Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Verbal Advantage > Level 4 > Flashcards

Level 4 Flashcards

1
Q

1.PROVIDENT (PRAH-vi-dint)

A

Thrifty, economical, saving or providing for future needs. Synonyms: prudent (Level l, Word 47), frugal (Level 2, Word 35). Related word: provide.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q
  1. IMPUTE (im-PYOOT)
A

To charge or attribute, especially with a fault or misconduct, lay the responsibility or blame upon, ascribe, assign. Usage tip: The verb to credit has a favorable connotation. The verbs to assign and to ascribe are neutral. The verb to impute often has a negative connotation: “We usually ascribe good, but impute evil” (Samuel Johnson). Corresponding noun: imputation, a charge or accusation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q
  1. ASTUTE (uh-ST(Y)OOT)
A

Shrewd, clever, perceptive, discerning, acute, keenly aware, quick-witted. Synonyms: sagacious, perspicacious, sapient (SAY-pee-int).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q
  1. NEOPHYTE (NEE-uh-fyt)
A

A beginner, novice, amateur, tyro; specifically, a new member of or convert to a religion. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words tyro, amateur, dilettante, novice, and neophyte.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q
  1. ENIGMA (i-NIG-muh)
A

A mystery, puzzle, riddle; perplexing problem; something or someone hard to understand or explain; anything baffling, inexplicable, or inscrutable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q
  1. CREDENCE (KREE-dins)
A

Belief, acceptance, especially belief in a published report or acceptance of another’s opinion or testimony. Related words: credence, creed, credible, and credulous all come from the Latin credere, to believe. Usage tip: Credence is often used with the verbs to give or lend.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q
  1. VENERATE (VEN-uh-rayt)
A

To respect deeply, revere, regard with awe and adoration. Corresponding adjective: venerable, worthy of veneration, of being venerated. Venerable is often used of something or someone old or long-established.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q
  1. GARRULOUS (GAR-uh-lus, also GAR-yuh-lus)
A

Talkative, especially in a rambling, annoying, pointless, or long-winded way. Synonyms: verbose (Level 2, Word 30), loquacious, voluble (Level 5, Word 1), and prolix (Level 9, Word 1). Antonyms: reserved, reticent, taciturn (Level 3, Word 2), laconic (Level 3, Word 18).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q
  1. TRENCHANT (TREN-chent)
A

Keen, penetrating, vigorously effective, sharp and to the point. Synonyms: forceful, acute, incisive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q
  1. AUTONOMOUS (aw-TAHN-uh-mus)
A

Independent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else. Related words: autocracy, rule by one self or one personhence, dictatorship, tyranny, despotism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q
  1. PANACEA (PAN-uh-SEE-uh)
A

A cure-all, universal antidote, remedy for all diseases and difficulties. This prefix appears in front of a number of useful English words, including panorama, pantheism, and pantheon.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q
  1. EPHEMERAL (e-FEM-ur-ul)
A

Short-lived, passing, fleeting, lasting for a short time. Synonyms: transitory, evanescent, fugitive, fugacious. For more on these words, review the discussion of transient (Level 2, Word 31). Usage tip: The common expression “daily journal” is redundant, for by derivation journal (from the French jour, day) means something written or published each day.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q
  1. ONEROUS (AHN-ur-us)
A

Burdensome, troublesome, oppressive, hard to bear, difficult to accomplish or endure. Related word: onus (OH-nus, rhymes with bonus), a burden, obligation, especially a disagreeable responsibility.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q
  1. LAITY (LAY-i-tee)
A

Nonprofessionals, laypeople collectively, all the people outside of a given profession or specialized field; specifically, all who do not belong to the clergy, religious worshipers in general. Corresponding adjective: lay, nonprofessional, not belonging to a particular profession; specifically, not a member of the clergy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q
  1. PUNGENT (PUN-jint)
A

Sharp, penetrating, biting, acrid, caustic. Pungent may refer to that which is sharp to the sense of taste or smell or to that which penetrates the mind or emotions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q
  1. PROSAIC (proh-ZAY-ik)
A

Dull, ordinary, uninteresting, unimaginative. Synonyms: commonplace, humdrum, tedious, dry, stale, mediocre, matter-of-fact, insipid, pedestrian, vapid, jejune (Level 10, Word 1).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q
  1. CHARLATAN (SHAR-luh-tinA)
A

fake, quack, impostor, fraud, humbug; specifically, a person who pretends to have a special skill or knowledge. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words charlatan and mountebank, which are close in meaning.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q
  1. PERFUNCTORY (pur-FUNGK-tuh-ree)
A

