set 6

Question 1

eschew

Answer 1

To deliberately avoid or keep away from. He eschewed loud parties in favor of quiet reading nights.

Question 2

amelioration

Answer 2

The act of making something better. Urban planners discussed the amelioration of traffic congestion.

Question 3

polemic

Answer 3

A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something. Her article was a polemic against corporate greed.

Question 4

obfuscate

Answer 4

To deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand. The politician’s vague answer only served to obfuscate the issue.

Question 5

dissemble

Answer 5

To conceal one’s true motives or feelings; to pretend. She tried to dissemble her disappointment with a fake smile.

Question 6

nonplussed

Answer 6

Confused and unsure how to react. He was nonplussed by the sudden change of plans.

Question 7

tenable

Answer 7

Able to be defended or justified. His argument is tenable and well-supported by data.

Question 8

recalcitrant

Answer 8

Stubbornly refusing to obey rules or authority. The recalcitrant teen ignored the school’s dress code.

Question 9

panegyric

Answer 9

A public speech or text in praise of someone or something. The retirement dinner featured a heartfelt panegyric from her former students.

Question 10

vindictive

Answer 10

Having a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge. His vindictive behavior after the breakup was disturbing.

Question 11

lachrymose

Answer 11

Tearful or inclined to cry; overly sentimental. The movie was so lachrymose that everyone left the theater sniffling.

Question 12

prosaic

Answer 12

Lacking imagination; dull or ordinary. The essay was correct but prosaic, with no creative spark.

Question 13

reticent

Answer 13

Reserved or reluctant to speak. He was reticent about sharing his personal life at work.

Question 14

diffident

Answer 14

Shy or lacking confidence. The diffident student rarely raised her hand in class.

Question 15

largesse

Answer 15

Generous giving of gifts or money. The billionaire’s largesse funded a new hospital wing.

Question 16

spate

Answer 16

A sudden outpouring or large number of something. There was a spate of burglaries in the area last month.

Question 17

sanguine

Answer 17

Optimistic or positive, especially in a tough situation. Despite the delays, she remained sanguine about finishing the project.

Question 18

precipitous

Answer 18

Dangerously high or steep; or done hastily without thought. Their precipitous decision to move abroad led to many complications.

Question 19

rescind

Answer 19

To revoke or cancel officially. The school decided to rescind his admission offer after the misconduct.

Question 20

trenchant

Answer 20

Sharp, incisive, and insightful (especially in expression). Her trenchant critique exposed flaws no one had noticed before.