Word of the day Flashcards
(24 cards)
Lenient
Mild and tolerant; indulgent. Mnemonic: ‘A lenient teacher lets students off easy.’ Example: ‘The officer was lenient and gave me a warning instead of a ticket.’
Lucrative
Profitable, producing wealth. Mnemonic: ‘Luca makes money, so lucrative is about making a lot of money.’ Example: ‘Winning the government contract was a lucrative opportunity.’
Jejune
Dull, juvenile, or lacking value. Mnemonic: ‘Jejunior’ is a boring, younger version of something. Example: ‘The debate was jejune, lacking any meaningful ideas.’
Nonplus
To perplex or confuse. Mnemonic: Imagine yourself being nonplussed when someone unexpectedly compliments you. Example: ‘I was nonplussed by his strange question.’
Eclectic
Diverse, made of different elements. Mnemonic: ‘Eclectic’ is like ‘electric’—a mix of styles and energy. Example: ‘Her playlist is eclectic, with jazz, rock, and pop.’
Lethargic
Sluggish, lazy, lacking energy. Mnemonic: ‘Lethargic’ sounds like lazy. Example: ‘After eating, I felt lethargic and needed a nap.’
Colloquial
Conversational, informal. Mnemonic: ‘Colloquial’ = ‘colloquy’ = conversation. Example: ‘Gonna’ is a colloquial way to say ‘going to’.
Magnum Opus
A great work; greatest achievement. Mnemonic: ‘Magnum’ = large, so this is the greatest work ever. Example: ‘The Mona Lisa is Da Vinci’s magnum opus.’
Laissez-faire
A policy of noninterference, especially with individual freedom. Mnemonic: ‘Laissez-faire’ = ‘let do’—hands-off approach. Example: ‘The government’s laissez-faire attitude allowed businesses to grow freely.’
Laconic
Concise to the point of being mysterious or rude. Mnemonic: ‘Laconic’ = ‘lacuna’ = brief or gap. Example: ‘His laconic reply was just, ‘I’m fine.’’
Sanguine
Optimistic, especially in difficult situations. Mnemonic: ‘Sanguine’ = healthy (from blood). Example: ‘Despite challenges, she remained sanguine about the future.’
Tantamount
Equivalent in effect, value, or significance. Mnemonic: ‘Tantamount’ = equal to. Example: ‘The resignation was tantamount to admitting defeat.’
Amuse-bouche
A small, complimentary appetizer. Mnemonic: ‘Amuse’ = entertain, ‘bouche’ = mouth. Example: ‘The chef served an amuse-bouche before the main course.’
Moral Compass
A set of beliefs guiding decisions and actions. Mnemonic: A moral compass guides you on right and wrong, like a real compass. Example: ‘His moral compass guided him through tough situations.’
Stalwart
Strong, firm in body, mind, or spirit. Mnemonic: ‘Stalwart’ = stalactite—strong and enduring. Example: ‘She was a stalwart defender of freedom.’
Adjudicate
To judge or settle a dispute. Mnemonic: ‘Adjudicate’ sounds like ‘judge’. Example: ‘The judge will adjudicate the case on Monday.’
Polyglot
A person who speaks several languages. Mnemonic: ‘Poly’ = many, ‘glot’ = language. Example: ‘She’s a polyglot who speaks five languages.’
Succinct
Brief and concise without wasted words. Mnemonic: ‘Succinct’ = suck-in-t—compressing to the point. Example: ‘Her explanation was succinct and to the point.’
Hector
To intimidate or harass by bluster. Mnemonic: Think of Hector from Troy—strong, intimidating. Example: ‘The kids kept hectoring him until the teacher intervened.’
Tenet
A core belief or principle. Mnemonic: ‘Tenet’ = ‘tenant’—someone who follows the rules. Example: ‘One key tenet of democracy is free speech.’
Kitsch
Tacky, lowbrow art or objects of poor taste. Mnemonic: ‘Kitsch’ = kitschy—cheesy, sentimental. Example: ‘The shop sold kitsch souvenirs like plastic statues.’
Coalesce
To unite or combine into a whole. Mnemonic: ‘Coalesce’ = coal—things coming together to form a fire. Example: ‘The teams coalesced to form a supergroup for the charity event.’
Inexorable
Relentless, unstoppable. Mnemonic: ‘Inexorable’ = in-exorable—something that can’t be turned back. Example: ‘The inexorable passage of time waits for no one.’
Placate
To soothe or calm, especially by making concessions. Mnemonic: ‘Placate’ = plate—offering food to calm down. Example: ‘The mother tried to placate her upset child with a cookie.’
