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120 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Daunt verb |
to cow or dismay "The size of the workload alone is likely to daunt even the most dedicated students"' synonyms: discourage |
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Dearth noun |
Smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack "Given the dearth of food in her pantry, Rebecca considered having her pet rabbit for dinner." Synonyms: deficiency |
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Debacle Noun |
rout; fiasco; complete failure |
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Decorous adjective |
Correct; format; marked by decorum "I don't trust such decorous behavior; people who rely so heavily on politeness probably have something to hide" Synonyms: proper |
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Decorum noun |
Polite or appropriate conduct or behavior "There are courses available in which one can learn the proper decorum for job interviews, such as shaking hands firmly and looking your interviewer in the eye. " synonyms: propriety |
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Demur verb |
To question or oppose "Concerned about the budget deficit, i had to demur a the candidate's position on lowering taxes." Synonyms: object |
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Denigrate verb |
To belittle; to defame "Some tried to denigrate the hometown hero with stories of his questionable private life, but most citizens still idolize him." Synonyms: disparage |
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Denizen noun |
Inhabitant; one who frequents a place "The denizens of that artists' studio are a tight-knit group who don't welcome strangers." Synonyms: resident |
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Denouement noun |
An outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot "The story lacks both a conflict and a denouement; it's just a description of a day in the life of the main character." Synonyms: resolution |
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Deposition noun |
Official testimony "The deposition states that the defendant was at home on the night in question, but I know that's not the whole story." Synonyms: statement |
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Deprecate verb |
To disparage or put down
"Annie has low self esteem and always deprecates herself despite her many accomplishments." Synonyms: belittle |
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Derision noun |
Scorn; ridicule; contemptuous treatment "The regional manager was held in derision by the entire board for botching his annual presentation." Synonyms: mockery, contempt |
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Derivative adjcetive |
Unoriginal; obtained from another source Synonyms: Adapted |
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Descry verb |
To observe or discern "The astute editor could descry a misspelling or factual error before the rest of us could even finish the sentence." Synonyms: detect |
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Desecrate verb |
To violate the sanctity of "When folding a national flag, you should not desecrate it by letting it drag on the ground." Synonyms: defile |
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Desiccate verb |
To dry out; to make dull or dry "When you desiccate fresh herbs, they keep longer, but lose some of their flavor." Synonyms: dehydrate |
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Desuetude noun |
The state of not being used "VCRs fell into desuetude as more people started buying DVD players" Synonyms: disuse |
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Desultory adjective |
Random; disconnected
"The patient's desultory speech pattern was a sign she was still under the anesthetic." Synonym: haphazard. |
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Detraction noun |
Slandering, verbal attack; aspersion "The company's representatives responded quickly to the whistleblower's detraction and hoped to deflect any bad press about the faulty product." synonyms: disparagement |
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Diaphanous adjective |
Transient; gauzy "The celebrity's diaphanous dress was the talk of the town for the next day." Synonyms: translucent |
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Diatribe noun |
A harsh denunciation "My failure to turn off the light led to my father's diatribe on saving electricity." Synonyms: fulmination |
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Didactic adjective |
intended to teach or instruct "A didactic lecture is far more effective when it is interactive." Synonyms: pedagogic |
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Diffident adjective |
reserved; shy; lacking in self-confidence "He is too diffident to be a good teacher, which is a shame because he possesses a boundless knowledge of the subject." Synonyms: timid |
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Dilatory adjective |
Causing delay "I realized later that the students' dilatory interruptions were a plot to get to the end of the class before I had time to assign the homework." Synonyms: dallying |
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Dilettante noun |
One with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge "These advanced cheese tasting courses are meant for the connoisseurs; dilettantes should take the beginners' class." Synonyms: amateur |
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Din noun |
loud, sustained sounds "The din in the train station rendered cell phone conversation futile, but fortunately texting saved the day." Synonyms: noise |
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Dirge noun |
a song or poem of grief "At the funeral, claudia sang a dirge she had composed in honor of her grandmother." synonyms: lament |
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Discomfit verb |
To embarras or perplex "The students discomfited me with sharp questions, a sign that I wasn't prepared enough for class." Synonyms: Disconcert |
