Set 6 Flashcards
(30 cards)
admonish
warn or reprimand someone firmly
e.g. They admonished me for taking risks with my health
aesthetic
concerned with beauty or appreciation
affectation
behavior, speech or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress
e.g. I wore sunglasses all the time and people thought it was an affectation
alleviate
make (suffering, deficiency, problem) less severe
e.g. Nowadays, a great deal can be done to alleviate back pain
analogous
comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared
e.g. Marine construction technology is very complex, somewhat analogous to trying to build a bridge under water
bolster
support or strengthen
e.g. Hopes of an early cut in interest rates bolstered confidence
chauvinistic
feeling or displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
e.g. .. highly chauvinistic coverage of the war
connoisseur
an expert judge in matters of taste
e.g. Sarah tells me you’re something of an art connoisseur
dissemble
conceal or disguise one’s true feelings or beliefs
e.g. Henry was not slow to dissemble when it served his purpose
dogged
having or showing tenacity and grim persistence
e.g. They have gained respect through sheer dogged determination
dupe
deceive; trick
e.g. We know some sex offenders dupe the psychologists who assess them
empirical
based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic
e.g. There is no empirical evidence to support his thesis
engender
cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition)
e.g. Mr. Bowles could engender delight in students and musicians alike
entitled
believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment
pertinacious
holding firmly to an opinion or course of action
e.g. He worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions
presumptuous
(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate/overconfident
e.g. It would be presumptuous to judge what the outcome will be
probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
e.g. He asserted his innocence and his financial probity
proliferate
increase in rapid number; multiply
e.g. In recent years, commercial, cultural, travel and other contacts have proliferated between Europe and China
specious
superficially plausible, but actually wrong
e.g. It is unlikely that the Duke was convinced by such specious arguments
spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake
e.g. Quite a lot of allegations of misjustice are spurious
subjective
based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes or opinions
subvert
undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution)
e.g. .. a last attempt to subvert culture from within
timorous
showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence
e.g. He is a reclusive timorous creature
tortuous
full of twists and turns
e.g. The only road access is a tortuous mountain route
excessively lengthy and complex
e.g. The parties must now go through tortuous process of picking their candidates
