Spark Notes 250 Flashcards
(363 cards)
0
Q
Abrogate
A
To abolish, usually by authority
1
Q
abjure
A
To reject, renounce
2
Q
Acerbic
A
Biting, bitter in tone or taste
3
Q
Acrimony
A
Bitterness, discord
4
Q
Acumen
A
Keen insight
5
Q
Adumbrate
A
The sketch out in a vague way
6
Q
Alacrity
A
Eagerness, speed
7
Q
Anathema
A
A cursed, detested person
8
Q
Antipathy
A
A strong dislike, repugnance
9
Q
Approbation
A
Praise
10
Q
Arrogate
A
To take without justification
11
Q
Ascetic
A
Practicing restraint as a means of self discipline, usually religious
12
Q
Aspersion
A
A curse, expression of ill-will
13
Q
Assiduous
A
Hard-working, diligent
14
Q
Blandish
A
To coax by using flattery
15
Q
Boon
A
A gift or blessing
16
Q
Brusque
A
Short, abrupt, dismissive
17
Q
Buffet
A
To strike with force; an arrangement of food set out on a table
18
Q
Burnish
A
To polish, shine
19
Q
Buttress
A
To support, hold up; something that offers support
20
Q
Cacophony
A
Tremendous noise, disharmonious sound
21
Q
Cajole
A
To urge, coax
22
Q
Calumny
A
An attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies
23
Q
Capricious
A
Subject to whim, fickle
24
Clemency
Mercy
25
Cogent
Intellectually convincing
26
Concomitant
Accompanying in a subordinate fashion
27
Conflagration
Great fire
28
Contrite
Penitent, eager to be forgiven
29
Conundrum
Puzzle, problem
30
Credulity
Readiness to believe
31
Cupidity
Greed, strong desire
32
Cursory
Brief to the point of being superficial
33
Decry
To criticize openly
34
Defile
To make unclean, impure
35
Deleterious
Harmful
36
Demure
Quiet, modest, reserved
37
Deprecate
To belittle, depreciate
38
Deride
To laugh at mockingly, scorn
39
Desecrate
To violate the sacredness of a thing or place
40
Desiccated
Dried up, dehydrated
41
Diaphanous
Light, airy, transparent
42
Diffident
Shy, quiet, modest
43
Discursive
Rambling, lacking order
44
Dissemble
To conceal, fake
45
Dither
To be indecisive
46
Ebullient
Extremely lively, enthusiastic
47
Effrontery
Impudence, nerve, insolence
48
Effulgent
Radiant, splendorous
49
Egregious
Extremely bad
50
Enervate
To weaken, exhaust
51
Ephemeral
Short-lived, fleeting
52
Eschew
To shun, avoid
53
Evanescent
Fleeting, momentary
54
Evince
To show, reveal
55
Exculpate
To free from guilt or blame, exonerate
56
Execrable
Loathsome, detestable
57
Exigent
Urgent, critical
58
Expiate
To make amends for, atone
59
Expunge
To obliterate, eradicate
60
Extant
Existing, not destroyed or lost
61
Extol
To praise, revere
62
Fallacious
Incorrect, misleading
63
Fastidious
Meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards
64
Fatuous
Silly, foolish
65
Fecund
Fruitful, fertile
66
Feral
Wild, savage
67
Fetid
Having a foul odor
68
Florid
Flowery, ornate
69
Fractitious
Troublesome or irritable
70
Garrulous
Talkative, wordy
71
Grandiloquence
Lofty, pompous language
72
Gregarious
Drawn to the company of others, sociable
73
Hackneyed
Unoriginal, trite
74
Hapless
Unlucky
75
Harangue
A ranting speech; to give such a speech
76
Hegemony
Domination over others
77
Iconoclast
One who attacks common beliefs or institutions
78
Ignominious
Humiliating, disgracing
79
Impassive
Stoic, not susceptible to suffering
80
Imperious
Commanding, domineering
81
Inpertinent
Rude, insolent
82
Impervious
Impenetrable, incapable of being affected
83
Impetuous
Rash, hastily done
84
Impinge
To impact, affect, make an impression; to encroach, infringe
85
Implacable
Incapable of being appeased or mitigated
86
Impudent
Casually rude, insolent, impertinent
87
Inchoate
Unformed or formless, in a beginning stage
88
Incontrovertible
Indisputable
89
Indefatigable
Incapable of defeat, failure or decay
90
Ineffable
Unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words
91
Inexorable
Incapable of being persuaded or placated
92
Ingenuous
