Exam Strategist Most Common

Question 1

Prosaic

Answer 1

Adj.

Dull, commonplace, unimaginative

Root - prose - (ordinary or commonplace writing)

Question 2

Quotidian

Answer 2

Adj.

Daily, usual, or customary occurrence of something

Same cluster as prosaic. Pick quotidian if something is happening on a daily basis

Question 3

Restive

Answer 3

Adj.

Restless or uneasy. Stubborn and refusing to move forward.

Opposite of restful and rest.

Question 4

Pernicious

Answer 4

Adj.

Causing a subtle or gradual type of harm

Question 5

Diffident

Answer 5

Adj.

A type of personality, referring to a lack of confidence or self-worth. Overly restrained and perhaps reluctant or even timid

Modest, shy

Question 6

Enervate

Answer 6

Verb

Sap energy from, weaken.

Antonym to invigorate (give strength or energy to)

Question 7

Ambivalence

Answer 7

Noun

Uncertainty or having mixed feelings, often due to an inability to decide or by a desire to do conflicting things.

Usually mistaken for indifference (implies you have no particular feelings about something). Ambivalence means you feel pulled in two directions about something and can’t decide.

Question 8

Agog

Answer 8

Adj.

To be very excited about something with great eagerness, curiosity, or anticipation.

Question 9

Artless

Answer 9

Adj.

Free from deceit and without guile (sly, cunning).

Without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple

Purely positive meaning, often gets negative connotation.

Question 10

Gossamer

Answer 10

Adj

Used to refer to something very light, thin, or delicate.

Question 11

Harangue

Answer 11

Noun

A long and aggressive or vehement (forceful, passionate, intense) speech; tirade (a long angry speech of criticism or accusation) or rant.

Question 12

Insipid

Answer 12

Adj.

Lacking interest or vigor (energy).
Boring, vapid, or dull.

Sometimes mistaken with insidious (working in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects).

Question 13

Maudlin

Answer 13

Adj.

Tearfully or weakly emotional

Question 14

Nonplussed

Answer 14

Adj.

Utterly perplexed or puzzled completely.

Question 15

Urbane

Answer 15

Adj.

A person who is courteous and refined in manner

Question 16

Ersatz

Answer 16

Adj.

Typically refers to a substitute product, most of inferior quality. (Knock off)

Question 17

Anodyne

Answer 17

Adj.

Not likely to cause controversy; weakened and made bland

Question 18

Euphony

Answer 18

Noun

An agreeableness of sound, producing a pleasing effect to the ear.

Often used to describe a pleasant combination or succession of words as with poetry.

Question 19

Extant

Answer 19

Adj.

Still in existence and surviving

Question 20

Lachrymose

Answer 20

Adj.

Mournful, tear inducing, sad

Question 21

Munificent

Answer 21

Adj.

Immensly generous in an unusual way.

Not to be confused with maleficient (working to produce harm or evil).

Question 22

Nadir

Answer 22

Noun

lowest point, often used to refer to a point of great despair or adversity

Question 23

Pellucid

Answer 23

Adj.

Easily understood, clear, or lucid (clear and comprehensible) in meaning

Question 24

Philistine

Answer 24

Noun

A person who is lacking in culture or hostile to the arts

Question 25

Polemic

Answer 25

Noun A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something

Question 26

Puerile

Answer 26

Adj. Childishly silly and trivial

Question 27

Quixotic

Answer 27

Adj. Exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical

Question 28

Raconteur

Answer 28

Noun One who is skillful or gifted at storytelling.

Question 29

Soporific

Answer 29

Adj. Causing or tending to cause sleep.

Question 30

Belligerent

Answer 30

Adjective Eager or quick to argue and fight; agressively defiant. Same definition as truculent.

Question 31

Tyro

Answer 31

Noun A beginner in learning something; novice.

Question 32

Auspicious

Answer 32

Adj. Favorable, opportune, and promising of success.

Question 33

Capricious

Answer 33

Adj. Unpredictable or whimsical Sudden change in mood or behavior

Question 34

Inculpate

Answer 34

Verb To charge with wrong-doing or accuse

Question 35

Specious

Answer 35

Adj. Superficially plausible but actually wrong or incorrect. Often used to describe an argument. Misleading, deceptive, wrong

Question 36

Banal

Answer 36

Adj. Lacking in originality; obvious and boring

Question 37

Hegemony

Answer 37

Adj. Leadership or dominance over a country or group

Question 38

Alacrity

Answer 38

Noun An eager willingness to do something. It is a positive word. Eagerness, zeal

Question 39

Paucity

Answer 39

Noun Lack of something

Question 40

Innocuous

Answer 40

Adj. Harmless; not likely to produce ill effects.