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447 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
waver
to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion
voracious
having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit
virulent
extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
veracity
truthfulness, honesty
truculent
fierce and cruel; eager to fight
tortuous
winding, twisting; excessively complicated
torque
a force that causes rotation
synthesis
the combination of parts to make a whole
stymie
to block or thwart
stupefy
to stun, baffle, or amaze
static
not moving, active, or in motion; at rest
squander
to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
sporadic
occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances
sordid
characterized by filth, squalor, or grime; foul
solicitous
concerned and attentive; eager
reticent
quiet, reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
refute
to disprove; to successfully argue against
recant
to retract, esp. a previously held belief
qualms
misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy
prevaricate
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
prescience
foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring
predilection
a disposition in favor of something; preference
precipitate
acting with excessive haste or impulse
prattle
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
perspicacious
acutely perceptive; having keen discernment
perfunctory
cursory; done without care or interest
perfidy
intentional breach of faith; treachery
perennial
recurrent through the year or years; happening repeatedly
parody
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect esp. in literature or art
paean
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
onerous
troubling; burdensome
obviate
to anticipate and make unnecessary
obtuse
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
noxious
harmful; injurious
neologism
a new work, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
nebulous
vague, cloudy, lacking clearly defined form
nascent
coming into being; in early developmental stages
mundane
of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
martial
associated with war and the armed forces
magnanimity
the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, esp. in forgiving
lucid
clear, easily understood
laud
to praise highly
irascible
easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
inured
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
ingenuous
artless, frank, and candid; lacking in sophistication
fulminate
to loudly attack or denounce
filibuster
intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged speech to delay legislative action
extemporaneous
improvised done without preparation
exigent
urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
exculpate
exonerate; to clear of blame
erudite
very learned; scholarly
equivocate
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
ennui
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
enervate
to weaken; to reduce in vitality
eloquent
well spoken, expressive, articulate
effrontery
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
disparate
fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
discordant
conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
disabuse
to undeceive; to set right
convoluted
complex or complicated
connoisseur
an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
chicanery
trickery or subterfuge
censure
to criticize severely; to officially rebuke
capricious
inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic; unpredictable
canonical
following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards
axiomatic
taken as given; possessing self-evident truth
austere
without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic
audacious
daring and fearless; recklessly bold
assuage
to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
arduous
strenuous; taxing; requiring significant effort
approbation
approving; expressing approbation (official approval or sanction)
anomaly
deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality
alacrity
eager and enthusiastic willingness
aberrant
deviant from the norm
abscond
to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
arable
capable of producing crops; suitable for farming
laudatory
containing or expressing praise
adulatory
excessive devotion to someone; flattery
morose
gloomy, moody, sad
obnubilate
to cloud over, becloud, obscure
didactic
intended to instruct
paradigmatic
of or pertaining to a paradigm (a pattern or model; a typical or stereotypical example)
covenanted
an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. Past of covenant
predicated
to proclaim, declare, affirm, or assert; to connote or imply; to found or derive; to base on something or someone
relegated
to send or assign to an inferior position, place, or condition; to send into exile or banish; to assign or refer something to a particular class or kind
extirpate
to tear up by the roots or destroy completely
lambasting
to beat or whip severely; to reprimand or berate harshly; censure; excoriate
denunciations
an act or instance of denouncing; public censure or condemnation
obloquy
censure, blame, or abusive language aimed at a person or thing; discredit, disgrace, or a bad reputation resulting from public blame
opprobrium
the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy, obloquy
conflate
to fuse into one entity
cogent
convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive presentation; to the point, relevant, pertinent
abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
accolade
an expression of praise
adulation
excessive praise; intense adoration
aesthetic
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, esp. as an act of religious devotion
avarice
greed, esp. for wealth (adj. form: avaricious)
axiom
a universally recognized principle (adj. form axiomatic)
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
catalyst
a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change
caustic
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
chary
wary; cautious; sparing
cogent
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
complaisance
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
contentious
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
contrite
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
culpable
deserving blame
dearth
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
demur
to question or oppose
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
discretion
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
disinterested
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
dogmatic
expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
elegy
a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead (adj form: elegiac)
emollient
soothing, esp. to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin
empirical
based on observation or experiment
enigmatic
mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand
ephemeral
brief; fleeting
esoteric
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
eulogy
a speech honoring the dead
exonerate
to remove blame
facetious
playful; humorous
fallacy
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief (adj. form: fallacious)
furtive
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
gregarious
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
harangue
to deliver a pompous speech or tirade; a long, pompous speech
heretical
violating accepted dogma or convention
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
impecunious
lacking funds; without money
incipient
beginning to come into being or become apparent
inert
unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
innocuous
harmless; causing no damage
intransigent
refusing to compromise (noun form: intransigence)
inveigle
to obtain by deception or flattery
morose
sad; sullen; melancholy
odious
evoking intense aversion or dislike
opaque
impenetrable by light, not reflecting light
oscillation
the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
penurious
penny pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
pernicious
extremely harmful; potentially causing death
peruse
to examine with great care
pious
extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion
precursor
one that precedes and indicated or announces another
preen
to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
prodigious
abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
prolific
producing large volumes or amounts; productive
putrefy
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
quaff
to drink deeply
quiescence
stillness; motionless; quality of being at rest (adj. form: quiescent)
redoubtable
awe inspiring; worthy of honor
sanction
authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority to
satire
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
squalid
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
stoic
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
supplant
to take the place of; to supersede
torpid
lethargic; sluggish; dormant (noun form: torpor)
ubiquitous
existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
urbane
sophisticated; refined; elegant (noun form: urbanity)
vilify
to defame; to characterize harshly
viscous
thick; sticky (noun form: viscosity)
acumen
keen, accurate judgment or insight
adulterate
to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients
amalgamate
to combine several elements into a whole
archaic
outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive, time
aver
to state as a fact; to declare or assert
bolster
to provide support or reinforcement
bombastic
pompous; grandiloquent
diatribe
a harsh denunciation
dissemble
to disguise or conceal; to mislead
eccentric
departing from norms or conventions
endemic
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people
evanescent
tending to disappear like vapor, vanishing
exacerbate
to make worse or more severe
fervent
greatly emotional or zealous
fortuitous
happening by accidence or chance
germane
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
grandiloquence
pompous speech or expression (adj form: grandiloquent)
hackneyed
rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
halcyon
calm and peaceful
hedonism
devotion to pleasurable pursuits, esp. to the pleasures of the senses
hegemony
the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over others
iconoclast
one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
idolatrous
given to intense or excessive devotion to something
impassive
revealing no emotion
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness
implacable
not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
impunity
immunity from punishment or penalty
inchoate
in an initial state; not fully formed
infelicitous
unfortunately; inappropriate
insipid
without taste or flavor; lacking in spirit; bland
loquacious
extremely talkative (noun form: loquacity)
luminous
characterized by brightness and the emission of light
malevolent
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
malleable
capable of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable
mendacity
the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty (adj form: mendacious)
meticulous
characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail
misanthrope
one who hates all other humans
mitigate
to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate
obdurate
unyielding; hardhearted; intractable
obsequious
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
occlude
to obstruct or block
opprobrium
disgrace; contempt; scorn
pedagogy
the profession or principles of teaching, or instructing
pedantic
overly concerned with the trivial details of leaning or education; show-offish about one’s knowledge
penury
poverty; destitution
pervasive
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout
pine
to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor
pirate
to illegally use or reproduce
pith
the essential or central part
pithy
precise and brief
placate
to appease; to calm by making concessions
platitude
a superficial remark; esp. one offered as meaningful
plummet
to plunge or drop straight down
polemical
controversial; argumentative
prodigal
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish
profuse
given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
proliferate
to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly
queries
questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations
querulous
prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish
rancorous
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
recalcitrant
obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
repudiate
to refuse to have anything to do with; to disown
rescind
to invalidate; to repeat; to retract
reverent
marked by, feeling, or expression a feeling of profound awe and respect
rhetoric
the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
salubrious
promoting health or well being
solvent
able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
specious
seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false
spurious
lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
subpoena
a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
succinct
brief; concise
superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
surfeit
an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess
tenacity
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination
tenuous
having little strength or substance; flimsy; weak
tirade
a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation
transient
fleeting; passing quickly; brief
zealous
fervent; ardent; impassioned, devoted to a cause
acerbic
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
aggrandize
to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige
alchemy
a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, esp. base metals into gold
amenable
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
anachronism
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