Not devious, innocent
93
Inimical
Hostile
94
Iniquity
Wickedness or sin
95
Insidious
Appealing but imperceptibly harmful, seductive
96
Intransigent
Refusing to compromise, often on an extreme opinion
97
Inure
To cause someone or something to become accustomed to a sitaution
98
Invective
An angry verbal attack
99
Inveterate
Stubbornly established by habit
100
Jubilant
Extremely joyful, happy
101
Juxtaposition
The act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison
102
Laconic
Terse in speech or writing
103
Languid
Sluggish from fatigue or weakness
104
Largess
The generous giving of lavish gifts
105
Latent
Hidden, but capable of being exposed
106
Legerdemain
Deception, slight-of-hand
107
Licentious
Displaying a lack of moral or legal restraints
108
Limpid
Clear, transparent
109
Maelstrom
A destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects
110
Magnamious
Noble, generous
111
Malediction
A curse
112
Malevolent
Wanting harm to befall others
113
Manifold
Diverse, varied
114
Maudlin
Weakly sentimental
115
Mawkish
Characterized by sick sentimentality
116
Mendacious
Having a lying, false character
117
Mercurial
Characterized by rapid change or temperamentality
118
Modicum
A small amount of something
119
Morass
A wet swampy bog; figuratively, something that traps and confuses
120
Multifarious
Having great diversity or variety
121
Munificence
Generosity in giving
122
Myriad
Consisting of a very great number
123
Nadir
The lowest point of something
124
Nascent
In the process of being born or coming into existence
125
Nefarious
Heinously villainous
126
Neophyte
Someone who is young or inexperienced
127
Obdurate
I'm yielding to persuasion or moral influences
128
Obfuscate
To render incomprehensible
129
Oblique
Diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward
130
Obsequious
Excessively compliant or submissive
131
Obstreperous
Noisy, unruly
132
Obtuse
Lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
133
Odious
Instilling hatred or intense displeasure
134
Officious
Offering one's services when they are neither wanted nor needed
135
Opulent
Characterized by rich abundance and verging on ostentation
136
Ostensible
Appearing as such, seemingly
137
Palliate
To reduce the severity of
138
Pallid
Lacking color
139
Panacea
A remedy for all ills or difficulties
140
Paragon
A model of excellence or perfection
141
Pariah
An outcast
142
Parsimony
Frugality, stinginess
143
Pathos
An emotion of sympathy
144
Paucity
Small in quantity
145
Pejorative
Derogatory, uncomplimentary
146
Pellucid
Easily intelligible, clear
147
Penurious
Miserly, stingy
148
Perfidious
Disloyal, unfaithful
149
Perfunctory
Showing little interest or enthusiasm
150
Pernicious
Extremely destructive or harmful
151
Perspicacity
Shrewdness, perceptiveness
152
Pertinacious
Stubbornly persistent
153
Petulance
Rudeness, irritability
154
Pithy
Concisely meaningful
155
Platitude
An uninspired remark, cliché
156
Plethora
An abundance, excess
157
Polemic
An aggressive argument against a specific opinion
158
Portent
An omen
159
Precocious
Advanced, developing ahead of time
160
Prescient
To have foreknowledge of events
161
Primeval
Original, ancient
162
Probity
Virtue, integrity
163
Proclivity
A strong inclination toward something
164
Promulgate
To proclaim, make known
165
Propensity
An inclination, preference
166
Propitious
Favorable
167
Prosaic
Plain, lacking liveliness
168
Proscribe
To condemn, outlaw
169
Protean
Able to change shape; displaying great variety
170
Prurient
Eliciting or possessing an extraordinary interest in sex
171
Puerile
Juvenile, immature
172
Pugnacious
Quarrelsome, combative
173
Pulchritude
Physical beauty
174
Punctilious
Eager to follow rules or conventions
175
Quagmire
A difficult situation
176
Querulous
Whiny, complaining
177
