Direct Hits: Toughest VocabawW Flashcards
(183 cards)
2
Q
Lambaste
A
Denounce; strongly criticize
3
Q
Quiescent
A
Marked by inactivity; in a state of quiet repose
4
Q
Provisional
A
Tentative; temporary; for the time being
5
Q
Lurid
A
Sensational; shocking; ghastly
6
Q
Pugnacious
A
Defiantly aggressive; eager to fight
7
Q
Belligerent
A
Defiantly aggressive; eager to fight
8
Q
Truculent
A
Defiantly aggressive; eager to fight
9
Q
Propitiate
A
To appease; to conciliate; to regain the favor of or goodwill of
10
Q
Élan
A
A vigorous spirit; great enthusiasm
11
Q
Perfunctory
A
In a spiritless, mechanical and routine manner
12
Q
Aplomb
A
Self-assurance; confident composure; admirable poise under pressure
13
Q
Opaque
A
Hard to understand; impenetrably dense and obscure
14
Q
Craven
A
Cowardly; CONTEMPTIBLY faint-hearted; BASE
15
Q
Venal
A
Corrupt; dishonest; open to bribery
16
Q
Licentious
A
Immoral; DISSOLUTE; DEBAUCHED
17
Q
Noxious
A
Harmful; injurious to physical, mental or moral health; PERNICIOUS
18
Q
Extraneous
A
Unnecessary; extra
19
Q
Superfluous
A
Unnecessary; extra
20
Q
Duplicitous
A
Deliberately deceptive in behavior or speech
21
Q
Profligate
A
Wasteful; SQUANDERING in time and money by living for the moment
22
Q
Epiphany
A
A sudden realization; an insightful moment
23
Q
Insidious
A
Causing harm in a SUBTLE or stealthy manner; INJURIOUS
24
Q
Inane
A
Empty; lacking in serious purpose; VAPID
25
Q
Vacuous
A
Empty; lacking in serious purpose; VAPID
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Presage
Something that FORESHADOWS a future event; an omen; a PROGNOSTIC
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Portent
Something that FORESHADOWS a future event; an omen; a PROGNOSTIC
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Harbinger
Something that FORESHADOWS a future event; an omen; a PROGNOSTIC
29
Beleaguer
To beset; to surround with problems
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Burgeon
To grow rapidly; to expand
31
Imperious
Domineering and arrogant; haughty
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Querulous
Peevish; irritable; whining or complaining in a childlike way
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Petulant
Peevish; irritable; whining or complaining in a childlike way
34
Complaisant
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; AFFABLE; AMIABLE
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Obsequious
Behaving in a SERVILE or SUBSERVIENT manner; SYCOPHANTIC; overly obedient; submissive
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Fawning
Behaving in a SERVILE or SUBSERVIENT manner; SYCOPHANTIC; overly obedient; submissive
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Intransigent
Very stubborn; OBSTINATE; unyieldingly persistent; inflexible; INTRACTABLE
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Obdurate
Very stubborn; OBSTINATE; unyieldingly persistent; inflexible; INTRACTABLE
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Reminiscent
Having a strong specific smell; bringing to mind; suggestive of
40
Redolent
Having a strong specific smell; bringing to mind; suggestive of
41
Chicanery
Deception by SUBTERFUGE; deliberate trickery and ARTIFICE
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Conundrum
A difficult problem; a dilemma with no easy solution
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Slight
To treat in a disparaging manner; to deliberately ignore; to disrespect
44
Capitulate
To surrender; to comply without protest
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Disheartening
Very discouraging; dismaying; dispiriting
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Apocryphal
Of doubtful authenticity; false; SPURIOUS
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Magisterial
Learned and authoritative
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Pliable
Flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside influences or forces
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Malleable
Flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside influences or forces
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Plastic
Flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside influences or forces
51
Chagrin
The feeling of distress caused by humiliation, failure, or embarrassment
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Obstreperous
Noisily and stubbornly defiant; unruly; boisterous
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Idyllic
Charmingly simple and carefree
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Dilapidated
In a state of disrepair; broken-down; in deplorable condition
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Improvise
To lecture or speak without notes in an IMPROMPTU way
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Extemporize
To lecture or speak without notes in an IMPROMPTU way
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Myriad
Many; numerous
58
Ungainly
Awkward; clumsy; NOT graceful
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Dilatory
Habitually late; tardy
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Vituperative
Characterized by verbal abuse and bitter criticism
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Discordant
Not in harmony; incompatible; at variance with; as in a detail that doesn't fit a pattern
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Perfidy
Deliberate breach of faith or trust; disloyalty
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Perfidious
Treacherous; traitorous; deceitful; faithless
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Proliferate
To increase rapidly
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Resolute
Very determined; unwavering
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Indomitable,
Very determined; unwavering
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Moribund
Approaching death; about to become OBSOLETE
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Nuance
A SUBTLE shade of meaning or feeling a degree of difference
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Facetious
Treating serious matters with lighthearted humor or lack of respect
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Flippant
Treating serious matters with lighthearted humor or lack of respect
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Credulous
Easily convinced; tending to believe too readily; GULLIBLE
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Incredulous
Disbelieving, SKEPTICAL
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Florid
Flowery in style; very ORNATE
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Scathing
Expressing strong disapproval; condemning; loudly DECRYING
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Excoriating
Expressing strong disapproval; condemning; loudly DECRYING
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Interloper
An intruder; a gatecrasher
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Cerebral
Intellectual rather than emotional
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Visceral
Instinctive rather than rational
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Confounded
Utterly PERPLEXED; completely puzzled; totally bewildered
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Nonplussed
Utterly PERPLEXED; completely puzzled; totally bewildered
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Ignonimous
Humiliating; shameful; disgraceful
82
Euphony
Soothing or pleasant sounds; harmony
83
Cacophany
Harsh, clashing, jarring, grating sounds; disharmony
84
Vacillate
To WAVER; to hesitate; to swing back and forth; to be indecisive
85
Timorous
Showing nervousness or fear
86
Narcissist
A person with a psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of EMPATHY, vanity, and a feeling of self-entitlement
87
Impudent
Boldly insulting; brash; rude
88
Insolent
Boldly insulting; brash; rude
89
Idiosyncrasy
A trait or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual
90
Captious
Highly critical; fault-finding
91
Censorious
Highly critical; fault-finding
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Consternation
A state of great dismay and confusion
93
Didactic
Tending to give instruction or advice; inclined to teach or lecture others too much; containing a political or moral lesson
94
Elucidate
To make clear or plan, especially by explanation
95
Effusive
Expressing excessive emotion in an unrestrained manner; gushing
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Prolific
Very productive
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Furor
A general commotion; an uproar
98
Paranoia
A tendency toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness; irrational fear; delusions of persecution
99
Peripheral
Of secondary importance; NOT central; on the perimeter
100
Marginal
Of secondary importance; NOT central; on the perimeter
101
Obfuscate
To deliberately confuse; to make something so confusing that it is hard to understand
102
Flummoxed
Confused or perplexed; utterly dumbfounded
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Spate
A large number or amount
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Ineffable
Too overwhelming to be put into words; indescribable; inexpressible
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Overwrought
Excessively dramatic or MELODRAMATIC; theatrical; overacted
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Histrionic
Excessively dramatic or MELODRAMATIC; theatrical; overacted
107
Placate
To soothe or calm; to appease
108
Eschew
To avoid; to shun; to stay clear of
109
Stopgap
A temporary solution designed to meet an urgent need
110
Flotsam
The floating wreckage of a ship; debris
111
Jetsam
Part of a ship, its cargo or equipment that is purposefully thrown overboard or JETTISONED to lighten the load in an emergency and that sinks or is washed up on shore.
