-denial
"conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere"
OR unadorned in style or appearance
"the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity"
OR harsh in manner of temperament
"an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook"
208
brazen
unrestrained by convention or propriety
209
circumscribe
restrict or confine
210
constituent
a citizen who is represented in a government by officials whom she elects; an abstract part of something
211
dilettante
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and pretends to have knowledge
212
foment
try to stir up public opinion
213
garrulous
full of trivial conversation
214
gauche
lacking social polish
215
haphazard
marked by great carelessness
216
hegemony
total dominion over an area
217
inimical
hostile (usually describes conditions or environments); OR being adverse by reason of hostility; OR having the disposition of the enemy
"an inimical alien power"
"actions inimical to our interests"
218
inscrutable
not easily understood; unfathomable
219
insolent
rude and arrogant
220
intrepid
fearless
221
inveterate
habitual
an inveterate smoker
222
irrevocable
incapable of being retracted or revoked
223
lionize
assign great social importance to
224
munificent
very generous
225
myriad
a large indefinite number
226
obsequious
attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
227
ostracize
exclude from a community or group
228
pedestrian
lacking imagination
"disenchantment with their present, pedestrian lives"
229
pernicious
exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden or injurious way
230
poignant
emotionally touching
231
precipitous
done with great haste and without due deliberation
232
prodigious
so great in size or force as to elicit awe
233
prolific
productive (as in offspring, works of art, winning games, etc.) OR present in large numbers
234
propituous
presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
235
ravenous
extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities
236
repudiate
reject as untrue or unfounded
237
rescind
to cancel officially
238
resurgent
rising again as to new life and vigor
239
reverent
feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
240
sanction
(v) give authority or permission to; OR (n) a legal penalty for a forbidden action
241
scrupulous
characterized by extreme care and great effort OR having a sense of right and wrong; principled
242
sporadic
recurring in scattered and irregular instances
243
subversive
in opposition to an established system or institution
"subversive literature"
244
sycophant
someone who tries to please a person in order to gain a personal advantage
245
taciturn
habitually reserved and uncommunicative
"after such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose"
246
tempered
moderated in effect
247
tractable
readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed
248
trite
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
249
vacillate
to be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
250
winsome
charming in a childlike or naïve way
251
anomaly
something that is not normal or standard
252
antipathy
an intense feeling of dislike or aversion
253
appease
pacify by acceding to the demands of someone
254
arduous
demanding considerable mental effort or skill; testing powers of endurance
255
askance
with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
256
banality
the fact or condition of being banal; the triteness of a remark
257
bolster
support and strengthen
258
capricious
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
259
contrition
the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad
260
craven
pathetically cowardly
261
deleterious
causing harm or damage
262
dilatory
slow to act.
"he had been dilatory in appointing a solicitor"
OR
intended to cause delay.
"they resorted to dilatory procedural tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks"
263
dispassionate
unaffected by strong emotion
264
disseminate
cause to become widely known
265
duress
compulsory force or threat
266
economical
avoiding waste; efficient
267
edifying
providing moral or intellectual instruction.
"edifying literature"
268
efficacious
producing the intended result
269
elicit
call forth
270
erudite
having or showing profound knowledge
271
esoteric
confined to an understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
272
fastidious
extremely concerned with details; fussy
"he chooses his words with fastidious care"
273
flux
a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event)
274
furtive
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
275
harried
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
276
ignominious
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame; humiliating; disgraceful
"no other party risked ignominious defeat"
277
impartial
free from bias or preconceived opinions
278
imprudent
not wise
279
indecorous
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
280
jovial
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
281
maladroit
clumsy
282
maverick
someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
283
mendacity
untruthfulness
"people publicly castigated for past mendacity"
284
mundane
repetitive and boring; not spiritual OR relating to the ordinary world
285
nonplussed
unsure how to act or respond
286
nuance
a subtle difference in opinion or meaning or attitude
287
opulence
the aesthetic of abundance; wealth shown by high living
288
pejorative
expressing disapproval (usually refers to a term)
289
placate
cause (someone) to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
290
polemic
a strong written or verbal attack on someone or something
291
posit
to assume as fact
292
rebuke
(v) criticize angrily or severely; censure OR (n) an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism
293
reproach
(v) to express criticism towards OR (n) an expression of criticism
294
specious
misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive OR superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
"the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty"
"a specious argument"
295
stringent
demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
296
sullen
showing a brooding ill humor; gloomy; bad-tempered and sulky
297
timorous
showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence
"a timorous voice"
298
transient
lasting a short time; impermanent
299
truncate
to reduce the length of something
300
misconstrue
interpret in the wrong way
301
reprove
to express disapproval
302
rebuff
express rejection