Quixotic
Idealistic, impractical
178
Rancor
Deep, bitter resentment
179
Rebuke
To scold, criticize
180
Recalcitrant
Defiant, unapologetic
181
Rectitude
Uprightness, extreme morality
182
Replete
Full, abundant
183
Reprobate
Evil, unprincipled
184
Reprove
To scold, rebuke
185
Repudiate
To reject, refused to except
186
Rescind
To take back, repeal
187
Restive
Resistant, stubborn, inpatient
188
Ribald
Coarsely, crudely humorous
189
Rife
Abundant
190
Ruse
A trick
191
Sacrosanct
Holy, something that should not be criticized
192
Sagacity
Shrewdness, soundness of perspective
193
Salient
Significant, conspicuous
194
Sanctimonious
Giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
195
Sanguine
Optimistic, cheery
196
Scurrilous
Vulgar, course
197
Serendipity
Luck, finding good things without looking for them
198
Servile
Subservient
199
Solicitous
Concerned, attentive
200
Solipsistic
Believing that oneself is all that exists
201
Somnolent
Sleepy, drowsy
202
Spurious
False but designed to seem plausible
203
Staid
Sedate, serious, self-restrained
204
Stolid
Expressing little sensibility, unemotional
205
Stupefy
To astonish, make insensible
206
Surfiet
An overabundant supply or indulgence
207
Surmise
To infer with little evidence
208
Surreptitious
Stealthy
209
Sycophant
One who flatters for self-gain
210
Tacit
Expressed without words
211
Taciturn
Not inclined to talk
212
Tantamount
Equivalent in value or significance
213
Temerity
Audacity, recklessness
214
Tenuous
Having little substance or strength
215
Timorous
Timid, fearful
216
Torpid
Lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
217
Tractable
Easily controlled
218
Transient
Passing through briefly; passing in and out of existence
219
Transmute
To change or alter in form
220
Trenchant
Effective, articulate, clear-cut
221
Truculent
Ready to fight, cruel
222
Turgid
Swollen, excessively embellished style or language
223
Turpitude
Depravity, moral corruption
224
Ubiquitous
Existing everywhere, widespread
225
Umbrage
Resentment, offense
226
Unctuous
Smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner
227
Undulate
To move in waves
228
Upbraid
To criticize or scold severely
229
Usurp
To seize by force, take possession of without right
230
Vacillate
To fluctuate, hesitate
231
Vacuous
Lack of content or ideas, stupid
232
Vapid
Lacking liveliness, dull
233
Variegated
Diversified, distinctly marked
234
Venerate
To regard with respect or to honor
235
Veracity
Truthfulness, accuracy
236
Verdant
Green in tint or color
237
Vex
To confuse or annoy
238
Vicarious
Experiencing through another
239
Vicissitude
Event that occurs by chance
240
Vilify
To lower in importance, defame
241
Viscous
Not free flowing, syrupy
242
Vitriolic
Having a caustic quality
243
Vituperate
To berate
244
Wanton
Undisciplined, lewd, lustful
245
Winsome
Charming, pleasing
246
Wistful
Full of yearning; musingly sad
247
Wizened
Dry, shrunken, wrinkled
248
Zenith
The highest point, cumulating point
249
Zephyr
A gentle breeze
250
Palliate
To reduce the severity of
251
Pallid
Lacking color
252
Panacea
A remedy for all ills or difficulties
253
Paragon
A model of excellence or perfection
254
Pariah
An outcast
255
Parsimony
Frugality, stinginess
256
Pathos
An emotion of sympathy
257
Paucity
Small in quantity
258
Pejorative
Derogatory, uncomplimentary
259
Pellucid
Easily intelligible, clear
260
Penurious
Miserly, stingy
261
Perfidious
Disloyal, unfaithful
262
Perfunctory
Showing little interest or enthusiasm
263
Pernicious
Extremely destructive or harmful
264
Perspicacity
Shrewdness, perceptiveness
265
Pertinacious
Stubbornly persistent
266
Petulance
Rudeness, irritability
267
Pithy
Concisely meaningful
268
Platitude
An uninspired remark, cliché
269
Plethora
An abundance, excess
270
Polemic
