Direct Hits: Core Vocab Flashcards
(149 cards)
1
Q
ambivalent
A
having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time
2
Q
anomaly
A
deviation from the norm or what is expected
3
Q
anomalous
A
atypical, full of anomalies
4
Q
sarcastic
A
mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging
5
Q
snide
A
mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging
6
Q
sardonic
A
mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging
7
Q
dearth
A
a scarcity of something
8
Q
paucity
A
a scarcity of something
9
Q
prattle
A
to speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly
10
Q
wry
A
dry humor
11
Q
droll
A
dry humor
12
Q
unorthodox
A
not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors
13
Q
meticulous
A
extremely careful; very exacting
14
Q
painstaking
A
extremely careful; very exacting
15
Q
fastidious
A
extremely careful; very exacting
16
Q
audacious
A
fearless, often recklessly daring; very bold
17
Q
apathetic
A
marked by a lack of interest or concern
18
Q
diffident
A
hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence
19
Q
self-effacing
A
hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence
20
Q
pragmatic
A
practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic
21
Q
evocation
A
an imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth
22
Q
presumptuous
A
taking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold
23
Q
recalcitrant
A
stubbornly resistant and defiant; obstinate; obdurate; refractory; disobedient
24
Q
obstinate
A
stubbornly resistant and defiant
25
obdurate
stubbornly resistant and defiant
26
refractory
stubbornly resistant and defiant
27
boon
a timely benefit; a blessing
28
bane
a source of harm and ruin
29
clandestine
secret; covert
30
surreptitious
secret; covert
31
gregarious
agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly; affable; amiable; genial
32
austere
having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ornate
33
austerity
great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack of adornment
34
altruism
unselfish concern for the welfare of others
35
ambiguity
the state or quality of having more than one possible meaning
36
ambiguous
unclear; uncertain; open to more than one possible interpretation; not definitive
37
upbraid
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
38
castigate
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
39
reproach
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
40
censure
to express disapproval; scold; rebuke
41
nostalgia
a wistful, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past
42
auspicious
very favorable
43
propitious
very favorable; auspicious
44
morose
very depressed; despondent; mournful
45
impasse
a deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
46
anachronism
false assignment of an event, person, or object to a time period when it doesn't exist
47
belie
to contradict; to misrepresent; to prove to be false
48
mitigate
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
49
mollify
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
50
assuage
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
51
alleviate
to relieve; to lesson; to ease
52
covet
to strongly desire; to crave
53
covetous
grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something
54
antithesis
exact opposite; extreme contrast
55
antithetical
exactly opposite; antipodal
56
trite
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
57
hackneyed
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
58
banal
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
59
platitudinous
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
60
insipid
unoriginal, commonplace; overused; cliched
61
antecedent
a preceding event; a forerunner
62
plausible
believable; credible
63
implausible
unbelievable; incredible
64
prudent
careful; cautious; sensible
65
aesthetic
pertaining to beauty
66
paradox
a seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth
67
enigmatic
mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
68
inscrutable
mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
69
acquiesce
to comply; agree; give in
70
autonomy
independent; self-governing
71
futile
completely useless; doomed to failure; in vain
72
indigenous
native to an area
73
endemic
native to an area
74
ubiquitous
characterized by being everywhere
75
prevalent
characterized by being everywhere
76
omnipresent
characterized by being everywhere
77
pandemic
an epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large portion of the population
78
fortitude
strength of mind that allows one to endure in times of pain or adversity with courage
79
diminutive
very small
80
trivial
trifling; unimportant; insignificant
81
minutiae
minor everyday details
82
exhort
to encourage; urge; implore
83
antipathy
strong dislike; ill will; the state of detesting something; rancor; enmity
84
digress
to wander from a subject
85
tenacious
characterized by holding fast; showing great determination in holding on to something valued
86
indulgent
characterized by excessive generosity; overly tolerant
87
polarize
to create disunity or dissension; to break up into opposing factions or group; to be divisive
88
nebulous
vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully developed form
89
analogous
comparable in certain respects
90
ephemeral
very brief; lasting for a short time
91
fleeting
very brief; lasting for a short time
92
perennial
returning year after year; enduring
93
penchant
a natural liking or preference for something; inclination; propensity
94
predilection
a natural liking or preference for something; inclination; propensity
95
capricious
very changeable; fickle
96
mercurial
characterized by constantly-shifting moods
97
boorish
vulgar; crude, deplorable
98
crass
vulgar; crude, deplorable
99
uncouth
vulgar; crude, deplorable
100
indignant
characterized by outrage at something perceived as unjust
101
innuendo
a veiled reference; an insinuation
102
thwart
to frustrate; to stop; to prevent
103
stymie
to frustrate; to stop; to prevent
104
adroit
skillful; dexterous; nimble
105
adept
skillful; dexterous; nimble
106
deft
skillful; dexterous; nimble
107
admonish
to earnestly caution; to warn another to avoid a course of action
108
earnest
resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
109
incontrovertible
indisputable; beyond doubt
110
voracious
having a huge insatiable appetite
111
callous
emotionally hardened; insensitive; unfeeling
112
intrepid
courageous, resolute, and fearless
113
nonchalant
having an air of casual indifference
114
convoluted
winding, twisting, and difficult to understand; intricate
115
itinerant
migrating from place to place; not sedentary
116
poignant
moving; touching; heartrending
117
impetus
a stimulus or encouragement that results in increased activity
118
bucolic
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
119
rustic
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
120
pastoral
characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
121
equanimity
calmness; composure; even-temperedness; poise
122
verve
great vigor and energy;
123
panache
dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
124
provocative
provoking discussion; stimulating controversy; arousing a reaction
125
placid
calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
126
serene
calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
127
fortuitous
of accidental but fortunate occurrence; having unexpected good fortune
128
dispel
to drive away; scatter a misconception
129
amalgam
mixture; blend; combination of different elements
130
viable
capable of being accomplished; possible
131
feasible
capable of being accomplished; possible
132
anguish
agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
133
intemperate
lacking restraint; excessive
134
temperate
exercising moderation or restraint
135
superficial
shallow; lacking in depth; concerned with surface appearances
136
laud
to praise, applaud
137
extol
to praise, applaud
138
tout
to praise, applaud
139
acclaim
to praise, applaud
140
dismissive
showing indifference or disregard; rejecting
141
disparage
to speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle
142
pompous
filled with excessive self-importance; pretentious; ostentatious
143
cryptic
having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious
144
subtle
difficult to detect; faint; mysterious; likely to elude perception
145
disparity
an inequality; a gap; an imbalance
146
curtail
to cut short or reduce
147
innocuous
harmless; unlikely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility
148
diatribe
a bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack
149
tirade
a bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack
