Vocab Flashcards
(500 cards)
1
Q
passion, excitement
A
zeal
2
Q
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
A
stolid
3
Q
to lie or deviate from the truth
A
prevaricate
4
Q
extreme mental and physical slugishness
A
torpor
5
Q
conformity to facts; accuracy
A
veracity
6
Q
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
A
implacable
7
Q
to prevent; to make unnecessary
A
obviate
8
Q
temporary, lasting a brief time
A
transitory
9
Q
a mark of shame or discredit
A
stigma
10
Q
impartial and honest in speech
A
candid
11
Q
silent, reserved, holding something back
A
reticent
12
Q
to calm or make less severe
A
mollify
13
Q
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
A
disparate
14
Q
effective writing or speaking
A
rhetoric
15
Q
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
A
specious
16
Q
argumentative
A
cantankerous
17
Q
excessively decorated or embellished
A
florid
18
Q
bright, brilliant, glowing
A
luminous
19
Q
the art of public speaking
A
oratory
20
Q
overly submissive and eager to please
A
obsequious
21
Q
a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
A
metaphor
22
Q
someone who shows off learning
A
pedant
23
Q
convincing and well-reasoned
A
cogent
24
Q
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
A
eclectic
25
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
dupe
26
mixed with foreign matter; adulterated
impure
27
causing sleep or lethargy
soporific
28
paper used for letter writing
stationary
29
to penetrate
permeate
30
very beautiful
pulchritudinous
31
intended to delay
dilatory
32
to overwhelm; to cover with water
inundate
33
mislead
misguide
34
to make more bearable
alleviate
35
prevent from functioning in a normal way; weakened
incapacitated
36
lacking interest or flavor
insipid
37
suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief
postulate
38
affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important
pompous
39
changing one's mind quickly and often
capricious
40
to clear from blame; prove innocent
exculpated
41
(of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive
sedentary
42
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
vicissitude
43
deceit or trickery
guile
44
deception by means of craft or guile; using sly intelligence to get away with something
chicanery
45
fresh and clean, uncorrupted
pristine
46
stubborn, unyielding
obstinate
47
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
dilettante
48
lacking sophistication or experience
naive
49
lofty or grand
sublime
50
sociable, outgoing
gregarious
51
to grovel
fawn
52
honest and innocent
artless
53
tending to talk a lot
garrulous
54
great disorder or confusion
chaos
55
to set right, to free from error
disabuse
56
to clear from blame
exonerated
57
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
euphemism
58
carefree
insouciant
59
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
decorum
60
the quality of not expressing genuine feelings
insincerity
61
to perceive, to recognize
discern
62
to throw violently or bring about abruptly, lacking deliberation
precipitate
63
idea held to be true
tenet
64
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
eloquent
65
cause (someone) to have a wrong idea or impression about someone or something
misleading
66
a puzzle; a mystery
enigma
67
dictatorial in one's opinion
dogmatic
68
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
dissonance
69
(v) to give unsparingly
(agj) extremely generous or extravagent
lavish
70
extremely careful about details
meticulous
71
to fluctuate between choices
waver
72
steadily increasing volume or force
crescendo
73
fearless and daring
audacious
74
a critical and aggressive speech
diatribe
75
a situation in which no progress is possible especially because of disagreement; a deadlock
impasse
76
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
condone
77
predictable, cliched, boring
banal
78
cheerful and full of energy
ebullience
79
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
analogous
80
harsh, jarring noise
cacophony
81
wandering and unpredictable
erratic
82
lack of variation
monotony
83
to soften; to lessen
mitigate
84
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
abate
85
sacred or inviolable
sacrosanct
86
ancient, old-fashioned
archaic
87
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
malinger
88
severe or harsh use of power
draconian
89
not controversial; undoubtedly true
incontrovertible
90
to arouse or incite
foment
91
never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored
inviolable
92
to soothe or pacify
placate
93
motionless
quiescent
94
to make worse
exacerbate
95
to speak in favor of
advocate
96
pompous in speech and manner; arrogant
bombastic
97
to make better; to improve
ameliorate
98
to combine; to mix together
amalgamate
99
to disapprove
discountenance
100
to put a message into code
encrypt
101
using few words; brief; to the point
laconic
102
done without using words
tacit
103
not capable of being disturbed
imperturbable
104
to copy; to try to equal or excel
emulate
105
shame or humiliation
ignominy
106
to evaluate, analyze, or test
assay
107
to purchase or obtain
annex
108
charity; a desire or an effort to promote goodness
philanthropy
109
to dry out thoroughly
desiccate
110
to provide supporting evidence
corroborate
111
to support; to prop up
bolster
112
shock or excite (someone) into taking action
galvanize
113
easily made angry
irascible
114
public disgrace
opprobrium
115
acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
lethargic
116