Mechanical, routine, listless; done merely as a duty; performed in an indifferent, halfhearted, superficial, and often careless way, without interest or enthusiasm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q
  1. MORASS (muh-RAS or maw-RAS)
A

Literally, a swamp, marsh, bog; figuratively, some-thing that traps, confines, or confuses, a sticky situation or troublesome state of affairs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q
  1. SOPHISTRY (SAH-fis-tree)
A

Deceptive reasoning, subtle and misleading argument. Related word: sophisticated. Corresponding adjective: sophistic or sophistical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Useful word: lexicographer (LEKS-i-KAHG-ruh-fur)

A

a person who writes or edits a dictionary.

22
Q
  1. PROLIFIC (proh-LIF-ik)
A

Fruitful, fertile, productive. Antonyms: unproductive, barren, sterile, impotent, effete.

23
Q
  1. MUNDANE (muhn-DAYN)
A

Of the world, worldly, earthly, material as distinguished from spiritual. Synonyms: terrestrial, temporal, secular, sublunary (suhb-LOO-nuh-ree). Antonyms: lofty, heavenly, sublime, celestial, ethereal, extraterrestrial. Usage tip: Some usage experts object to the use of mundane as a synonym of ordinary, humdrum, commonplace, banal, unimaginative, and prosaic. In strict usage, mundane is reserved for things that are worldly as opposed to heavenly, material as opposed to spiritual, secular as opposed to religious.

24
Q
  1. MYRIAD (MIR-ee-id)
A

Countless, innumerable, infinite, consisting of a great or indefinite number. Corresponding noun: myriad, a great or indefinite number.

25
Q
  1. DISSIDENT (DIS-uh-dint)
A

Disagreeing, disaffected, dissenting, nonconformist. Corresponding noun: dissident, a person who disagrees with a prevailing opinion, method, or doctrine.

26
Q
  1. LAUDABLE (LAW-duh-buul)
A

Praiseworthy, commendable, worthy of approval or admiration. Synonyms: meritorious, estimable. Antonyms: contemptible, deplorable, ignominious. Corresponding verb: laud, to praise, commend, extol (ek-STOHL).

27
Q
  1. INIMITABLE (in-IM-i-tuh-buul)
A

Unable to be imitated, copied, or reproduced; beyond compare. Synonyms: matchless, unrivaled, peerless, unparalleled, surpassing. Etymology tip: The prefix in- often means “in” or “into,” as in the words inhale, to breathe in; ingrain, to rub in, fix in the mind; and ingress, the way in, the entrance.

28
Q
  1. JADED (JAY-did)
A

Worn out, tired, fatigued, weary, exhausted. Related words and usage tip: One meaning of the noun jade is a worn-out or brokendown horse, a nag. The verb to jade means to be or become like a worn-out or brokendown horse. The adjective jaded means like that broken-down horse; specifically, worn out from overwork or overindulgence.

29
Q
  1. MYOPIC (my-AHP-ik)
A

Short-sighted; not able to see the long-range picture; having a narrow or circumscribed view; lacking discernment, foresight, or perspective. Synonyms: narrowminded, purblind, obtuse. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the adjectives purblind, obtuse, and myopic. Antonyms: broadminded, liberal, tolerant, catholic, latitudinarian Corresponding noun: myopia (my-OH-pee-uh), nearsightedness.

30
Q
  1. DEMONSTRABLE (di-MAHN-struh-buul)
A

(1) Capable of being demonstrated, able to be proved. (2) Obvious, apparent, self-evident. Corresponding verb: demonstrate.

31
Q
  1. CALLOW (KAL-oh)
A

Immature, inexperienced, unsophisticated, green, naive, lacking experience in and knowledge of the world. N.B. Callow was formerly used of very young birds to mean without feathers, unfledged. Today callow and the word fledgling are used of persons, behavior, or things that are immature or inexperienced. A fledgling is a young bird that has just acquired its feathers and is learning to fly. From that original sense fledgling has come to refer either to a young and inexperienced person or to some thing that is just getting off the ground, as a fledgling enterprise. Callow suggests an immaturity or inexperience manifested by a lack of sophistication. Because callow means immature, it sometimes also suggests childishness or foolishness. Synonyms of callow in this unfavorable sense include juvenile, sophomoric, and puerile (PYOOR-ul or PYOO-ur-ul).