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Discordant adjective |
Conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound "The sound of the opera singer's voice over the accordion was quite discordant" Synonyms: cacophonous, inharmonious, jarring |
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Discretion noun |
cautions reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions Synonyms: carefulness |
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Discursive adjective |
digressive; passing from one topic to another "It took the discursive professor two class sessions to get through the same material that it took the succinct professor to get through in one." Synonyms: rambling |
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Disinterested adjective |
unbiased, neutral, or free from personal motive synonyms: dispassionate |
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Disparage verb |
to slight or belittle "The bully disparaged the classmate for her mismatched socks and outdated clothes." Synonyms: demean |
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Disparate adjective |
fundamentally distinct or dissimilar "After the controversial proposition passed, there were disparate reactions." Synonyms: incongruent, contrasting, unlike |
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Dissemble verb |
To disguise or conceal; to misead "The celebrity wore a wig and glasses to dissemble her appearance and avoid prying photographers." Synonyms: camoflauge |
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Distention noun |
The state or act of extending or being swollen out of shape Synonyms: swelling |
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Divulge verb |
to disclose something secret synonyms: reveal |
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Doggerel noun |
trivial or poorly constructed verse "Amid the doggerel on the bathroom walls, there is occasionally one piece of poetry that's quite clever." Synonyms: limerick |
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dogmatic adjective |
stubbornly opinionated "nancy is dogmatic about food and insists that lemon makes everything taste better" Synonyms: adamant |
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dormant adjective |
inactive; in abeyance synonyms: latent |
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dross noun |
slag; worthless matter; impurity "Meditation is a good technique for purging the dross of your everyday thoughts." synonyms: waste |
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Dulcet adjective |
Melodious; pleasant-sounding "The dulcet tones of her voice lulled the baby to sleep." Synonyms: harmonious |
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Dynamo noun |
generator; forceful, energetic person "The visionary dynamo had no problems finding investors for her start-up." Synonyms: live wire |
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Ebullience noun |
The quality of living or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings "Edna can hardly contain her ebullience when she talks about her new puppy" synonyms: effervescence |
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eccentric adjective |
departing from norms or conventions synonyms: unconventional, aberrant, peculiar |
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eclectic adjective |
culled from many sources "one has to be well-versed in dozens of topics to appreciate the writer's eclectic references." Synonyms: varied |
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Edifying adjective |
enlightening "spending the holidays with his family was edifying; I now know the source of many of his quirks and fears." synonyms: instructive |
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Effluvia noun |
Outflow in a stream of particles; a noxious odor or vapor "The effluvia that emerged when we unclogged our shower drain was as disturbing as it was smelly." Synonyms: emanations |
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Effrontery noun |
boldness; impudence; arrogance "The effrontery of the CEOs who insist on bonuses during the recession is not ingratiating them to the public" synonyms: presumptuousness |
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effusive adjective |
gushing; excessively demonstrative "It was hard not to feel welcomed by such an effusive greeting." Synonyms: profuse |
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Egress noun |
A path to go out; the right to go out "As a result of a tragic fire in a garment factory in 1911, factories and other places of business now must have at least two means of egress." Synonyms: exit |
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Elegy noun |
A mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead. "After Lincoln's assassination, Walt Whitman wrote an elegy that is now considered one of his finest poems." Synonyms: lament |
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Eloquent ajdective |
Well-spoken; expressive Synonyms: articulate, persuasive, fluent |
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Emollient adjective |
Soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh "The emollient properties of aloe make it a popular additive to moisturizers." Synonyms: softening |
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Empirical adjective |
Based on observation or experiment synonyms: observed |
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Encomium noun |
Glowing and enthusiastic praise "The young actress received encomiums from theater critics for her stunning debut." Synonyms: tribute |
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Endemic adjective |
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people "The destruction of plant and animal habitats is endemic to population growth." Synonyms: native, indigenous |
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Enervate verb |
to weaken; to reduce in vitality "Working a double shift at the restaurant enervated me." Synonyms: debilitate, sap |
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Engender verb |