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
aggrandize
117
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high
exorbitant
118
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
ingenuous
119
lavish, wasteful
prodigal
120
to leave secretly
abscond
121
to decode
decrypt
122
silent, not talkative
taciturn
123
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead; avoid telling the truth
equivocate
124
not fully formed; disorganized
inchoate
125
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
arbitrate
126
stubborn
obdurate
127
to make larger; to expand
dilate
128
a sorrowful poem or speech
elegy
129
to express sorrow; to grieve
lament
130
intense and passionate feeling
ardor
131
unimportant
trivial
132
able to speak clearly and expressively
articulate
133
speech in praise of someone
eulogy
134
clear and easily understood
lucid
135
a person who dislikes others
misanthrope
136
quick to act without thinking
impetuous
137
something that brings about a change in something else
catalyst
138
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
explicit
139
to choose not to do something
abstain
140
intensely emotional; feverish
fervid
141
become tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic
flagging
142
to make impure
adulterate
143
urgent; requiring immediate action
exigent
144
excess
plethora
145
to praise
exalt
146
learned, scholarly, bookish
erudite
147
deviation from the common rule or from what is normal
anomaly
148
lasting a short time; short-lived
ephemeral
149
to annoy or provoke to anger
antagonize
150
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
whimsical
151
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
propriety
152
capable of being shaped
malleable
153
to reduce in strength
enervate
154
to make something unpleasant less severe
assuage
155
known or understood by only a few
esoteric
156
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
austere
157
done in a routine way; indifferent
perfunctory
158
effectiveness
efficacy
159
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
dissemble
160
harmless
innocuous
161
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
desultory
162
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
dirge
163
admirable
estimable
164
concerning the appreciation of beauty
aesthetic
165
too trusting; gullible
credulous
166
people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject; experts
cognoscenti
167
to conciliate; to appease
propitiate
168
the building in which a legislative body meets
capitol
169
sharp and irritating to the senses
pungent
170
to satisfy fully or overindulge
satiate
171
easily deceived
gullible
172
practical as opposed to idealistic
pragmatic
173
to punish or criticize harshly
castigating
174
open to more than one interpretation; misleading
equivocal
175
impossible to see through, preventing the passage of light
opaque
176
undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution
subvert
177
to increase in number quickly
proliferate
178
respect, courtesy
deference
179
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
onerous
180
lacking self-confidence
diffident
181
to sway physically; to be indecisive
vacillate
182
talkative
loquacious
183
excessive showiness
ostentation
184
spokesperson
prolocutor
185
of a similar kind
homogeneous
186
lack of interest or emotion
apathy
187
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
fanatical
188
to make thinner or sparser
rarefy
189
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
intransigent
190
the complete loss or absence of hope
despair
191
model of excellence or perfection
paragon
192
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
attenuate
193
shun; eschew
repudiate
194
a contradiction or dilemma
paradox
195
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
impervious
196
hostile, unfriendly
inimical
197
willing to betray one's trust
perfidious
198
seizing property
confiscatory
199
an extremely deep hole
abyss
200
to produce, cause, or bring about
engender
201
biting in wit
caustic
202
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
frugality
203
to stop up; to prevent the passage of
occlude
204
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
volatile
205
something out of place in time
anachronism
206
take eager advantage of; exploit for one's own purposes
seize
207
able to be molded, altered, or bent
plastic
208
to count, list, or itemize
enumerate
209
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
chauvinist
210
derived genetically from one's parents or ancestors
inherited
211
doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
ambiguous
212
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission
grovel
213
to sympathize
commiserate
214
a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
dogma
215
to give praise, to glorify
laud
216
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
iconoclast
217
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
tirade
218
a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion
antipathy
219
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
deride
220
intricate and complicated
convoluted
221
wisdom, caution, or restraint
prudence
222
optional
discretionary
223
unclear; hard to make out
unintelligible
224
aerodynamic
streamlined
225
the study of the properties of moving air and the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it
aerodynamic
226
argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner
debating
227
uncertainty
augmenting
228