32
Q
  1. ACQUIESCE (ak-wee-ES)
A

To agree without protest, accept without argument or resistance, give in quietly. Synonyms: consent, comply, submit, assent, accede. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs to assent, accede, and acquiesce. Corresponding noun: acquiescence (AK-wee-ES-ins), passive agreement, quiet acceptance. Usage tip: Acquiesce is sometimes followed by the preposition in, as to acquiesce in a decision.

33
Q
  1. PONTIFICATE (pahn-TIF-i-kayt)
A

To speak in a pompous and overbearing way; make pretentious or categorical statements; express one’s opinion as though it were an official, authoritative decree. Corresponding noun: pontification (pahn-TIF-iKAY-shin). Related words: pontiff, the Roman Catholic pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome. The pontiff issues official decrees on church doctrine called papal bulls. To these decrees the pontiff affixes a seal called a bulla (BUUL-uh). Additional useful word: dogmatic (dawg-MATik), means opinionated, dictatorial, expressing an opinion as if it were fact.

34
Q
  1. DELETERIOUS (DEL-i-TEER-ee-us)
A

Harmful, destructive, injurious, detrimental; especially, harmful to health or well-being. Synonyms: ruinous, noxious, pernicious, malignant. Antonyms: healthful, advantageous, wholesome, salutary (SAL-yuh-ter-ee).

35
Q
  1. AMBIVALENT
A

Uncertain, indecisive; having conflicting feelings or desires; simultaneously drawn in opposite directions; attracted to and repulsed by something at the same time. Corresponding noun: ambivalence, a state of uncertainty or indecisiveness. Etymology tip and related words: One meaning of the combining form ambi- is “both,” as in the words ambidextrous, skilled with both hands, and ambivert, a person who is both introverted, innerdirected, and extroverted, outer-directed.

36
Q
  1. PENSIVE (rhymes with intensive)
A

Thoughtful, absorbed in thought, especially in a deep, dreamy, or melancholy way. Synonyms: reflective, meditative, wistful, contemplative (kuhn-TEM-pluh-tiv). N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words pensive, contemplative, and wistful. When you are pensive, you are thinking deeply about something, pondering it, weighing it in your mind. Corresponding noun: pensiveness.

37
Q
  1. IMPROMPTU (im-PRAHMP-t(y)oo)
A

Made up or done on the spur of the moment, uttered or performed without preparation, improvised for the occasion. Synonyms: offhand, spontaneous, extemporaneous (see extemporize, Level 3, Word 15). Usage: Impromptu may apply either to spontaneous expression or activity: an impromptu speech; an impromptu party

38
Q
  1. CONJECTURE (kuhn-JEK-chur)
A

To guess; especially, to make an educated guess; to form an opinion or make a judgment based on insufficient evidence. Synonyms: suppose, imagine, suspect, presume. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs to guess, speculate, surmise, and conjecture, all of which mean to form an opinion or reach a conclusion based upon uncertain or insufficient evidence. Corresponding noun: conjecture, an educated guess, an assumption or conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

39
Q
  1. SURREPTITIOUS (SUH- or SUR-rip-TISH-us)
A

Stealthy; characterized by secrecy and caution; done, made, obtained, or enjoyed in a secret and often sly or shifty manner, so as to avoid notice. Synonyms: crafty, furtive, covert, underhand, clandestine (Level 2, Word 6). N.B. This discussion distinguishes the adjectives stealthy, furtive, clandestine, covert, and surreptitious, all of which mean secret, hidden from the knowledge or view of others. Antonyms: evident, unconcealed, overt, aboveboard, manifest. Etymology and usage: Surreptitious comes from the Latin verb surripere, to snatch, pilfer, take away or withdraw secretly.

40
Q
  1. EXEMPLARY (eg-ZEM-pluh-ree)
A

Worthy of imitation, praiseworthy, commendable, serving as a model of excellence, appropriateness, or correctness. Synonyms: ideal, admirable, meritorious, estimable, laudable (Level 4, Word 25). Antonyms: shameful, disreputable, contemptible, deplorable, ignominious, odious, heinous (HAY-nus).

41
Q
  1. IMPECCABLE (im-PEK-uh-buul)
A

(1) Perfect, faultless, flawless; free from faults or imperfections. (2) Unable to do wrong, incapable of sin. Synonyms: unimpeachable, irreproachable. Antonyms: reprehensible, censurable, culpable. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words impeccable, immaculate, and infallible. N.B. When the prefix in- is attached to a word beginning with the letter B, P, or M, the N changes to an M: imbalanced means not balanced; impossible means not possible; and immutable means not mutable, not changeable, fixed. When the prefix inappears before a word beginning with L or R, the N changes to an L or an R: illogical means not logical; irreproachable means not reproachable, without fault or blame.

