New Vocab Flashcards
unstudied (200 cards)
1
Q
Abate
A
v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount
As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.
2
Q
Abstract
A
adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality
Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting.
3
Q
Abysmal
A
adj. extremely bad
I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!
4
Q
Accordingly
A
adv. in accordance with
All students must behave accordingly.
5
Q
Acquisition
A
n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something
Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for adults.
6
Q
Adapt
A
v. to make suit a new purpose
v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation
The US has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the tastes of Americans.
Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their environments.
7
Q
Adept
A
adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area)
Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin.
8
Q
Adequate
A
adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose
Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.
9
Q
Advent
A
n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic)
The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb.
10
Q
Adversarial
A
adj. relating to hostile opposition
An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in life.
11
Q
Advocate
A
n. someone who promotes or defends something
v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)
I am an advocate for free higher education.
Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner energy practices.
12
Q
Aesthetic
A
adj. relating to beauty or refined taste
The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale.
13
Q
Afford
A
v. to be able to buy
v. to be able to spare
He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car.
I can’t afford to lose any more pencils!
14
Q
Agitate
A
v. to promote something (usu. a cause)
They’re agitating for better health care.
15
Q
Allow
A
v. to permit or consent to
US law allows citizens to speak freely.
16
Q
Allude
A
v. to make a secretive mention of something
She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it.
17
Q
Altercation
A
n. a noisy argument or confrontation
Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar.
18
Q
Ambiguous
A
adj. unclear or vague in meaning
Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she could be trusted.
19
Q
Ambitious
A
adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement
Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president someday.
20
Q
Ambivalence
A
n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options
His ambivalence prevented him from immediately signing the contract.
21
Q
Analogous
A
adj. similar but not identical
Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions.
22
Q
Annihilate
A
v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction
The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels.
23
Q
Anomaly
A
n. something different from the norm
This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens.
24
Q
Anticipate
A
v. assume to be likely to happen
The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be.
25
Antipathy
n. a strong feeling of dislike
Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.
26
Apex
n. the highest point of something
The spring play was the apex of our school year.
27
Apprehension
n. fearful expectation of something
Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train.
28
Articulate
v. to clearly express in words
She articulated her opinion on the price of the house.
29
Artificial
adj. something made; not occurring naturally
Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste fruity.
30
Assertion
n. a strong declaration
His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh.
31
Austere
adj. extremely plain
adj. stern and forbidding
adj. relating to self-denial
He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods.
My boss had an austere expression on her face.
An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody.
32
Authenticity
n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived
The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story.
33
Avenue
n. an intangible path or approach to something
The company has decided to pursue other avenues.
34
Avid
adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something
Gerald is an avid soccer fan.
35
Basic
adj. relating to the foundation or basis of something
You have to start with basic Russian before you can move on to the advanced level.
36
Bear
v. to have as a characteristic
v. to have (a child)
v. to bring forth
v. to put up with
She bears a strong resemblance to your mother.
Judy will bear her first child later this year.
My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year.
I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
37
Benevolent
adj. kind, generous
Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
38
Bias
n. a preconception that prevents objectivity
It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime.
39
Bittersweet
adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness
The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet.
40
Bolster
v. to support, strengthen, or fortify
If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch.
41
Boost
n. an increase or growth
v. to increase or make grow
The boost in profits was a welcome change.
In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers.
42
Brawl
n. an intense, loud fight
v. to fight loudly and disruptively
A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating.
The two students brawled for an hour.
43
Brevity
n. the quality of being brief or terse
The brevity of their time together made it all the more romantic.
44
Candid
adj. direct, blunt
Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.
45
Candor
n. the trait of being honest and frank
I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up.
46
Capitalize
v. to use to your advantage
I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having your work the cash register.
47
Capture
v. to trap or take possession of
v. to successfully represent or imitate
v. to captivate, mesmerize
v. to catch or seize
The spy was captured by the enemy.
Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life.
I was captured by her beauty.
The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident.
48
Civic
adj. relating to the city or citizens
Voting is a civic duty.
49
Clinical
adj. emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting)
Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle them more effectively.
