High Frequency Words Flashcards
(308 cards)
1
Q
aberrant
A
adj, markedly different from an accepted norm
2
Q
aberration
A
noun, a deviation from what is normal or expected
3
Q
abstain
A
verb, choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)
4
Q
abstruse
A
adj, difficult to understand; incomprehensible
5
Q
accolade
A
noun, an award or praise granted as a special honor
6
Q
acerbic
A
adj, harsh in tone
7
Q
acrimony
A
noun, bitterness and ill will
8
Q
adamant
A
adj, refusing to change one’s mind
9
Q
admonish
A
verb, to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding
10
Q
admonitory
A
adj, serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
11
Q
aesthete
A
noun, one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature
12
Q
aesthetic (adj)
A
adj, concerned with the appreciation of beauty
13
Q
aesthetic (noun)
A
noun, a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement
14
Q
amalgam
A
noun, a mixture of multiple things
15
Q
ambiguous
A
adj, open to more than one interpretation
16
Q
ambivalent
A
adj, mixed or conflicting emotions about something
17
Q
ameliorate
A
verb, make something bad better
18
Q
amenable
A
adj, easily persuaded
19
Q
amorphous
A
adj, shapeless
20
Q
anomalous
A
adj, not normal
21
Q
anomaly
A
noun, something that is not normal, standard, or expected
22
Q
antipathy
A
noun, an intense feeling of dislike or aversion
23
Q
antithetical
A
adj, sharply contrasted in character or purpose
24
Q
apathetic
A
adj, marked by a lack of interest
25
apathy
noun, an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
26
apocryphal
adj, being of questionable authenticity
27
appease
verb, pacify by acceding to the demands of
28
arbitrary
adj, based on a random, groundless decision
29
arcane
adj, requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
30
arduous
adj, demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance
31
artful
adj, exhibiting artistic skill or clever in a cunning way
32
ascetic (adj)
adj, practicing self-denial
33
ascetic (noun)
one who practices great self-denial
34
askance
adv, with a look of suspicion or disapproval
35
audacious
adj, willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks
36
audacity
noun, aggressive boldness in social situations
37
auspicious
adj, favorable, the opposite of sinister
38
austere
adj, unadorned in style or appearance or harsh in manner of temperament
39
avaricious
adj, excessively greedy
40
banal
adj, repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
41
banality
noun, a trite or obvious remark
42
belie
verb, to give a false representation to; misrepresent
43
belligerent
adj, characteristic of one eager to fight
44
betray
verb, to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally
45
blatant
adj, without any attempt at concealment, completely obvious
46
bolster
verb, support and strengthen
47
brazen
adj, unrestrained by convention or propriety
48
bucolic
adj, relating to the pleasant aspects of the country
49
bumbling
adj, lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
50
burgeon
verb, grow and flourish
51
calumny
noun, making of a false statement meant to injure a person's reputation
52
capricious
adj, determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
53
castigate
verb, to reprimand harshly
54
censure
verb, to express strong disapproval
55
chastise
verb, to reprimand harshly
56
chortle
verb, to chuckle, laugh merrily
57
circumscribe
verb, restrict or confine
58
circumvent
verb, cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations
59
commensurate
adj, to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
60
concede
verb, acknowledge defeat or admit (to a wrongdoing) or give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
61
confound
verb, be confusing or perplexing to or mistake one thing for another
62
conscpicuous
adj, without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
63
constituent
noun, a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes or an abstract part of something
64
construe
verb, interpreted in a particular way
65
contingent
noun, a gathering of persons representative of some larger group or possible but not certain to occur
66
contrition
noun, the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad
67
contrive
verb, to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
68
copious
adj, in abundant supply
69
craven
adj, pathetically cowardly
70
cryptic
adj, mysterious or vague, usually intentionally
71
culminate
verb, reach the highest or most decisive point
72
culpability
noun, a state of guilt
73
decorous
adj, characterized. by good taste in manners and conduct
74
decorum
noun, propriety in manners and conduct
75
deferential
adj, showing respect
76
deleterious
adj, harmful to living things
77
delineate
verb, describe in detail
78
demur
verb, to object or show reluctance
79
denigrate
verb, charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
80
denote
verb, be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
81
derivative
adj, (of a creative product, e.g. music, writing, etc.) not original but drawing on the work of another person
82
derive
verb, come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example or reason by deduction; establish by deduction
83
dictatorial
adj, expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler
84
didactic
adj, intructive (especially excessively)
85
diffident
adj, showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
86
dilatory
adj, wasting time
87
dilettante
noun, an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
88
disaffected
adj, discontented as toward authority
89
discrete
adj, constituting a separate entity or part
90
disinterested
adj, unbiased; neutral
91
dispassionate
adj, unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
92
disseminate
verb, cause to become widely known
93
dogmatic
adj, highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct
94
duress
noun, compulsory force or threat
95
eclectic
adj, comprised of a variety of styles
96
economical
adj, avoiding waste, efficient
97
edifying
adj, enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
98
efficacious
adj, producing the intended result
99
egregious
adj, standing out in a negative way; shockingly bad
100
elicit
verb, call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
101
elucidate