producing many works (in regards to an artist, author, or composer)
prolific
229
producing many works (in regard to an artist, author, or composer)
prolific
230
difficult to understand, obscure
abstruse
231
flawlessness
impeccability
232
an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
resilience
233
to be sweet or pleasing
euphonic
234
health-giving
salubrious
235
publicly criticized by using ridicule
lampooned
236
mock; dismissive language or behavior
ridiculed
237
the action of making something accessible to everyone
democratization
238
trivial; worthless
picayne
239
cause to feel angry or excited
rouse
240
hyperactive or difficult to control
restive
241
continue to have (something); to keep in possession of
retain
242
of a crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else
pivotal
243
a lack of taste
gaudiness
244
humorous in a playful, mischievous or facetious manner
waggish
245
showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor
witty
246
(especially of a person or speech) who is passionate and loud
vociferous
247
advertised
touted
248
a place or building where things are or may be stored
repository
249
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring
perennial
250
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand
obtuse
251
exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way
tyrannical
252
denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace
venial
253
hard to control or deal with
intractable
254
understood by a few; mysterious or secret
arcane
255
difficult to understand; uncertain
obscure
256
obvious
pronounced
257
(of a quality or result) achieved or maintained by careful and deliberate effort
studied
258
not thorough or detailed
cursory
259
a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something
deterrent
260
random
arbitrary
261
not applied
waved
262
reduced
commuted
263
not fitting a pattern
anomalous
264
relevant
germane
265
sending someone or something to complete an action for a purpose
dispatch
266
quickly completing an action
celerity
267
untidy especially in the way someone is dressed
sloveliness
268
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
bellicose
269
willing to please others; obliging; agreeable
complaisant
270
to be hesitant, not firm
flimsy
271
obscure
cloud
272
distort, misrepresent, exaggerate
color
273
practicing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior
puritanical
274
to take being proper to an exaggerated or ridiculous degree
prudish
275
hidden; undercover
covert
276
boring or ordinary
mundane
277
minor or trivial
petty
278
accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant
inured
279
irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with
extraneous
280
mournful
lugubrious
281
sad
melancholy
282
make or become definite and clear; understanding
crystallize
283
something wavering and uncertain
ambivalent
284
discovered by an experiment or experience
empirical
285
overdone
overwrought
286
not relating to the main or most important part
peripheral
287
playful or humorous
jocose
288
hate
abhor
289
narrow-minded, prejudiced person
bigot
290
fake; false
counterfeit
291
give voting rights
enfranchise
292
hinder; obstruct
hamper
293
create difficulties for (someone or something)
hinder
294
to start a fire
kindle
295
harmful; poisonous; lethal
noxious
296
calm; peaceful
placid
297
payment for work done
remuneration
298
lucky charm
talisman
299
rough; coarse; harsh
abrasive
300
cheat; defraud
bilk
301
storage area (like garage) for a plane
hangar
302
complex; difficult to solve
knotty
303
something subtle; a fine shade of meaning
nuance
304
taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas
plagiarism
305
fame
renown
306
going off the main subject
tangent
307
humiliation; degradation
abasement
308
swelling; fluttering; waving
billowing
309
recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
cower
310
improve; make better or clearer
enhance
311
noisy, attacking speech
harangue
312
a maze
labyrinth
313
to counter; make unimportant
nullify
314
petitioner (in court of law)
plaintiff
315
full
replete
316
can be touched
tangible
317
cancel; deny; repeal
abrogate
318
speech that offends religious sentiments
blasphemy
319
believable
credible
320
indicators; bringers of warnings
harbingers
321
complicated; highly convoluted
labyrinthine
322
cuddle; snuggle
nuzzle
323
statement giving strong praise
plaudit
324
shameful; very bad
reprehensible
325
slow; late; overdue; delayed
tardy
326
forgiveness; pardon; release
absolution
327
obvious
blatant
328
praiseworthy
creditable
329
establish firmly in a position
ensconce
330
hurry; accelerate; rush
hasten
331
a cut
laceration
332
can be believed; reasonable
plausible
333
a respite; postponement of a sentence
reprieve
334
of little value; gaudy
tawdry
335
deliberately avoid; abstain from
eschew
336
damaged; destroyed; ruined
blighted
337
cover
enshroud
338
arrogance; pride
haughtiness
339
tearful; sad
lachrymose
340
deliberately make something difficult to understand
obfuscate
341
boredom
tedium
342
self-denying; refraining from indulging
abstemious
343
free-spirited; carefree
blithe
344
active at dawn and dusk
crepuscular
345
clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
enunciation
346
stubborn; willful
headstrong
347
dull; monotonous; bland
lackluster
348
unbiased; not subjective
objective
349
flexible; not stubborn
pliable
350
retract; repeal
rescind
351
to moderate; soften
temper
352
(n) 1. ancient weapon (type of gun)
2. a clumsy person
blunderbuss
353