To cause; to give rise to "The president's policies have engendered arguments within the party." Synonyms: propagate |
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Enigmatic adjective |
mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand synonyms: cryptic |
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Ennui noun |
Dissatisfaction or restlessness resulting form boredom or apathy synonyms: boredom, languor, tedium |
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Enormity noun |
Excessive wickedness; evil synonyms: outrage |
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Ephemeral adjective |
fleeting; short-lived "the bump to his ego lasted far longer than his ephemeral brush with fame." Synonyms: brief |
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Epicure noun |
One devoted to sensual pleasure, particularly food and drink "Always trust an epicure's restaurant recommendations." Synonyms: gourmet |
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Episodic adjective |
Loosely connected; sporadic "The comic's episodic narrative was entertaining, though hard to follow." Synonyms: occasional |
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Epithet noun |
disparaging or descriptive word or phrase "An old man yelled epithets at the kids who were vandalizing a wall" Synonyms: slur |
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Epitome noun |
embodiment or quintessence synonyms: representation |
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Equanimity noun |
composure; self-possession "My mother took the news of the stolen car with surprising equanimity." Synonyms: calmness |
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Equivocate verb |
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent "When asked by employees about cuts to benefits, the CEO equivocated and steered the discussion to a different topic. Synonyms: quibble, prevaricate |
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Errant adjective |
Wandering; straying "no amount of hair gel can tame the errant strands at the top of my head" synonyms: roving |
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Erudite adjective |
learned "social policy advocates, political strategists, and economists often call on the erudite professor for advice." Synonyms: scholarly |
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Eschew verb |
to avoid "in order to reduce his cholesterol, my father must eschew foods high in saturated fat and sodium." synonyms: shun |
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Esoteric adjective |
intended for or understood by a small, specific group. "Janice's thesis on deconstructing syntax and meter of Old Norse poetry is esoteric." Synonyms: obscure |
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Estimable adjective |
Worthy; formidable "All great heroes, in order to be great heroes, bust have equally estimable foes." Synonyms: admirable |
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Evanescent adjective |
Tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing "Despite the evanescent nature of fashion, the classic look of blue jeans and a T-shirt will never go out of style." Synonyms: ephemeral |
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Evince verb |
To show clearly "I told the bully I was not afraid, but my knocking knees evinced otherwise." Synonyms: manifested |
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Exacerbate verb |
To make worse or more severe synonyms: aggravate, intensify |
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Excoriate verb |
to censure scathingly "The radio host excoriated the caller for defending the unpopular politician." Synonyms: upbraid |
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Exculpate verb |
to exonerate; to clear of blame synonyms: absolve, pardon, acquit |
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Exegesis noun |
Critical examination; explication "The exegesis of the ancient Rosetta Stone has contributed much to our understanding of hieroglyphic writing." Synonyms: interpretation |
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Exemplar noun |
Typical or standard specimen; mode "Candy Girl is an exemplar of the Jackson 5's best work." Synonyms: archetype |
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Exigent adjective |
urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or attention. "I've already missed two payments, so writing a check to the gas company is my most exigent priority." Synonyms: crucial, dire, imperitave |
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Exonerate verb |
to remove blame synonyms: acquit |
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Expurgate verb |
to remove obscenity, especially from a book "The expurgated edition of the story is more suitable for children." Synonyms: censor |
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Extirpate verb |
to destroy; to exterminate; to cut out "After their break-up, she extirpated his face from every photo in the album." Synonyms: abolish |
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Fallacy noun |
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief synonyms: misconception |
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Fallow adjective |
unseeded; inactive; dormant "My creativity has lain fallow this winter; I haven't written anything in months." Synonyms: unproductive |
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Fatuous adjective |
Silly, foolish "Critics claim that fatuous reality shows have eroded standards of taste and quality in the public realm." Synonyms: inane |
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Fawn verb |
to flatter or praise excessively "The star's fans fawned over his great new look." Synonyms: adulate |
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Feckless adjective |
Ineffectual; irresponsible "The feckless chief inspector always solved crime despite his ignorance and uselessness" synonyms: incompetent |
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Felicitous adjective |
Apt; suitably expressed; well chosen "The felicitous arrival of the pizza put my grumbling stomach at ease." synonyms: appropriate |
