Word List 44 Flashcards
(19 cards)
Somnolent (adj)
half asleep
The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker
Sophist (n)
teacher of philosophy; quibbler
You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious
Sophistry (n)
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning
Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries
Sophomoric (adj)
immature; half baked like a sophomore
The humour in Dumb & Dumber is sophomoric at best
Soporific (adj)
sleep causing, marked by sleepiness
Prof Albert’s lecture was so soporific that even he fell asleep in class
Spasmodic (adj)
fitful; periodic
The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers
Specious (adj)
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading
Spendthrifts (n)
someone who wastes money
Sphinx-like (adj)
enigmatic; mysterious
The Mona Lisa’s sphinx like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries
Squalor (n)
filth; degradation; dirty; neglected state
Staid (adj)
sober; sedate
Stalwart (adj)
strong; brawny; steadfast
His consistent support to the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member
Stickler (n)
perfectionist; person who insists things be exact
The IRS agent was a stickler for accuracy
Stigma (n)
token of disgrace; brand
Stipend (n)
pay for services
Stodgy (adj)
stuffy; boringly conservative
For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy you’d expect someone his age to have a little more life
Stolid (adj)
dull; impassive
The earthquake shattered Stuart’s stolid demeanour
Stratagem (n)
clever trick; deceptive scheme
What a gem of a stratagem! Watson, I have the perfect plan to trick Moriarty into revealing himself
Stricture (n)
critical comments; severe and adverse criticism
His strictures on the author’s style are prejudiced and unwarranted
