Princeton Vocab Words Flashcards
(250 cards)
1
Q
depict
A
v. Depiction-to portray
2
Q
controversy
A
n,a prolonged public dispute, an argument
3
Q
undermine
A
v. to weaken, sabotage, subvert, debilitate, destabilize
4
Q
advocate
A
v. to support or urge by argument, especially publically
5
Q
arrogant
A
adj. having exaggerated self opinion, egotistical or overproud
6
Q
cynic
A
noun, one who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions
7
Q
dispute
A
v. to engage in argument or debate, to argue vehemently, quarrel
8
Q
provoke
A
v. to anger, or vex; to stir up or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity)
9
Q
contradict
A
v. to challenge, confront, counter, deny or oppose
10
Q
empathy
A
n. identification with and understanding of another’s situations, feelings, and motives
11
Q
perceive
A
v. to become aware of by means of the sense, to recognize or understand
12
Q
phenomenon
A
n. a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable; something remarkable or extraordinary
13
Q
contempt
A
n. a feeling of disdain for anything considered mean or worthless
14
Q
resolve
A
v. to come to a firm decision about, determine
15
Q
speculate
A
v. to engage in thought, especially conjectural thought
16
Q
intricate
A
adj. having many interrelated parts or facets; hard to understand, work, or make
17
Q
skepticism
A
n. a questioning or doubting attitude; doubt regarding religion
18
Q
assert
A
v. to state positively; declare
19
Q
distinct
A
adj, not identical, seperate; different in nature or quality, dissimilar
20
Q
divisive
A
adj. dissenting, at odds with, alienating; creating dissension or discord
21
Q
consume
A
v. to expend by use, to use up
22
Q
digress
A
v. to wander away from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing
23
Q
innovate
A
v. to introduce (something new)
24
Q
diminish
A
v. to make or become smaller, less, or less important
25
nostalgia
n. a sentimental longing for something in the past
26
practical
adj. involving or resulting from practice or action; adapted or suited for actual use
27
versatile
adj. capable of turning easily from one thing to another; having many uses or applications
28
profound
adj. showing deep insight or understanding; originating in the depths of one's being
29
tenacity
n. persistence, strong character, perserverance
30
insight
n. intuitiveness, awareness, observation, understanding, wisdom
31
endure
v. to tolerate, withstand, sustain, undergo, bear hardship
32
perplex
v. to cause to be puzzled
33
denounce
v. to condemn openly, to attack, accuse, or criticize
34
plausibility
n. credibility, believability
35
vulnerable
adj. capable of or susceptible to being wounded; open to or defenseless against criticism or attack
36
pragmatic
adj. practical, sensible
37
rigor
n. the quality of being strict or inflexible, harshness as of attitude, severity; hardship
38
adept
adj. very skilled; expert
39
disparage
v. to speak of negatively; to belittle
40
aesthetic
n, adj. having to do with the appreciation of beauty
41
superficial
adj.being at, on, or near the surface; apparent rather than real
42
foster
v. to promote the growth or development of; to bring up
43
ambivalent
adj. simultaneously experiencing opposing feelings; uncertain
44
elaborate
adj. worked out in great detail, painstaking; ornate, showy or gaudy
45
beneficial
adj. producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful
46
embellish
v. to ornament or decorate, to exaggerate
47
imply
v. to indicate, suggest, refer, hint
48
esoteric
adj. intended or understood by only a small group
49
inevitable
adj. unable to be avoided or escaped
50
resent
v. to feel or show displeasure or indignation at
51
scarce
adj. insufficient to satisfy a need or demand; rarely encountered
52
ingenuity
n. the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful
53
substantiate
v. to support with proof or evidence; to verify
54
isolated
adj. detached or separated, alone
55
subtle
adj. difficult to perceive, fine or delicate; characterized by or requiring mental acuteness
56
presume
v. to take for granted, assume, or suppose; to undertake(do something without right or permission)
57
sentiment
n. an attitude, feeling, or opinion; refined or tender emotion
58
rhetoric
n. the art of using language effectively and persuasively
59
defiance
n. a bold resistance to authority or force; open disregard, contempt
60
abstruse
adj. difficult to understand
61
deliberate
adj. studied or intentional; careful or slow in deciding
62
bolster
v. to hearten, support, or prop up
63
eradicate
v. to get rid of as if by tearing up the roots, to abolish
64
contend
v. to struggle, to compete
65
indifferent
