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36 Cards in this Set
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- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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decorum |diˈkôrəm| |
(n.) - behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety; etiquette |
"You exhibit remarkable modesty and decorum." |
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effrontery |iˈfrəntərē| |
(n.) - insolent or impertinent behavior |
"One juror had the effrontery to challenge the coroner's decision." |
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quiescent |kwēˈesnt| |
(adj.) - in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy |
"Strikes were headed by groups of workers who had previously been quiescent." |
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prescience |preSH(ē)əns| |
(n.) - the fact of knowing something before it takes place; foreknowledge |
"With extraordinary prescience, Jung actually predicted the Nazi eruption." |
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derision |diˈriZHən| |
(n.) - contemptuous ridicule or mockery
synonyms: mockery, ridicule, jeers, sneers, taunts, disdain, disparagement, denigration, disrespect, insults, scorn, contempt; lampooning, satire |
"My stories were greeted with derision and disbelief." |
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rancor |raNGkər| |
(n.) - bitterness or resentfulness; esp. when long-standing
synonyms: bitterness, spite, hate, hatred, resentment, malice, ill will, malevolence, animosity, antipathy, enmity, hostility, acrimony, venom, vitriol |
"Partisans on both sides have created much rancor." |
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pragmatic |pragˈmatik| |
(adj.) - dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
synonyms: practical, matter-of-fact, sensible, down-to-earth, commonsensical, businesslike, having both/one's feet on the ground |
"She remains pragmatic in the most emotional circumstances." |
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insouciance |inˈso͞osēəns| |
(n.) - casual lack of concern; indifference
synonyms: nonchalance, unconcern, indifference, heedlessness, calm, equanimity, composure, ease, airiness |
"Through his own insouciance in raising money, he brought about the very thing he had hoped to avoid." |
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trenchant |trenCHənt| |
(adj.) - vigorous or incisive expression or style; (of a weapon or tool) having a sharp edge
synonyms: incisive, penetrating, sharp, keen, insightful, acute, focused, shrewd, razor-sharp, piercing; vigorous, forceful, strong, potent |
"She heard angry voices, not loud, yet certainly trenchant." |
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unassailable |ˌənəˈsāləbəl| |
(adj.) - unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated
synonyms: invulnerable, impenetrable, inviolable, invincible, unconquerable, secure, safe, strong, indestructible, undeniable, unquestionable, incontestable, incontrovertible, irrefutable, indubitable, watertight, sound, rock-solid, good, sure, manifest, patent, obvious |
"The villain was wearing an armored suit, making him unassailable." |
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inveigle |inˈvāgəl| |
(v. w/ obj.) - persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
synonyms: entice, tempt, lure, seduce, beguile, wheedle, cajole, coax, persuade |
"We cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper." |
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supplant |səˈplant| |
(v. w/ obj.) - supersede and replace
synonyms: replace, supersede, displace, take over from, substitute for, override, oust, usurp, overthrow, remove, topple, unseat, depose, dethrone, succeed, come after |
"Another discovery could supplant the original finding." |
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aver |əˈvər| |
(v.) - state or assert to be the case; (Law) allege as a fact in support of a plea
synonyms: claim, state, verify, swear to (under oath) |
"He averred that he was innocent of the allegations." |
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erudite |er(y)əˌdīt| |
(adj.) - having or showing great knowledge or learning
synonyms: learned, scholarly, educated, knowledgeable, well-read, well-informed, intellectual, intelligent, clever, academic, literary, bookish, highbrow, sophisticated, cerebral |
"Our erudite cousin, Norma, graduated from college at 16 years of age." |
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demulcent |diˈməlsənt| |
(adj.) - (of a substance) relieving inflammation or irritation
(n.) - a substance that relieves irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth by forming a protective film
synonyms: herbal medicine, glycerin, honey, cough syrup |
"The demulcent honey soothed her throat, allowing her to get some much needed rest." |
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vilify |viləˌfī| |
(v.) - speak or write about in an abusive manner
synonyms: disparage, denigrate, defame, run down, revile, abuse, speak ill of, criticize, condemn, denounce, malign, slander, libel, slur
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"He has been vilified in the press." |
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ameliorate |əˈmēlyəˌrāt| |
(v. w/ obj.) - make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better
synonyms: improve, make better, better, make improvements to, enhance, help, benefit, boost, amend |
"The reform did much to ameliorate living standards." |
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archaic |ärˈkāik| |
(adj.) - very old or old-fashioned
synonyms: obsolete, out of date, old-fashioned, outmoded, behind the times, bygone, anachronistic, antiquated, superannuated, antediluvian, old world, old-fangled |
"Prisons are run on archaic methods." |
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mercurial |mərˌkyo͝orēəl| |
(adj.) - (of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
synonyms: volatile, capricious, temperamental, excitable, fickle, changeable, unpredictable, variable, protean, mutable, erratic, quicksilver, inconstant, inconsistent, unstable, unsteady, fluctuating, ever-changing, moody, flighty, wayward, whimsical, impulsive |
