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Flashcards in PSAT Practice Deck (114)
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1
Q

insignia

A

a distinguishing mark or token of something; emblem (military rank or organization membership)

2
Q

adversary

A

one’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute

3
Q

repertoire

A

a whole set of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or person are ready to perform

4
Q

protracted

A

lasting for a long time or longer than expected/usual

5
Q

tenuous

A

very weak or slight; slender or fine; insubstantial

6
Q

draconian

A

excessively harsh or severe (of laws or their application)

7
Q

laudatory

A

expressing praise or commendation (of speech or writing)

8
Q

ordeal

A

a painful or horrific experience, especially a protracted one

9
Q

vindictive

A

having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge

10
Q

lark

A

something done for fun; mischievously or daringly; an activity that is foolish or a waste of time; to enjoy oneself by behaving playfully or mischieviously

11
Q

scathing

A

witheringly scornful; severely critical; harming or injuring

12
Q

sycophantic

A

behaving or done in an obsequious way to gain advantage

13
Q

caustic

A

sarcastic in a scathing or bitter way

14
Q

obsequious

A

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

15
Q

insolent

A

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

16
Q

repast

A

A meal

17
Q

ingratiating

A

intended to gain approval for or favor; sycophantic

18
Q

gregarious

A

fond of company; sociable

19
Q

petulant

A

childishly sulky or bad tempered

20
Q

irresolute

A

showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain

21
Q

credulous

A

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things; gullible

22
Q

tenacious

A

tending to keep a firm hold of something; determined

23
Q

scorn

A

the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable

24
Q

withering

A

intended to make someone feel mortified or humiliated

25
Q

servile

A

having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others; of or characteristic of a slave or slaves

26
Q

contempt

A

the feeling that a person/thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

27
Q

derision

A

contemptuous ridicule or mockery

28
Q

Feeble

A

Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness

29
Q

Advocate

A

To support or urge by argument, especially publicly

30
Q

Ambivalent

A

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

31
Q

Undermine

A

To weaken, sabotage, subvert, debilitate, destabilize

32
Q

Depict

A

To represent by drawing,

Portray; to characterize in words

33
Q

Controversy

A

A usually prolonged public dispute;

An argument

34
Q

Cynic

A

One who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions

35
Q

Dispute

A

To engage in argument or debate; to argue vehemently, quarrel

36
Q

Provoke

A

To anger or vex; to stir up or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity)

37
Q

Contradict

A

To challenge, confront, counter, deny, or oppose

38
Q

Empathy

A

Identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives

39
Q

Subvert

A

Undermine the power and authority of (an established system)

40
Q

Vehement

A

Showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense

41
Q

Encumber

A

Restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free act on or movement is difficult

42
Q

Devoid

A

entirely lacking or free form

43
Q

Blandishment

A

Flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something

44
Q

Lamentation

A

Grieving, weeping

45
Q

Bereaved

A

Be deprived of a loved one due to death

46
Q

Plaintive

A

Sad and mournful

47
Q

Divisive

A

Dissenting, at odds with, alienating, creating dissension or discord

48
Q

Digress

A

To wander away from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing

49
Q

Dissension

A

Disagreement

50
Q

Sardonic

A

Cynical, mocking

51
Q

Glib

A

Fluent but insincere and shallow

52
Q

Verisimilitude

A

The quality of appearing true or real

53
Q

Transcendence

A

To ride above the scope of ordinary experience

54
Q

Penetrate

A

succeed in forcing a way into or through (a thing).

55
Q

Loquacious

A

Full of excessive talk

56
Q

Fervid

A

intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree:

57
Q

Sadistically

A

Cruelty

58
Q

Valiant

A

Courageous; determined

59
Q

Besotted

A

Strongly infatuated; intoxicated or drunk

60
Q

Odious

A

Unpleasant or repulsive

61
Q

Eloquence

A

Fluent or persuasive

62
Q

Omnipotence

A

Quality of having unlimited or great power

63
Q

Belligerent

A

Hostile or aggressive; engaged in conflict

64
Q

Surreptitiously

A

Trying to avoid being noticed; done in a concealed underhand way

65
Q

Obstreperously

A

Noisily and aggressively boisterous; unruly

66
Q

Scrupulously

A

Having moral integrity; very precise

67
Q

Obsolete

A

Out of date; no longer produced or used

68
Q

Averse

A

Having a strong dislike of or opposition to something

69
Q

Equanimity

A

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper; especially in a difficult situation

70
Q

Histrionics

A

Exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention; actor

71
Q

Exhibitionism

A

Extravagant behavior that is intended to attract attention to oneself

72
Q

Auxiliary

A

Providing supplementary or additional help and support

73
Q

Exult

A

Show or feel elation or jubilation, especially as the result of success

74
Q

Balk

A

Hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking

75
Q

Demur

A

Raise doubts or objections or show reluctance

76
Q

Pompous

A

Arrogant and conceited;
Irritatingly grand, solemn,
Or self important

77
Q

Litany

A

A tedious recital or repetitive series

78
Q

Infatuated

A

Inspired by intense but short lived passion or admiration

79
Q

Jubilation

A

Feeling of great happiness or triumph

80
Q

Ostentatious

A

Designed to impress or attract

81
Q

Perfidious

A

Deceitful and untrustworthy

82
Q

Gratify

A

Give someone pleasure or satisfaction

83
Q

Exhilarate

A

Make someone feel very happy or elated

84
Q

Despondent

A

Feeling or showing hopelessness, discouragement, dejection

85
Q

Unscrupulous

A

Having or show by no moral principles; not honest or fair

86
Q

Trivialize

A

Make something seem less important, significant, or complex than it is

87
Q

Exasperate

A

To irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely

88
Q

Subside

A

To sink to a low or lower level

89
Q

Periphery

A

The external boundary of any surface or area

90
Q

Duplicity

A

Deceitfulness

91
Q

Altruism

A

Unselfishness

92
Q

Discern

A

To perceive; see, recognize; dictionary

93
Q

Effusive

A

Unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve; pouring out; overflowing

94
Q

Subservient

A

Serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; servile; obsequious

95
Q

Corroborate

A

To make more certain; confirm

96
Q

Ephemeral

A

Short lived; temporary; lasting a very short time

97
Q

Intrinsic

A

Belonging to a thing by its very nature

98
Q

Spurious

A

Not genuine, authentic, or true;’counterfeit

99
Q

Vitriolic

A

Very caustic; scathing

100
Q

To differ in sentiment or opinion, especially from the majority

A

Dissent

101
Q

Stalwart

A

Strongly and stoutly built; strong and brave; valiant

102
Q

Lampoon

A

To mock or ridicule

103
Q

Menace

A

A threat

104
Q

Clout

A

Strong influence; a blow, especially with the hand

105
Q

Obviate

A

To anticipate and prevent or eliminate by effective measures

106
Q

Tentative

A

Unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant

107
Q

Maverick

A

Unconventional; independent; perusing rebellious ideas

108
Q

Decry

A

Denounce as faulty or worthless

109
Q

Emulate

A

To imitate, idolize, try to equal or excel

110
Q

Reticent

A

Reserved; reluctant or restrained; disposed to be silent or not speak freely

111
Q

Exuberant

A

Abounding in vitality; extremely Joyful, enthusiastic

112
Q

Aloof

A

Apart; why; disinterested; standoffish

113
Q

Diffident

A

Lacking confidence in ones own ability; timid, shy

114
Q

Banal

A

Cliche; dull, overused

Pedestrian, hackneyed