112
Surly
Ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility
113
Sullen
Ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility
114
Churlish
Ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility
115
Restitution
The act of making good or compensating for a loss, damage or injury
116
Disquieting
Disturbing; upsetting; vexing; causing unease; worrisome
117
Ornate
Characterized by elaborate and expensive decorations; LAVISH
118
Repugnant
Detestable; repulsive; extremely bad
119
Odious
Detestable; repulsive; extremely bad
120
Execrable
Detestable; repulsive; extremely bad
121
Discerning
Insightful, perceptive
122
Prescient
Insightful, perceptive
123
Perspicacious
Insightful, perceptive
124
Eclectic
Choosing or using a variety of sources
125
Hiatus
An interruption in time or continuity; a break
126
Vertiginous
Characterized by or suffering from dizziness; having VERTIGO
127
Esoteric, Arcane
Characterized by knowledge that is known only to a small group of specialists; obscure; RECONDITE; ABSTRUSE
128
Supercilious
Showing haughty DISDAIN or arrogant superiority
129
Blithe
Joyous; sprightly; mirthful; light; vivacious
130
Underwrite
To assume financial responsibility for
131
Discomfited
Uneasy; in a state of embarassment
132
Taciturn
Habitually quiet; uncommunicative
133
Sinecure
An office or position that provides an income for little or no work
134
Cosmopolitan
Worldly; sophisticated; open-minded and aware of the big picture
135
Insular
Limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope and outlook
136
Parochial
Limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope and outlook
137
Provincial
Limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope and outlook
138
Lugubrious
Sad, mournful, MELANCHOLIC
139
Fecund
Intellectually productive or inventive; fertile
140
Ostentatious
Showy, intended to attract notice, PRETENTIOUS
141
Guile
Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit; DUPLICITY
142
Sanguine
Cheerfully confident; optimistic
143
Scintillating
Sparkling; shining; brilliantly clever
144
Pristine
Remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization
145
Rampant
Unrestrained, unchecked
146
Pernicious
Highly INJURIOUS; destructive; deadly
147
Oblivious
Lacking conscious awareness; unmindful; unaware
148
Refractory
RECALCITRANT; OBSTINATELY resistant to authority; hard to manage
149
Voluble
Annoyingly talkative; speaking INCESSANTLY; babbling
150
Loquacious
Annoyingly talkative; speaking INCESSANTLY; babbling
151
Verbose
Annoyingly talkative; speaking INCESSANTLY; babbling
152
Garrulous
Annoyingly talkative; speaking INCESSANTLY; babbling
153
Convivial
Sociable; fond of feasting, drinking and good company
154
Curt
Abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt
155
Brusque
Abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt
156
Tepid
Lukewarm; mild; half-hearted
157
Protean
Readily taking on varied forms and meanings
158
Solicitous
Showing great care and concern; attentive
159
Ingenuous
Free from deviousness, innocent, NAìVE; GUILELESS; sincere
160
Disingenuous
INSINCERE; NOT CANDID; NOT straightforward; calculating; OBLIQUE
161
Revere
To regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem
162
Venerate
To regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem
163
Contentious
Quarrelsome; argumentative; likely to provoke a controversy; DISPUTATIOUS
164
Preclude
To make impossible; to rule out; to prevent
165
Penitence
Feelings of sincere and deep regret
166
Remorse
Feelings of sincere and deep regret
167
Contrition
Feelings of sincere and deep regret
168
Compunction
Feelings of sincere and deep regret
169
Demography
The study of the characteristics of human populations
170
Axiom
A statement that is universally accepted as true; a MAXIM
171
Aphorism
A statement that is universally accepted as true; a MAXIM
172
Juxtapose
To place side by side or in close PROXIMITY (nearness)
173
Juxtaposition
The position of being close together or side by side
174
Bombastic
POMPOUS of PRETENTIOUS in speech or writing; OSTENTATIOUSLY lofty in style
175
Forbearance
Abstaining from the enforcement of a right; the act of refraining from acting on a desire or impulse
176
Unfettered
Free of restraint of any kind; liberated
177
Prescribe
To require; to order; to direct
178
Proscribe
To forbid; to prohibit; to outlaw
179
Sophomoric
Childishly foolish; inexperienced; immature
180
Callow
Childishly foolish; inexperienced; immature
181
Puerile
Childishly foolish; inexperienced; immature
182
Pellucid
Clear, transparent, DIAPHANOUS, LIMPID
183
Pugilist
A boxer, one who fights with his fists
184
Impugn
To fight against, attack, challenge the motives of