42
Q

Additional useful words: fallible (FAL-i-buul)

A

capable of error or likely to be wrong; macula (MAK-yuh-luh), a spot or stain, specifically a blemish on the skin or a sunspot; maculate (MAKyuh-lit), stained, blemished, impure, corrupt; peccadillo (PEK-uh-DILoh), a small sin, minor fault or flaw; peccant (PEK-int), guilty, sinful, culpable; and peccable (PEK-uh-buul), liable to sin or do wrong.

43
Q
  1. ATTEST (uh-TEST)
A

(1) To affirm to be true, genuine, or correct; certify or authenticate officially; stand as proof or evidence of. (2) To bear witness to, give testimony.

44
Q
  1. COPIOUS (KOH-pee-us)
A

Abundant, plentiful, large in amount or number. Synonyms: ample, bountiful, profuse. Antonyms: scanty, meager, sparse, paltry.

45
Q
  1. FALLACIOUS (fuh-LAY-shus)
A

False, misleading, deceptive, invalid, based on a fallacy. Synonyms: erroneous, spurious, untenable, illusory, sophistical. Related words: A fallacy is a false or misleading idea or statement, an argument that violates the laws of reasoning. Sophistry (Level 4, Word 20) refers to reasoning that deliberately uses fallacies (misleading arguments) to confuse or deceive.

46
Q
  1. STOIC (STOH-ik)
A

Showing no feelings, unemotional, unaffected by pleasure or pain, bearing pain or suffering without complaint. Synonyms: impassive, dispassionate, indifferent, apathetic, placid, languid, phlegmatic, imperturbable. Antonyms: ardent, vehement, zealous, fervid, fervent (Level 3, Word 24). Corresponding noun: stoicism, indifference to pleasure or pain.

47
Q
  1. RECRIMINATION (ri-KRIM-i-NAY-shin)
A

A countercharge or counter accusation. Corresponding noun: recriminate, to bring a countercharge against, denounce in return. Corresponding adjective: recriminative or recriminatory.

48
Q
  1. AFFINITY (uh-FIN-i-tee)
A

(1) Close resemblance or relationship; a strong likeness, similarity, or connection. Synonyms: kinship, correspondence, compatibility, consanguinity. (2) A natural attraction to, or liking for, a person or thing. Synonyms: penchant (Level 3, Word 9), propensity, proclivity.

49
Q
  1. VOLATILE (VAHL-uh-tuul)
A

(1) Changeable, unstable, inconstant, likely to change or shift rapidly and unpredictably. Synonyms: fickle, flighty, capricious (Level 1, Word 11), erratic, protean, mercurial. Antonyms: stable, fixed, steadfast, invariable, immutable, quiescent (Level 3, Word 22). N.B. The word may also mean: (a) evaporating quickly, easily vaporized; (b) fleeting, vanishing swiftly, transient, ephemeral; (c) lighthearted, lively and carefree, whimsical, prone to flights of fancy; (d) explosive, likely to erupt into violence. Volant means flying, able to fly, or quick, nimble, agile. Corresponding noun: volatility.

50
Q
  1. SQUALID (SKWAH-lid)
A

Dirty and run-down as a result of poverty or neglect, foul or filthy from lack of care, wretched, miserable, degraded. Synonyms: seedy, unkempt, dilapidated, slovenly (see also abject, Level 5, Word 50). Antonyms: unsullied, immaculate, pristine. Corresponding noun: squalor, filthiness, foulness, degradation; a wretched, miserable condition resulting from poverty or neglect. N.B. This discussion distinguishes between the adjectives squalid and sordid.

51
Q
  1. EXPEDITE (EKS-puh-dyt)
A

To speed up, hasten, facilitate, accelerate the progress of, handle or perform quickly and efficiently. Antonyms: delay, postpone, hinder, retard, slacken, protract (Level 3, Word 25).

52
Q
  1. ABJECT (AB-jekt or ab-JEKT)
A

Degraded, brought low in condition or status; hence, lacking self-respect, contemptible, wretched. Synonyms: debased, despicable, ignoble, groveling, servile, squalid (Level 4, Word 48). Antonyms: noble, dignified, lofty, majestic, eminent, illustrious. Corresponding noun: abjection, a degraded, wretched, contemptible state.

Verbal Advantage (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions