Words 851 - 875

Question 1

restive

Answer 1

resistant, stubborn, impatient

adjective

The restive audience pelted the band with mud and yelled nasty comments.

Question 2

retract

Answer 2

withdraw

verb

As the media worked itself into a frenzy, the publicist hurriedly retracted his client’s sexist statement.

Question 3

revel

Answer 3

to enjoy intensely

verb

Theodore reveled in his new status as Big Man on Campus.

Question 4

revere

Answer 4

to esteem, show deference, venerate

verb

The doctor saved countless lives with his combination of expertise and kindness and became universally revered.

Question 5

revoke

Answer 5

to take back

verb

After missing the curfew set by the court for eight nights in a row, Marcel’s freedom of movement was revoked.

Question 6

rhapsodize

Answer 6

to speak or write in an excessively emotional manner

verb

The critic rhapsodized about the movie, calling it an instant classic.

Question 7

ribald

Answer 7

coarsely, crudely humorous

adjective

While some giggled at the ribald joke involving a parson’s daughter, most sighed and rolled their eyes.

Question 8

rife

Answer 8

abundant

adjective

Surprisingly, the famous novelist’s writing was rife with spelling errors.

Question 9

ruminate

Answer 9

to contemplate, reflect

verb

Terry liked to ruminate while sitting on the banks of the river, staring pensively into the water.

Question 10

ruse

Answer 10

a trick

noun

Oliver concocted an elaborate ruse for sneaking out of the house to meet his girlfriend while simultaneously giving his mother the impression that he was asleep in bed.

Question 11

saccharine

Answer 11

sickeningly sweet

adjective

Tom’s saccharine manner, although intended to make him popular, actually repelled his classmates.

Question 12

sacrosanct

Answer 12

holy, something that should not be criticized

adjective

In the United States, the Constitution is often thought of as a sacrosanct document.

Question 13

sagacity

Answer 13

shrewdness, soundness of perspective

noun

With remarkable sagacity, the wise old man predicted and thwarted his children’s plan to ship him off to a nursing home.

Question 14

salient

Answer 14

significant, conspicuous

adjective

One of the salient differences between Alison and Nancy is that Alison is a foot taller.

Question 15

salutation

Answer 15

a greeting

noun

Andrew regularly began letters with the bizarre salutation “Ahoy ahoy.”

Question 16

salve

Answer 16

a soothing balm

noun

After Tony applied a salve to his brilliant red sunburn, he soon felt a little better.

Question 17

sanctimonious

Answer 17

giving a hypocritical appearance of piety

adjective

The sanctimonious Bertrand delivered stern lectures on the Ten Commandments to anyone who would listen, but thought nothing of stealing cars to make some cash on the side.

Question 18

sanguine

Answer 18

optimistic, cheery

adjective

Polly reacted to any bad news with a sanguine smile and the chirpy cry, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”

Question 19

satiate

Answer 19

to satisfy excessively

verb

Satiated after eating far too much turkey and stuffing, Liza lay on the couch watching football and suffering from stomach pains.

Question 20

scathing

Answer 20

sharp, critical, hurtful

adjective

Two hours after breaking up with Russell, Suzanne thought of the perfect scathing retort to his accusations.

Question 21

scintilating

Answer 21

sparkling

adjective

The ice skater’s scintillating rhinestone costume nearly blinded the judges.

Question 22

scrupulous

Answer 22

painstaking, careful

adjevtive

With scrupulous care, Sam cut a snowflake out of white paper.

Question 23

scurrilous

Answer 23

vulgar, coarse

adjetive

When Bruno heard the scurrilous accusation being made about him, he could not believe it because he always tried to be nice to everyone.

Question 24

sedentary

Answer 24

sitting, settled

adjective

The sedentary cat did little but loll in the sun.

Question 25

semaphore

Answer 25

a visual signal

noun

Anne and Diana communicated with a semaphore involving candles and window shades.