reverse basic words - 3

Question 1

verb: reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy’s faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.

Answer 1

degrade

Question 2

adjective: having a lot of complicated decoration:

example: a room with an ornate ceiling and gold mirrors

adjective: Language that is ornate contains too many complicated words or phrases:

example: Some students are put off studying his work because of the ornate language of the poetry.

Answer 2

ornate

Question 3

verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation

After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn’t have much money in his bank account.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Answer 3

resolve

Question 4

verb: to wander aimlessly

A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.

Answer 4

meander

Question 5

verb: to celebrate a person

After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.

Answer 5

fete

Question 6

adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a different period

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–needless to say, she didn’t have many friends.

Answer 6

archaic

Question 7

adjective: softened, subdued

Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Answer 7

muted

Question 8

adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)

There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.

Answer 8

appreciable

Question 9

adjective: does not allow fluids to pass through

The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.

Answer 9

impermeable

Question 10

adjective: concise and full of meaning

I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.

Answer 10

pithy

Question 11

adjective: having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited

Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.

Answer 11

stolid

Question 12

adjective: An incessant process or activity is one that continues without stopping.

I don’t mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.

Answer 12

incessant

Question 13

adjective: people and places that are not very respectable but are attractive and stylish in spite of this.

The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.

Answer 13

raffish

Question 14

noun: the power of creative imagination

Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.

Answer 14

ingenuity

Question 15

adjective: lasting a very short time

If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?

Answer 15

transitory

Question 16

verb: to suggest something for discussion:

example: His name was mooted as a possible successor.

adjective:
1) often discussed or argued about but having no definite answer:
2) not important or not relevant, therefore not worth discussing:

example:
- It’s a moot point whether building more roads reduces traffic congestion.
- We don’t have enough money to go, so it’s all moot anyway.

Answer 16

moot

Question 17

adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk

example: a morose expression.

Answer 17

morose

Question 18

verb: laugh boisterously

Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.

Answer 18

guffaw

Question 19

noun: the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

example:
- They are in danger of losing their political ascendancy (= controlling power).
- Supporters of the proposal are currently in the ascendancy over its opponents (= are more powerful than them).

Answer 19

ascendancy

Question 20

noun: a desirable state; something helpful or beneficial

Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry.

adjective: very close and convivial

He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed.

Answer 20

boon

Question 21

verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of

While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue.

noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study

Answer 21

advocate

Question 22

adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm

Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.

Answer 22

avid

Question 23

adjective: unable to be persuaded or moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding.

No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.

Answer 23

obdurate

Question 24

noun: a pause from doing something (as work)

Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.

Answer 24

respite

Question 25

adjective: young and inexperienced noun: any new participant in some activity Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.

Answer 25

fledgling

Question 26

adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way The chairman interpreted Taylor's question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company's process.

Answer 26

snide

Question 27

verb: prevent someone from doing something by persuasion His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen. verb: try to prevent; show opposition to The government's primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.

Answer 27

deter

Question 28

adjective: slow, continuous, and not exciting: example: I'll try not to bore you with lots of plodding details.

Answer 28

plodding

Question 29

noun: a disease or sickness The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.

Answer 29

malady

Question 30

verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded.

Answer 30

impede

Question 31

adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to remember Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.

Answer 31

elusive

Question 32

adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun. adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.

Answer 32

inclement

Question 33

adjective: You use consummate to describe someone who is extremely skilful. example: Those familiar with Sanders call him a consummate politician. verb: to make something complete or perfect

Answer 33

consummate

Question 34

verb: treat condescendingly She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Answer 34

patronize

Question 35

verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has to deal with taxes, she flounders.

Answer 35

flounder

Question 36

adjective: native; originating where it is found Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.

Answer 36

endemic

Question 37

noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.

Answer 37

proponent

Question 38

verb: deprive of voting rights The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.

Answer 38

disenfranchise

Question 39

noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options I've had two job offers, and I'm in a real quandary about/over which one to accept.

Answer 39

quandary

Question 40

noun: a lack or shortage I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street.

Answer 40

dearth

Question 41

verb: recognize or perceive the difference Sarah couldn't discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Answer 41

discriminate

Question 42

verb: get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

Answer 42

entice

Question 43

noun: Apprehension is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen. I tensed every muscle in my body in apprehension. noun: The apprehension of someone who is thought to be a criminal is their capture or arrest by the police. noun: The apprehension of something is awareness and understanding of it. example: A full apprehension of all that is involved is utterly beyond us.

Answer 43

apprehension

Question 44

adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team's fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early.

Answer 44

disheartened

Question 45

adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added. adjective: easily influenced My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.

Answer 45

malleable

Question 46

verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement.

Answer 46

renege

Question 47

adverb: Acting independently; self-governing (of a country) Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously.

Answer 47

autonomously

Question 48

adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.

Answer 48

jocular

Question 49

verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans.

Answer 49

thwart

Question 50

adjective: sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.

Answer 50

robust