adj. without interest or concern; having no bias or preference
66
conventional
adj. conforming to accepted standards
67
autonomy
independence; self determination
68
discern
v. to catch sight of; to recognize and understand
69
futile
adj. incapable or producing a useful result; vain
70
trivial
adj. of very little importance
71
elitism
n. the practice of or belief in rule by an elite
72
endorse
v. to express approval or support of, especially publicly
73
resign
v. to give up (office/position), especially formally, to submit (oneself, one's mind) without resistance
74
forbear
v. to refrain from; to be patient or self controlled
75
frivolous
adj. characterized by a lack of seriousness or sense; not worthy of serious notice, trivial
76
fundamental
adj. of or being a foundation or basis; basic; of great importance
77
inadequate
adj. insufficient, incompetent, incapable
78
erratic
adj inconsistent, unpredictable, wandering, irregular, unstable
79
persuade
v. to prevail on ( a person) to do something as by advising or urging to induce to believe, convince
80
exemplify
v. to illustrate by example
81
prevail
to be widespread or current; to occur as the most important of frequent element
82
exploit
v. to utilize, especially for profit; to take advantage of
83
hostility
n. meanness, bitterness, animosity, resentment
84
naïve
adj. having unaffected simplicity of nature; lacking in experience, judgement, or information
85
negligent
adj. guilty of or characterized by neglect
86
vindictive
adj. disposed to seek revenge; revengeful, spiteful
87
prestige
n. a reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, and/or rank
88
reconcile
v. to cause to accept something not desired; to cause to become friendly again; to settle a dispute
89
tolerate
v. to allow without hindrance, permit; to put up with, endure
90
accumulate
v. to gather or collect
91
adapt
v. to adjust or become adjusted to new requirements or conditions
92
complacency
n. a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often unaware of unpleasant possibilities
93
anachronism
n. the representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period
94
disdain
n. hate, contempt, scorn, dislike, or ridicule
95
antagonism
n. active hostility or opposition
96
connoisseur
n. an expert judge in an art or matters of taste
97
assume
v. to take for granted without proof; to suppose; to take upon oneself
98
baffle
v. to bewilder, perplex, astound, or confuse
99
benign
adj. kind and gentile
100
brevity
n. the quality or state of being brief in duration
101
callous
adj. emotionally hardened, unfeeling
102
candid
adj. completely honest; straightforward
103
collaborate
v. to work with another
104
integrate
v. to bring together into a unified or interrelated whole; to combine to produce a whole or later unit
105
commemorate
v. to serve as a memorial of; to honor the memory of by some observance
106
burden
n. that which is carried; a load that which is born with difficulty
107
contrary
adj. opposite in character or direction
108
inconsistent
adj. lacking in harmony between the different parts or elements; self contradictory; lacking agreement
109
convey
v. to take from one place to another; to communicate
110
linguistics
n. the study of language
111
drama
n.. the art of writing and producing plays' a series of vivid, exciting, or suspenseful events
112
duplicitous
adj. deceitful, dishonest, two faced, deliberately deceptive
113
inquiry
n. a seeking for information or knowledge; an investigation; a question, query
114
erroneous
adj. containing an error; incorrect
115
gesture
n. a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea or emotion
116
impression
n. a strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings or senses; a somewhat vague awareness or notion
117
interact
v. to act upon one another
118
lament
v. to express grief or regret (for or over); a vocal expression of grief
119
contemporary
adj. existing, occurring, or living at the same time
120
legitimate
adj. according to law, in accordance with established rules and standards; valid, logical; justified
121
manipulate
v. to manage or influence skillfully and often unfairly
122
egotism
n. excessive reference to oneself
123
mitigate
v. to make or become less severe, intense, or painful
124
objective
n. a purpose, goal, unbiased
125
proximity
n. nearness in place, time, or relation
126
obscure
adj. not clear to the understanding, ambiguous or vague; not easily noticed
127
optimism
n. a tendency to look on the more favorable side of events
128
vigor
n. active strength or force, intensity
129
paradox
n. a contradiction
130
reticence
n. the quality or state of keeping silent, reserve.