recoil; flinch; shy away
cringe
354
to cause bitterness and bad feeling
envenom
355
self indulgence; pleasure-seeking
hedonism
356
indirect; slanting
oblique
357
feathers of a bird
plumage
358
acceptance of fate
resignation
359
stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose
tenacious
360
tribute; honor; praise
accolade
361
puzzling; enigmatic
cryptic
362
a pleasure seeker
hedonist
363
expression of regret or sorrow
lamentation
364
destroy; demolish; eradicate
obliterate
365
fall suddenly and steeply
plummet
366
determination
resolution
367
not certain
tentative
368
to agree to; give in to
acquiesce
369
cut short
curtail
370
someone who appreciates good food and drinks
epicure
371
listen to
heed
372
totally unaware
oblivious
373
raised platform
podium
374
echoing
resonant
375
flimsy; not solid
tenuous
376
sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
acrid
377
ill-mannered
boorish
378
believing that people act only out of selfish motives
cynical
379
a letter (form of communication)
epistle
380
against orthodox opinion
heresy
381
spear; spike; javelin
lance
382
deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions
poignant
383
a break; intermission
respite
384
concise; to the point
terse
385
fear of heights
acrophobia
386
middle class
bourgeois
387
weakness; incapacity
debility
388
concerned with letters; through correspondence
epistolary
389
interruption; pause
hiatus
390
tired; slow
languid
391
hidden; covered; buried
obscured
392
calm; collected; self-possessed
poised
393
shining; glowing
resplendent
394
medicinal; curative
therapeutic
395
sharpness (mental or visual)
acuity
396
someone who boasts
braggart
397
exposing false claims or myths
debunking
398
typified; characterized; personified
epitomized
399
rigid in opinions
hidebound
400
decay; fade away; get weaker
languish
401
causing debate or argument
polemical
402
a tonic
restorative
403
a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being
tonic
404
prevent; frustrate
thwart
405
forceful; inflexible
adament
406
muscular
brawny
407
an athletic competition with ten events
decathlon
408
(n) 1. picture writing
2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic
hieroglyphics
409
theft; robbery; stealing
larcery
410
a dominating concern
obsession
411
weighty; slow and heavy
ponderous
412
preservation; withholding
retention
413
cowardly; fearful
timorous
414
skillful
adroit
415
being brief
brevity
416
make a mistake
err
417
obstruct
hinder
418
no longer valid
obsolete
419
peak pompously or dogmatically
pontificate
420
generosity
largess
421
strong admiration; worship
adulation
422
to show irritation
bristle
423
lure; trap; trick
decoy
424
theatrical; exaggerated
histrionic
425
noisy and boisterous
obstreperous
426
foretell (predict the future)
portend
427
withdrawal; cancellation of a statement
retraction
428
giggle quietly
titter
429
hardship
adversity
430
start to discuss; approach
broach
431
old
hoary
432
a warning sign; omen
portent
433
worship
revere
434
large book
tome
435
blunt; abrupt
brusque
436
cause leaves to fall off
defoliate
437
promote; take up; support
espouse
438
sharpen; increase; whet
hone
439
to sharpen a blade of a weapon or tool
whet
440
careless; not strict
lax
441
someone who puts on an act
poseur
442
full of (usually full of holes)
riddled
443
inactive; lazy; stagnant
torpid
444
fortification; barricade; wall
bulwark
445
no longer in existence
defunct
446
the study of word origins
etymology
447
grossly exaggerated speech
hyperbole
448
hateful
odious
449
future generations
posterity
450
common
rife
451
friendly; social; easygoing
affable
452
officialdom
bureaucracy
453
deprivation; poverty; debasement
degradation
454
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
hypochondriac
455
in large numbers
legion
456
domineering; intrusive meddlesome
officious
457
after death
posthumous
458
thoroughness
rigor
459
walk unsteadily
totter
460
eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness
alacrity
461
grow; flourish; put forth new shoots
burgeon
462
harmful
deleterious
463
insincere
hypocritical
464
stare at; observe in an obvious manner
ogle
465
strong; healthy; tough
robust
466
obedient; dutiful; polite
tractable
467
medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold
alchemy
468
polish
burnish
469
to think over deeply
deliberate
470
pleasant sounds
euphony
471
flippancy; joking about serious matters
levity
472
concerned with the sense of smell
olfactory
473
suitable for drinking
potable
474
round
rotund
475
peaceful
tranquil
476
an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene
alibi
477
strengtthen; support
buttress
478
demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining
delineation
479
vacate; empty; abandon
evacuate
480
a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual
idiosyncrasy
481
someone who opposes tyranny
libertarian
482
threatening
ominous
483
powerful; compelling; strong
potent
484
think over something; ponder
ruminate
484
think over something; ponder
ruminatecopy
485
copy
transcribe
486
to lessen
allay
487
the line that tells you who wrote an article
byline
488
hesitate; refuse
demur
489
shameful
ignominious
490
soothing lotion
liniment
491
all-powerful
omnipotent
492
trick
ruse
493
go astray; disobey; commit a sin
transgress
494
condemn; speak out against
denounce
495
frustrated; annoyed
exasperated
496
flexible; supple
lithe
497
all-knowing
omnicient
498
practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness
pragmatist
499
falsely sweet
saccharin