"Her mercurial temperament caused her to have trouble developing relationships with others." |
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dilettante |diliˈtänt| |
(n.) - a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge
synonyms: dabbler, amateur, nonprofessional, nonspecialist, layman, layperson |
"There is no room for the dilettante in this business." |
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recalcitrant |riˈkalsətrənt| |
(adj.) - having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline
(n.) - a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude
synonyms: uncooperative, intractable, obstreperous, truculent, insubordinate, defiant, rebellious, willful, wayward, headstrong, self-willed, contrary, perverse, difficult |
"Amy was unprepared to deal with three recalcitrant stepchildren." |
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fastidious |fasˈtidēəs| |
(adj.) - very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail; very concerned about matters of cleanliness
synonyms: scrupulous, punctilious, painstaking, meticulous; perfectionist, fussy, finicky, overparticular |
"He was fastidious about personal hygiene." |
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dubious |d(y)o͞obēəs| |
(adj.) - hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon; morally suspect; of questionable value
synonyms: doubtful, uncertain, unsure, hesitant, suspicious, suspect, untrustworthy, unreliable, questionable |
"Time-sharing has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods." |
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gainsay |gānˈsā| |
(v.) - deny or contradict (a fact or statement); speak against or oppose (someone)
synonyms: deny, dispute, disagree with, argue with, dissent from, contradict, repudiate, challenge, oppose, contest, counter, controvert |
"The impact of the railroads on societal development in the 19th Century cannot be gainsaid." |
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laud |lôd| |
(v. w/ obj.) - praise (a person or their achievements) highly, esp. in a public context
synonyms: praise, extol, hail, applaud, acclaim, commend, sing the praises of, speak highly of, pay tribute to, lionize, eulogize |
"The obituary lauded him as a great statesman and soldier." |
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transfigure |transˈfigyər| |
(v. w/ obj.) - transform into something more beautiful or elevated
synonyms: transform, transmute, change, alter, metamorphose |
"The glow of the sunrise transfigured the whole landscape." |
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bemoan |biˈmōn| |
(v. w/ obj.) - (often humorous) express discontent or sorrow over something
synonyms: lament, bewail, mourn, grieve over, sorrow over, regret, cry over, deplore, complain about |
"Single women often bemoan the absence of men in their lives." |
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abject |abˌjekt| |
(adj.) - (of a situation or condition) extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading
(of an unhappy state of mind) experienced to the maximum degree
(of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity
synonyms: wretched, miserable, hopeless, pathetic, pitiful, base, low, vile, worthless, obsequious, groveling |
"His letter plunged her into abject misery." |
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reticent |retəsənt| |
(adj.) - not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily
synonyms: reserved, withdrawn, introverted, inhibited, diffident, shy, uncommunicative, unforthcoming |
"She was extremely reticent about her personal affairs." |
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glib |glib| |
(adj.) - (of words or the person speaking them) fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow
synonyms: slick, pat, fast-talking, smooth-talking, disingenuous, insincere, facile, shallow, superficial, flippant |
"She was careful not to let the answer sound too glib." |
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pithy |piTHē| |
(adj.) - (of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive
(of a fruit or plant) containing much pith
synonyms: succinct, terse, concise, compact, short (and sweet), brief, condensed, to the point, epigrammatic, crisp |
"Movie critics' pithy quotes are often placed on the cover of a DVD to entice customers into making a purchase." |
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hegemony |həˈjemənē| |
(n.) - leadership or dominance, esp. by one country or social group over others
synonyms: leadership, dominance, dominion, supremacy, authority, mastery, control, power, sway, rule, sovereignty |
"Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871." |
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impetus |impitəs| |
(n.) - the force or energy with which a body moves; the force that makes something happen more quickly
synonyms: momentum, propulsion, impulsion, motive force, driving force, motivation, stimulus, incitement, incentive, inducement, inspiration, encouragement, boost |
"The crisis of the 1860s provided the original impetus for the settlements." |
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venerate |venəˌrāt| |
(v. w/ obj.) - regard with great respect; revere
synonyms: revere, regard highly, reverence, worship, hallow, hold sacred, exalt, vaunt, adore, honor, respect, esteem |
"Mother Teresa is venerated as a saint." |
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quotidian |kwōˈtidēən| |
(adj.) - of or occurring every day, daily; ordinary or everyday, esp. when mundane
synonyms: daily, everyday, day-to-day, ordinary, average, run-of-the-mill, everyday, standard, typical, middle-of-the-road, common, conventional, mainstream, unremarkable, unexceptional, workaday, commonplace, mundane |
"His story is an achingly human one, mired in quotidian details." |
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amorphous |əˈmôrfəs| |
(adj.) - without clearly defined shape or form; vague or unclassifiable
(of a group of people or an organization) lacking a clear structure or focus
synonyms: shapeless, formless, structureless, indeterminate, vague, nebulous, indefinite |
"Animators are able to take an amorphous lump of clay and turn it into a lovable character." |