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Fervent adjective |
Greatly emotional or zealous "Fred sent a fervent letter to his senator expressing his strong opposition to the bill." Synonyms: ardent |
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Fetid adjective |
stinking; smelly "I needed gloves, bleach, and a mask to clean the fetid refrigerator." Synonyms: malodorous |
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Fetter verb |
to shackle; to put in chains "My understanding of the argument was fettered by my lack of fluency in the language." Synonyms: restrain |
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Filibuster noun |
intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action. synonyms: delay, impediment, hindrance |
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Filigree noun |
An ornamental work, especially of delicate, lace-like patterns "I appreciate the work that goes into making filigree jewelry, but I prefer a simpler modern style." Synonym: ornamentation |
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Florid ajdective |
Flowery; ornate; ruddy "The lyrics to the song were positively florid; every other word was about hearts or love" Synonyms: flowery |
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Flout verb |
To demonstrate contempt for, as in a rule or convention "Fabio flouts the class rules by speaking out of turn and interrupting students." synonyms: defy |
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Foment verb |
to incite; to rouse "Elvis's rock music was said to foment impure thoughts and rebelliousness in his young audience." Synonyms: instigate |
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Forbearance noun |
patience; willingness to wait "His forbearance in not replying to the extremely sarcastic waiter was commendable." Synonyms: tolerance |
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Forestall verb |
To hinder; to avert "In order to forestall his creditors, Jack put his utility bills on a new credit card, thereby exacerbating the problem" synonyms: prevent |
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Forswear verb |
To renounce; repudiate "I forswear Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and other junk food and promise to maintain a healthier diet." Synonyms: disavow |
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Fortuitous adjective |
happening by fortunate accident or chance synonyms: lucky |
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founder verb |
to sink; to fail completely "I had a great business plan and product, but my company foundered because I couldn't attract investors." Synonyms: stumble |
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Fracas noun |
Noisy quarrel; brawl "The fracas outside of the nightclub caused the manager to call the police" synonyms: donnybrook |
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Fractious adjective |
quarrelsome; unruly "What appeared to outsiders as a fractious department was actually an open and democratic team in which all opinions were heard and debated." Synonyms: irritable |
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Frieze noun |
a semi-sculptural, raised-surface strip of ornamental facade on a building "It is ironic that a frieze depicting the Roman conquest, enslavement, and plundering of Corinth adorns the courthouse." Synonyms: decorative band |
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Furtive adjective |
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious "Jack shot a furtive glance at the celebrity who sat at the next table" Synonyms: shifty |
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Gainsay verb |
to deny; to oppose "After i easily won the Pac-Man tournament, my competitors could no longer gainsay my video-game dominance." Synonyms: contradict |
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Gambol verb |
To skip about playfully
"After months in their winter den, the polar bears finally emerged and gamboled in the snow." Synonyms: frolic |
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Garner verb |
To gather and save; to store up "The talented actor continued to garner accolades despite this brushes with the law." Synonyms: amass |
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Garrulous adjective |
Pointlessly talkative; talking too much "I just wanted the garrulous waiter to stop rambling and take my order" Synonyms: loquacious |
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Gauche adjective |
crude; awkward "asking how much property cost at the housewarming party was gauche" synonyms: tactless |
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Germane adjective |
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter "Greg could have cut out several sentences from his essay that were not germane to his thesis statement." Synonyms: applicable |
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Glib adjective |
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth "your glib response to my question lets me know that you don't take me seriously" Synonyms: superficial |
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Gossamer adjective |
delicate; insubstantial or tenuous "Light filtered in through the gossamer curtains." Synonyms: diaphanous |
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Grandiloquence noun |
Pompous speech or expression "The nominee ended up losing votes because his grandiloquence annoyed his audience at every campaign speech." Synonyms: bombast |
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Gratuitous adjective |
Unnecessary; uncalled for "Constructive comments will help me improve, but gratuitous criticism just makes me defensive." synonyms: unprovoked |
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Gregarious adjective |
Sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people "The gregarious employees liked to get together after work" Synonyms: affable |
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Guile noun |
artfulness; trickery; duplicity "Pulling off slight-of-hand tricks successfully requires dexterity and guile." Synonyms: deceit |