50
Clout
n. special advantage or power
Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout.
51
Coarse
adj. indicating a rough texture
adj. lacking refinement or sophistication
The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed.
The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other members of royalty.
52
Coincide
v. to happen at the same time
It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals.
53
Commission
n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product)
This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in 1589.
54
Comparable
adj. able to be compared
This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
55
Competent
adj. sufficiently qualified
We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company.
56
Complacent
adj. satisfied, with no desire to change or improve
Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with his life as a poet.
57
Complement
v. to make perfect or complete
This wine perfectly complements this platter of gourmet cheese.
58
Concede
v. to be forced to agree or surrender
v. to admit to a transgression
With no chance of winning the battle, the army at last conceded.
Dan conceded to pranking his sister.
59
Conceive
v. to imagine or come up with
The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s.
60
Condone
v. to overlook, approve, or allow
She couldn't condone her daughter's rebellious behavior.
61
Conducive
adj. able to bring about or be suitable for
The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying.
62
Conduct
v. to control or manage
v. to behave a certain way
The group conducted their research abroad last year.
Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
63
Confide
v. to share something secretive with someone
She confided all of her biggest secrets in her best friend.
64
Confine
v. to put limits on; to restrict
We are going to confine the use of this drinking fountain.
65
Consensus
n. overall agreement
After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to a consensus.
66
Constitute
v. to form or compose (part of) something
The desire for equality constituted the civil rights movement.
67
Contemplate
v. to think deeply about
She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating student.
68
Contend
v. to maintain or assert (an opinion)
The president contends that the US government will not negotiate with terrorists.
69
Contradict
v. to be in contrast with
The camera footage contradicts his alibi.
70
Controversial
adj. highly debatable and causing contention
Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place.
71
Conventional
adj. abiding by accepted standards
She lives a conventional life in the suburbs.
72
Convey
v. to pass on or transfer (information)
I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.
73
Conviction
n. a firm belief in something
Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat.
74
Corroborate
v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim)
The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day.
75
Counteract
v. to work in opposition to
This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones.
76
Counterargument
n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument
Make sure to include a counterargument in your essay so that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all perspectives.
77
Counterproductive
adj. hindering the achievement of a goal
Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station.
78
Culmination
n. the final act or climax
The culmination of the performance was unforgettable.
79
Cultivate
v. to foster the growth of
Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students—they cultivate their academic potential.
80
Decree
v. to declare formally and with authority
The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday.
81
Deference
n. respect; regard
Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center.
82
Deficient
adj. not enough in degree or amount
I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient.
83
Demonstrate
v. to do as an example
v. gives evidence for
Could you demonstrate the dance move for me?
This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone.
84
Demur
v. to object to
She demurred at my request to transfer to a different department.
85
Deplete
v. to (over)use over time (usu. resources)
The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food.
86
Desolate
adj. bare, barren, empty
The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.
87
Devise
v. to come up with (a plan)
Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.
88
Dilemma
n. a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options
The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or not.
89
Diligence
n. conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task
Diligence and confidence will get you far in life.
90
Diminish
v. to become smaller in scope or degree
The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts to diminish after a few days.
91
Dire
adj. hopeless and dangerous or fearful
When the police didn’t explain what was happening right away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire.
92
Discord
n. disagreement
Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family.
93
Disdain
n. a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone)
He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out.
94
Dismay
n. hopelessness, stress, or consternation
v. to fill with woe or apprehension
To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test.
Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of metered parking.
95
Disparage
v. to belittle or speak down to
A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her employees.
96
Dispatch
v. to send off a message or messenger
The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house.
97
Diversification
n. the act of becoming diverse
Lately, there’s been noticeable diversification of students at higher institutions.
98
Doctrine
n. a principle, theory, or position, usu. advocated by a religion or gov’t
Devoutly religious people often live their lives according to their doctrines.
99
Dominion
n. power and authority (usu. over a territory)
n. a legal territory
The country claimed to have dominion over parts of Russia.
Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US.
100
Dreary
adj. sad, gloomy, dull
The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary.
101
Dubious
adj. doubtful, questionable
The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since nobody knew where he’d come from.