verb, make clearer and easier to understand
102
eminent
adj, standing above others in quality or position
103
enervate
verb, to sap energy from
104
engender
verb, give rise to
105
entrenched
adj, fixed firmly or securely
106
ephemeral
adj, lasting a very short time
107
equivocal
adj, confusing or ambiguous
108
eradicate
verb, to completely destroy
109
erudite
adj, having or showing profound knowledge
110
eschew
verb, avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
111
esoteric
adj, confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
112
espouse
verb, to adopt or support an idea or cause
113
exacerbate
verb, make worse
114
exacting
adj, requiring and demanding accuracy
115
exalt
verb, praise or glorify
116
exonerate
verb, pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
117
expound
verb, add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
118
extant
adj, the opposite of extinct
119
fallacious
adj, of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
120
fastidious
adj, overly concerned with details; fussy
121
flux
noun, a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event)
122
foment
verb, try to stir up public opinion
123
forlorn
adj, marked by or showing hopelessness
124
forthcoming
adj, marked by or showing hopelessness or available when required or as promised
125
fortuitous
adj, occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause
126
frivolous
adj, not serious in content or attitude or behavior
127
frugal
adj, not spending much money (but spending wisely)
128
frustrate
verb, hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
129
furtive
adj, marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
130
gainsay
verb, deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
131
gall
noun, the trait of being rude and impertinent or feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
132
galvanize
noun, feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
133
garrulous
adj, full of trivial conversation
134
gauche
adj, lacking social polish
135
germane
adj, relevant and appropriate
136
glut (noun)
an excessive supply
137
glut (verb)
supply with an excess of
138
gossamer
adj, characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
139
gregarious
adj, to be likely to socialize with others
140
guileless
adj, free of deceit
141
hackneyed
adj, lacking significance through having been overused
142
haphazard
adj, marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance
143
harangue (verb)
to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade
144
harangue (noun)
a long pompous speech; a tirade
145
harried
adj, troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
146
haughty
adj, having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
147
hegemony
adj. dominance over a certain area
148
heretic
noun, a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
149
iconoclast
noun, somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
150
iconoclastic
adj, defying tradition or convention
151
idiosyncrasy
noun, a behavior attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
152
ignoble
adj, dishonorable
153
ignominious
adj, (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
154
immutable
adj, not able to be changed
155
impartial
adj, free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
156
impertinent
adj, being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
157
implacable
adj, incapable of making less angry or hostile
158
implausible
adj, describing a statement that is not believable
159
imprudent
adj, not wise
160
impudent
adj, improperly forward or bold
161
incisive
adj, having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
162
incongruous
adj, lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
163
incorrigible
adj, impervious to correction by punishment
164
indecorous
adj, not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
165
indifference
noun, the trait of seeming not to care
166
inexorable
adj, impossible to stop or prevent
167
ingenuous
adj, to be naive and innocent
168
ingratiate
verb, gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforsts
169
inimical
adj, hostile (usually describes conditions or environments)
170
innocuous
adj, harmless and doesn't produce any ill effects
171
inscrutable
adj, not easily understood, unfathomable
172
insidious
adj, working in a subtle but destructive way
173
insolent
adj, rude and arrogant
174
intimate
verb, to suggest something subtly
175
intransigent
adj, unwilling to change one's beliefs or course of action
176
intrepid
adj, fearless
177
inveterate
adj, habitual
178
involved
adj, complicated, and difficult to comprehend
179
irrevocable
adj, incapable of being retracted or revoked
180
itinerant
adj, traveling from place to place to work
181
jingoism
noun, fanatical patriotism
182
jovial
adj, full of or showing high-spirited merriment
183
jubilant
adj, full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success
184
juxtapose
verb, place side by side
185
laconic
adj, one who says very few words
186
lambast
verb, criticize severely or angrily
187
languid
adj, not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
188
largess
noun, extreme generosity and giving
189
laudable
adj, worthy of high praise
190
lionize
verb, assign great social importance to
191
magnanimous
adj, noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful
192
maintain
verb, to assert
193
maladroit
adj, clumsy
194
maverick
noun, someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
195
mawkish
adj, overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
196
mendacity
noun, the tendency to be untruthful
197
mercurial
adj, (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood
198
meticulous
adj, marked by extreme care in treatment of details
199
misconstrue
verb, interpret in the wrong way
200
mitigate
verb, make less severe or harsh or lessen the severity of an offense
201
mollify
verb, to make someone angry less angry; placate
202
mundane
adj, repetitive and boring; not spiritual or relating to the ordinary world
203
munificent
adj, very generous
204
myopic
adj, lacking foresight or imagination
205
myriad
noun, a large indefinite number
206
negligible
adj, so amll as to be meaningless; insignificant
207
nonplussed
verb, unsure how to act or respond
208
nuance