An aggressive argument against a specific opinion
271
Portent
An omen
272
Precocious
Advanced, developing ahead of time
273
Prescient
To have foreknowledge of events
274
Primeval
Original, ancient
275
Probity
Virtue, integrity
276
Proclivity
A strong inclination toward something
277
Promulgate
To proclaim, make known
278
Propensity
An inclination, preference
279
Propitious
Favorable
280
Prosaic
Plain, lacking liveliness
281
Proscribe
To condemn, outlaw
282
Protean
Able to change shape; displaying great variety
283
Prurient
Eliciting or possessing an extraordinary interest in sex
284
Puerile
Juvenile, immature
285
Pugnacious
Quarrelsome, combative
286
Pulchritude
Physical beauty
287
Punctilious
Eager to follow rules or conventions
288
Quagmire
A difficult situation
289
Querulous
Whiny, complaining
290
Quixotic
Idealistic, impractical
291
Rancor
Deep, bitter resentment
292
Rebuke
To scold, criticize
293
Recalcitrant
Defiant, unapologetic
294
Rectitude
Uprightness, extreme morality
295
Replete
Full, abundant
296
Reprobate
Evil, unprincipled
297
Reprove
To scold, rebuke
298
Repudiate
To reject, refused to except
299
Rescind
To take back, repeal
300
Restive
Resistant, stubborn, inpatient
301
Ribald
Coarsely, crudely humorous
302
Rife
Abundant
303
Ruse
A trick
304
Sacrosanct
Holy, something that should not be criticized
305
Sagacity
Shrewdness, soundness of perspective
306
Salient
Significant, conspicuous
307
Sanctimonious
Giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
308
Sanguine
Optimistic, cheery
309
Scurrilous
Vulgar, course
310
Serendipity
Luck, finding good things without looking for them
311
Servile
Subservient
312
Solicitous
Concerned, attentive
313
Solipsistic
Believing that oneself is all that exists
314
Somnolent
Sleepy, drowsy
315
Spurious
False but designed to seem plausible
316
Staid
Sedate, serious, self-restrained
317
Stolid
Expressing little sensibility, unemotional
318
Stupefy
To astonish, make insensible
319
Surfiet
An overabundant supply or indulgence
320
Surmise
To infer with little evidence
321
Surreptitious
Stealthy
322
Sycophant
One who flatters for self-gain
323
Tacit
Expressed without words
324
Taciturn
Not inclined to talk
325
Tantamount
Equivalent in value or significance
326
Temerity
Audacity, recklessness
327
Tenuous
Having little substance or strength
328
Timorous
Timid, fearful
329
Torpid
Lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
330
Tractable
Easily controlled
331
Transient
Passing through briefly; passing in and out of existence
332
Transmute
To change or alter in form
333
Trenchant
Effective, articulate, clear-cut
334
Truculent
Ready to fight, cruel
335
Turgid
Swollen, excessively embellished style or language
336
Turpitude
Depravity, moral corruption
337
Ubiquitous
Existing everywhere, widespread
338
Umbrage
Resentment, offense
339
Unctuous
Smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner
340
Undulate
To move in waves
341
Upbraid
To criticize or scold severely
342
Usurp
To seize by force, take possession of without right
343
Vacillate
To fluctuate, hesitate
344
Vacuous
Lack of content or ideas, stupid
345
Vapid
Lacking liveliness, dull
346
Variegated
Diversified, distinctly marked
347
Venerate
To regard with respect or to honor
348
Veracity
Truthfulness, accuracy
349
Verdant
Green in tint or color
350
Vex
To confuse or annoy
351
Vicarious
Experiencing through another
352
Vicissitude
Event that occurs by chance
353
Vilify
To lower in importance, defame
354
Viscous
Not free flowing, syrupy
355
Vitriolic
Having a caustic quality
356
Vituperate
To berate
357
Wanton
Undisciplined, lewd, lustful
358
Winsome
Charming, pleasing
359
Wistful
Full of yearning; musingly sad
360
Wizened
Dry, shrunken, wrinkled
361
Zenith
The highest point, cumulating point
362
Zephyr
A gentle breeze