102
Egregious
adj. extremely bad
After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though she’d made an egregious mistake.
103
Eccentric
adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm
She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around.
104
Eloquent
adj. having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing)
His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling.
105
Eminent
adj. superior or distinguished; high in position or status
Our town made news when the eminent magician came to perform at our local theater.
106
Emit
v. to discharge, give forth, or release
Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.
107
Emphatic
adj. very expressive; using emphasis
Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to ride the roller coaster.
108
Empirical
adj. derived from experience, observation, or an experiment
You need empirical evidence to support your claim.
109
Endow
v. to equip or bestow (usu. a quality or ability)
According to the myth, the gods endowed him with the gift of healing.
110
Endure
v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out against
I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept or reject me?
111
Entail
v. to involve or include
A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy workload.
112
Entrenched
adj. firmly established
Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory.
113
Enumerate
v. to specify or count
I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my students when their papers are due.
114
Envy
n. excessive jealousy
v. to admire and be jealous of
His envy of her is quite obvious.
She envies her coworker's social skills.
115
Erratic
adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm
The car became erratic after slipping on ice.
116
Establish
v. to enact
v. to found (a business, group, school, etc.)
They established a law that made it illegal to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.
Our group established a new branch in Chicago.
117
Evoke
v. to draw forth or call up
Horror movies are great at evoking fear.
118
Exacerbate
v. to make worse or increase the severity of
The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my knee injury.
119
Excel
v. to do something extremely well or to be superior in
She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in science.
120
Exert
v. to put into use (usu. as effort)
Don’t exert all of your energy at once.
121
Exhilarating
adj. invigorating, stimulating, or exciting
The music playing at the club was catchy and exhilarating.
122
Expend
v. to use up (as in energy or money)
Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half of a marathon.
123
Exploit
v. to use selfishly or for profit
The shoddy company exploited its workers by paying them extremely low wages.
124
Facilitate
v. to aid the progress of
In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and offer constructive criticism.
125
Feasibility
n. the practicality or possibility of something
The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school year ended.
126
Ferocity
n. viciousness, violence
The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity.
127
Fiscal
adj. related to (government) money
Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to influence the economy.
128
Flourish
v. to prosper, grow, or make fast progress
After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a breathtaking garden.
129
Fluctuate
v. to be unstable; to rise and fall
Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult to determine when to buy or sell one.
130
Foment
v. to stir up
The civilians accused their leader of fomenting political unrest.
131
Foreseeable
adj. capable of being predicted or anticipated
I can't imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future.
132
Frankly
adv. directly, clearly
I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive.
133
Freewheeling
adj. carefree
His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at work.
134
Fundamental
adj. the most essential or most basic part
A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an essay.
135
Galvanizing
adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating
The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound.
136
Geriatric
adj. relating to old age
I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my grandfather passed away from cancer.
137
Hostile
adj. harmful, dangerous
The voices around the corner sounded angry, hostile even.
138
Hypothetical
adj. supposed; related to a hypothesis
For my physics homework, I must come up with a hypothetical situation.
139
Ignominious
adj. publicly shameful or humiliating
The politician's expensive campaign ultimately ended in ignominious defeat.
140
Impart
v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose
Parents must impart common sense to their children.
141
Impartiality
n. the equal and objective treatment of opposing views
To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow these general guidelines.
142
Imposing
adj. impressive (esp. in size or appearance)
The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic architecture.
143
Imposition
n. an unnecessary burden
If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread my paper?
144
Imprudent
adj. not cautious or prudent; rash
Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t be imprudent about money.
145
Incite
v. to encourage or stir up
Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd.
146
Indifference
n. apathy, emotional detachment
The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their parents.
147
Indiscriminately
adv. randomly; with little or no distinction
Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately.
148
Indulge
v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify
My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies.
149
Infer
v. to guess, conclude, or derive by reasoning
You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t care for “pretty” language.
150
Innovative
adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or invention)
Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her multiple awards.
151
Insatiable
adj. can’t be satisfied
A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable.
152
Inversion
n. a reversal
The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own.
153
Invoke
v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a higher power)
The shaman attempted to invoke a demon.
154
Irreconcilable
adj. incapable of being in harmony or agreed upon
The couple’s differences were ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to break up.
155
Lament
v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn
Susan lamented her missed chance at going to Europe with her high school class.
156
Locomotion
n. movement
Physics involves the study of locomotion.
157
Lucrative
adj. capable of making a lot of money; profitable
Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrative career, unless you’re J.K. Rowling.
158
Malicious
adj. harmful, spiteful
The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their home.
159
Malleable
adj. capable of being molded or changed
Children’s minds are malleable but only for so long.
160
Materialistic
adj. superficial; focus on material possessions
Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic.
161
Melodramatic
adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as of a melodrama)
The melodramatic play was well liked by the audience.
162
Modest
adj. simple and humble
adj. small in size or amount
They moved into a modest house in the countryside.
I received a modest sum of money for my help at the company event.
163
Modify
v. to change, alter, or tweak
Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry the disease.
164
Momentous
adj. historically significant
Her win in the election was momentous.
165
Novel
adj. new, innovative
We are looking for novel ways to approach the project.
166
Nuance
n. a subtle difference in meaning
Body-language experts even understand the nuances of facial expressions.
167
Null
adj. legally void and ineffective
The government declared their marriage null.
168
Objectivity
n. judgment based on observations instead of emotions or opinions
In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance.
169
Obsolete
adj. no longer used; rare or uncommon
Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback.
170
Omnipotent
adj. almighty and all powerful
Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny.
171
Onset
n. the beginning or early stages
At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking up.
172
Opine
v. to openly express an opinion
The new employee opined at the company meeting.
173
Ornate
adj. highly detailed and decorated
That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of dollars!
174
Oust
v. to remove or force out of (usu. a position or office)
Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain.
175
Paramount
adj. predominant, superior, most important
Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees.
176
Peculiar
adj. strange, bizarre
Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her.
177
Perish
v. to die; to pass away
According to the news, nobody perished in the fire.
178
Persecute
v. to cause suffering to
They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their views of the world.
179
Petulant
adj. cranky, pouty, irritable
Petulant children are especially difficult to care for.
180
Pinnacle
n. highest level or degree
Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music.
181
Pitiable
adj. deserving pity
The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food and took it inside to care for it.
182
Plausible
adj. reasonable and possibly true
Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth.
183
Postulate
v. to assert
The literary critic postulates that romanticism and naturalism are actually interconnected.
184
Potent
adj. having great influence
adj. having a strong, chemical effect
The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US.
The potion was definitely potent—it healed my wounds immediately!
185
Pragmatic
adj. practical, useful
It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering than it is to study philosophy.
186
Precedent
n. an example or subject from earlier in time
This change in law is without historical precedent.
187
Predecessor
n. someone who comes before you (usu. in position or office)
My predecessor gave me many tips for running the office.
188
Prescribe
v. to command orders
v. to issue authorization for medications
The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least ten pages.
A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you can begin taking it.
189
Principle
n. basic truth, assumption, or rule
Remember the universal principle: treat others as you want them to treat you.
190
Prohibit
v. to command against, to outlaw
Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s.
191
Prompt
adj. punctual, on time
n. a cue to begin something; instructions
v. to incite, propel, or cause to act
She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework.
I had to write an essay based on a prompt.
The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to Harvard.
192
Promulgate
v. to put into law or formally declare
The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the neighboring countries.
193
Prosecute
v. to bring criminal action against someone (in a trial)
The suspect was prosecuted yesterday.
194
Provocative
adj. intending to provoke, inspire, or arouse
Her nude paintings are considered quite provocative.
195
Qualitative
adj. involving qualities of something (features and content)
I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings.
196
Quantitative
adj. involving quantities (numbers and amounts)
We must conduct a quantitative analysis.
197
Quirk
n. a strange habit
His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles.
198
Ramify
v. to split into two or more branches
Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century.
199
Rash
adj. without attention to danger or risk
Her rash decision to pass the car nearly resulted in a crash.
200
Raw
adj. unrefined
adj. not processed; uncooked (as in food)
He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on his performance skills.
In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to eat raw fish.