131
penchant
n. a strong inclination or liking
132
predict
v. to tell (what will happen) in the future
133
refute
v. to prove to be false or erroneous
134
rouse
v. to bring or come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, or inactivity
135
somber
adj. gloomily dark, downcast, glum
136
sustain
v. to bear the weight of, support, to undergo
137
obligation
n. a moral or legal duty; a binding promise
138
theorem
n. an explanation based on hypothesis and experiments
139
debilitate
v. to impair the strength of; to weaken
140
steadfast
adj. fixed in place, position or direction; firm in purpose, resolution or direction
141
admonish
v. to caution or advise against something
142
alleviate
v. to ease a pain or burden
143
compromise
n. an agreement, a give and take; a bargain or settlement
144
anomaly
n. an odd, peculiar, or strange condition
145
reverence
n. a high opinion of something; admiration
146
contrast
v. to compare in order to show differences
147
enigma
n. a puzzle, mystery
148
apathetic
adj. feeling or showing little emotion
149
exaggerate
v. to magnify beyond the limits of truth
150
disregard
v. to pay no attention to, ignore
151
arouse
v. to stir up, to excite
152
determine
v. to settle or resolve
153
articulate
adj. uttered clearly
154
atypical
adj. not typical, regular
155
capricious
adj. impulsive and unpredictable
156
dispense
v. to deal out, distribute
157
commend
v. to mention as worthy or confidence or attention
158
ascertain
v. to find out, as through investigation or experimentation
159
commonplace
adj. ordinary, dull
160
magnanimous
adj. courageously or generously noble in mind and heart
161
vivid
adj. strikingly bright or intense
162
conform
v. to act in accordance
163
ornate
adj. fancily decorated
164
anecdote
n. a short account of an interesting, biographical incident
165
indulge
v. to treat oneself or another to; to entertain, delight, please
166
spare
v. to refrain from harming, punishing, or killing
167
devoid
adj. totally lacking, destitute
168
mock
v. to ridicule, mimic, imitate
169
neutral
adj. not taking the part of either side in a dispute or war
170
distinguish
v. to mark off as different, to recognize as distinct
171
incredulous
adj. disinclined or indisposed to believe; indicating disbelief
172
diverse
adj. of a different kind
173
prolong
v. to draw out, extend, stall, stretch
174
belligerent
adj. eager to fight; hostile or aggressive
175
edify
v. to instruct and improve, especially morally
176
negate
v. to deny the existence or truth of; to nullify or invalidate
177
ensure
v. to secure or guarantee; to make sure or certain
178
voracious
adj. craving or consuming large quantities of food; exceedingly eager
179
envy
n. resentment of a more fortunate person
180
dominate
v. to rule over, contract
181
hail
v. to salute or greet
182
idiosyncrasy
n. peculiarity, oddity, quirk
183
irony
n. an outcome of events contrary to what was
184
lucid
adj. easily understood, clear
185
despair
n. loss of hope, hopelessness
186
modest
adj. having or showing a moderate estimate of oneself
187
preoccupy
v. to absorb, immerse, consume engage
188
redundant
adj. repetitive, excessive, unnecessary
189
reform
n. the improvement of what was wrong
190
reluctant
adj. not willing, disinclined
191
supplement
n. something added to complete a thing
192
evoke
v. to call up
193
repute
v. to consider, believe
194
spontaneous
adj. coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency
195
stringent
adj. rigorously binding or exacting
196
temperament
n. the combination of mental and emotional traits of a person
197
tyrannical
adj. unjustly cruel or severe
198
insolent
adj. insulting in manner or speech
199
tact
n. skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations
200
constituent
n. serving to make up a thing; component
201
arbitrary
adj. unreasonable or unsupported
202
unprecedented
adj.without precedent; never before known or appreciated
203
urgent
adj. requiring immediate action or attention
204
rebellion
n. armed resistance to a government or ruler
205
oblivious
adj. unmindful or unaware; forgetful
206
volatile
adj. evaporating rapidly, tending, or threatening to erupt in violence
207
acquire
v. to get possession of
208
charisma
n. a personal magnetism that enables an individual to attract or influence people
209
adverse
adj. unfavorable; opposing one's interests or desires
210
disposition
n. mental outlook; characteristic attitude
211
afflict
v. to distress with mental or bodily pain
212
allege
v. to assert without proof
213
sufficient
adj. adequate for the purpose
214
impractical
adj. not practical or useful; incapable of dealing sensibly
215
consensus
n. solidarity of opinion, general agreement or harmony
216
personage
n. a person of distinct or importance
217
anticipate
v. to realize beforehand, foresee
218
precursor
n. a person or thing that precedes as in a job or method
219
demagogue
n. an orator or political leader who gains power by arousing people's emotions and prejudices
220
assess
v. to judge the value or character of
221
authentic
adj. real
222
benefactor
n. a kindly helper; a person who makes a bequest
223
bewilder
v. to confuse or puzzle completely
224
captivate
to attract intensely, enchant
225
congenial
adj. agreeable or suitable in nature
226
conviction
n. a firm belief, the act of being convicted
227
deference
n. respectful yielding of the opinion or will of another
228
pretension
n. a claim to something; an unwarranted or false claim as to merit, importance, or wealth
229
detract
v. to take away a part, as from value or reputation; to divert
230
alter
v. to make different, as in size or style
231
dilettante
n. a person who takes up an art, activity or subject for amusement, especially in a superficial way
232
amass
v. to collect
233
equanimity
n. composure, especially under strain
234
motive
n. something that causes a person to act
235
exotic
adj. foreign, not native, strikingly unusual or strange as in appearance
236
benevolent
adj. marked by or disposed to doing good
237
crude
adj. in a raw or unrefined state; lacking culture and refinement
238
forebode
v. to predict, warn, forecast, foresee
239
predilection
n. a partially, preference
240
indignation
n. strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or biased
241
intuition
n. direct perception of truth and fact, independent of any reasoning process
242
knack
n. a special skill or talent; a cleaver way of doing something
243
longevity
n. long life
244
context
n. the part before and after a statement that can influence its meaning
245
misconceive
v. to interpret wrongly; misunderstood
246
moderate
adj. not extreme, excessive, or intense
247
pacifism
n. opposition to war or violence as a method of settling disputes
248
faulty
adj. having faults; imperfect
249
ambition
n. an earnest desire for achievement, distinction, wealth or power
250
prudent
adj. wisely careful, showing good judgement.