noun, a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
209
obscure (verb)
make unclear
210
obscure (adj)
known by only a few
211
obsequious
adj, attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
212
opaque
adj, not clearly understood or expressed
213
opulence
noun, wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
214
ostentatious
adj, intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar
215
ostracize
verb, exclude from a community or group
216
panache
noun, distinctive and stylish elegance
217
parochial
adj, narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
218
parsimonious
adj, extremely frugal; miserly
219
pedantic
adj, marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
220
pedestrian
adj, lacking imagination
221
pejorative
adj, expressing disapproval (refers to a term)
222
perfidy
noun, an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of trust
223
pernicious
adj, exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way
224
petulant
adj, easily irritated or annoyed
225
placate
verb, cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
226
platitude
noun, a trite or obvious remark
227
poignant
adj, emotionally touching
228
polemic
noun, a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
229
posit
verb, assume as fact
230
pragmatic
adj, guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
231
precipitous
adj, done with very great haste and without due deliberation
232
preclude
verb, keep from happening or arising; make impossible
233
precocious
adj, characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
234
predilection
noun, a strong liking
235
prescience
noun, the power to foresee the future
236
prevaricate
verb, to speak in an evasive way
237
prodigal
adj, rashly or wastefully extravagant
238
prodigious
adj, so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
239
profligate (adj)
spending money recklessly or wastefully
240
profligate (noun)
someone who spends money recklessly or wastefully
241
prolific
adj, intellectually productive
242
propitious
adj, presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
243
provincial
adj, characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
244
pundit
noun, someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
245
qualify (adj)
to be legally competent or capable
246
qualify (verb)
to make less severe; to limit (a statement)
247
querulous
adj, habitually complaining
248
quotidian
adj, found in the ordinary course of events
249
ravenous
adj, extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities
250
rebuke
verb, criticize severely or angrily; censure
251
recondite
adj, difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
252
reconcile
verb, make (one thing) compatible with (another)
253
refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
254
refute
verb, prove to be false or incorrect
255
reproach
verb, to express criticism towards
256
repudiate
verb, reject as untrue or unfounded
257
rescind
verb, cancel officially
258
restive
adj, restless
259
resurgent
adj, rising again as to new life and vigor
260
reticent
adj, reluctant to draw attention to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk
261
reverent
adj, feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
262
rudimentary
adj, being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
263
rustic
adj, characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
264
sanction (verb)
give authority or permission to
265
sanction (noun)
a legal penalty for a forbidden action
266
scrupulous
adj, characterized by extreme care and great effort or having a sense of right and wrong; principled
267
soporific
adj, inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
268
specious
adj, based on pretense; deceptively pleasing or plausible but false
269
sporadic
adj, recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
270
spurious
adj, plausible but false
271
staunch
adj, firm and dependable especially in loyalty
272
stringent
adj, demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
273
subsume
verb, contain or include or consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
274
subversive
adj, in opposition to a civil authority or government
275
sullen
adj, showing a brooding ill humor
276
superfluous
adj, serving no useful purpose or more than is needed, desired, or required
277
supplant
verb, take the place or move into the position of
278
sycophant
noun, a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
279
taciturn
adj, habitually reserved and uncommunicative
280
tantamount
adj, being essentially equal to something
281
temperance
noun, the trait of avoiding excesses
282
tempered
adj, moderated in effect
283
tenacious
adj, stubbornly unyielding
284
timorous
adj, timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness
285
torpor
noun, inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy
286
tortuous
adj, marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
287
tractable
asj, readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
288
transient
adj, lasting a very short time
289
travesty
noun, an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
290
treacherous
adj, tending to betray or dangerously unstable and unpredictable
291
trite
adj, repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
292
truncate
verb, reduce the length of something
293
undermine
adj, to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)
294
underscore
verb, give extra weight to (a communication)
295
unequivocable
adj, admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
296
unscrupulous
adj, without scruples or principles
297
upbraid
verb, to reproach; to scold
298
vacillate
verb, be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
299
vehement
adj, marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
300
venality
noun, the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
301
venerate
verb, to respect deeply
302
veracious
adj, truthful
303
vilify
verb, spread negative information about
304
vindicate
verb, to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments of proof
305
vociferous
adj, conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
306
volubility
noun, the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
307
wanting
adj, lacking
308
winsome
adj, charming in a childlike or naive way
