Public Speaking Vocabulary

Question 1

Acrimony(n)

Answer 1

Words or behavior with harshness or anger

Question 2

Baleful(adj)

Answer 2

harmful, menacing

Question 3

Capacious(adj)

Answer 3

large, roomy, spacious

Question 4

Decadence(n)

Answer 4

more decay or decline

Question 5

Efficacy(n)

Answer 5

the ability to produce desired results

Question 6

Fervor(n)

Answer 6

strong passion

Question 7

Garbled(adj)

Answer 7

changed so much that the original meaning has been distorted, scrambled

Question 8

Heresy(n)

Answer 8

an opinion expressed in defiance of generally accepted ideas

Question 9

Imbue(v)

Answer 9

to fill, as with strong dye or a strong feeling

Question 10

Jaundice(n)

Answer 10

yellow color; envy or resentment

Question 11

Malefactor(n)

Answer 11

person who tried to hurt others

Question 12

Parsimony(n)

Answer 12

stinginess, excessive frugality

Question 13

Quasi(adj)

Answer 13

having some resemblance usually by possession of certain attributes

Question 14

Recondite(adj)

Answer 14

hidden, difficult to understand, profound

Question 15

Seditious(adj)

Answer 15

trying to stir up a revolt against an authority figure

Question 16

Valedictory(n)

Answer 16

farewell speech

Question 17

Wanton(adj)

Answer 17

excessive, uncontrolled, lustful

Question 18

Xanthippe(n)

Answer 18

an ill-tempered woman

Question 19

Zephyr(n)

Answer 19

a very slight, gentle wind

Question 20

Adroit(adj)

Answer 20

skillful in physical activity or in handling difficult situations

Question 21

Belie(v)

Answer 21

to give an impression that is opposite of the way things really are; misrepresent

Question 22

Capitulate(v)

Answer 22

surrender, yield

Question 23

Deference(n)

Answer 23

the act of yielding to someone out of respect

Question 24

Knave(n)

Answer 24

a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel; a dishonest man

Question 25

Languish(v)

Answer 25

lose energy or motivation; to become weak or depressed

Question 26

Nocturnal(adj)

Answer 26

active at night

Question 27

Obdurate(adj)

Answer 27

stubborn, unyielding

Question 28

Tantamount(adj)

Answer 28

equal, comparable

Question 29

Undulate(v)

Answer 29

to move in a wavy manner

Question 30

Yahoo(n)

Answer 30

a person who is very loud, rude, or stupid

Question 31

Enigma(n)

Answer 31

mystery, puzzle

Question 32

Fickle(adj)

Answer 32

lacking loyalty, unpredicting, changeable, erratic

Question 33

Genial(adj)

Answer 33

friendly, gracious, kind

Question 34

Hiatus(n)

Answer 34

gap, interruption, a pause

Question 35

Immutable(adj)

Answer 35

unable to change

Question 36

Jubilant(adj)

Answer 36

filled with joy

Question 37

Kinship(n)

Answer 37

a feeling of being close or connected to other people

Question 38

Latent(n)

Answer 38

existing, but inactive; dormant

Question 39

Malign(v)

Answer 39

to say evil or harmful things about someone; vilify

Question 40

Nemesis(n)

Answer 40

an opponent or enemy that is very difficult to defeat

Question 41

Objurgate(v)

Answer 41

scold, castigate, denounce

Question 42

Paucity(n)

Answer 42

too few, scarcity

Question 43

Quietus(n)

Answer 43

removal from activity, especially death

Question 44

Redolent(adj)

Answer 44

strongly scented, fragrant

Question 45

Sententious(adj)

Answer 45

short and to the point; terse

Question 46

Tenacious(adj)

Answer 46

strong, persistent, determined to hold on

Question 47

Unerring(adj)

Answer 47

without making a mistake

Question 48

Vapid(adj)

Answer 48

dull, boring, lacking flavor or spark

Question 49

Wizened(adj)

Answer 49

old and wrinkled; withered

Question 50

Xeric(adj)

Answer 50

characterized by relating to, or requiring only small amounts of moisture.