astringent
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue
contiguous
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
convention
a generally agreed upon practice or attitude
credulous
tending to believe too readily; gullible
cynicism
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
decorum
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
derision
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
desiccate
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
dilettante
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
disparage
to slight or belittle
divulge
to disclose something secret
fawn
to flatter or praise excessively
flout
to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
garrulous
pointlessly talkative; talking too much
glib
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
hubris
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
imminent
about to happen; impending
immutable
not capable of change
impetuous
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
indifferent
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
inimical
damaging; harmful; injurious
intractable
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
intrepid
steadfast and courageous
laconic
using few words; terse
maverick
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
mercurial
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
mollify
to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
neophyte
a recent convert; a beginner; novice
obfuscate
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
obstinate
stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising
ostentatious
characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
pervade
to permeate throughout
phlegmatic
calm; sluggish; unemotional
plethora
an overabundance; a surplus
pragmatic
practical rather than idealistic
presumptuous
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
pristine
pure; uncorrupted; clean
probity
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
proclivity
a natural predisposition or inclination
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
prosaic
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
quixotic
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
quotidian
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
rarefy
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
recondite
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
refulgent
radiant; shiny; bright
renege
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
sedulous
diligent; persistent; hard-working
shard
a piece of broken pottery or glass
soporific
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
sparse
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
subtle
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
tacit
implied; not explicitly stated
terse
brief and concise in wording
tout
to publicly praise or promote
trenchant
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
unfeigned
genuine; not false or hypocritical
untenable
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
vacillate
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another
variegated
multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
vexation
annoyance; irritation
vigilant
alertly watchful
vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
volatile
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive
alloy (v)
to commingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior; unalloyed means pure
appropriate (v)
to take for one’s own use; to confiscate
arrest, arresting (v) / (adj)
to suspend; to engage, holding one’s attention: as in arrested adolescence, an arresting portrait
august (adj)
majestic, venerable
bent (n)
leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency
broach (v)
to bring up; to announce; to begin to talk about
brook (v)
to tolerate; to endure; to countenance
cardinal (adj)
major, as in cardinal sin
chauvinist (n)
a blindly devoted patriot
color (v)
to change as if by dyeing, i.e., to distort, gloss, or affect (usually the first)
consequential (adj)
pompous, self-important (primary definitions are: logically following; important)
damp (v)
to diminish the intensity or check the vibration of a sound
die (n)
a tool used for shaping, as in a tool_and_dye_shop
essay (v)
to test or try; to attempt; to experiment
exact (v)
to demand; to call for; to require; to take
fell (v)
to cause by striking
fell (adj)
inhumanely cruel
flag (v)
to sag or droop; to become spiritless; to decline
flip (adj)
sarcastic, impertinent
ford (v)
to wade across the shallow part of a river or stream
grouse (v)
to complain or grumble
guy (n)
a rope, cord, or cable attached to something as a brace or guide; to steady or reinforce using a guy
intimate (v)
to imply, suggest, or insinuate
list (v)
to tilt or lean to one side
lumber (v)
to move heavily and clumsily
meet (adj)
fitting, proper
milk (v)
to exploit; to squeeze every last ounce of
mince (v)
to pronounce or speak affectedly; to euphemize to speak too carefully. Also, to take tiny steps; to tiptoe
nice (adj)
exacting, fastidious, extremely precise
obtain (adj)
to be established, accepted, or customary
occult (adj)
hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension
pedestrian (adj)
commonplace, trite, unremarkable quotidian
pied (adj)
multicolored, usually in blotches
plastic (adj)
moldable, pliable, not rigid
pluck (n)
courage, spunk, fortitude
prize (v)
to pry, for press or force with a lever; something taken by force, spoils
rail (v)
to complain about bitterly
rent (v)
torn; an opening or tear caused by such
quail (v)
to lose courage; to turn frightened
qualify (v)
to limit
sap (v)
to enervate or weaken the vitality of
sap (n)
a fool or nitwit
scurvy (adj)
contemptible, despicable
singular (adj)
exceptional, unusual, odd
stand (n)
a group of trees
steep (v)
to saturate or completely soak, as in to let a tea bag steep
strut (n)
the supporting structural cross-part of a wing
table (v)
to remove (as in a parliamentary motion) from consideration
tender (v)
to proffer or offer
waffle (v)
to equivocate; to change one’s position
wag (n)
wit, joker
abjure
to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant; to avoid
adumbrate
to foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow
anathema
a solemn or ecclesiastical curse; accursed or thoroughly loaded person or thing
anodyne
soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts
apogee
furthest or highest point; culmination; zenith
apostate
one who abandons long held religious or political beliefs
apotheosis
deification; glorification to godliness; an exalted example; a model of excellence or perfection
asperity
severity, rigor; roughness, harshness; acrimony, irritability
asseverate
to aver, allege, or assert
assiduous
diligent, hard-working, sedulous
augury
omen, portent
bellicose
belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
calumniate
to slander, to make a fall accusation
captious
disposed to point out trivial faults; calculated to confuse or entrap in argument
cavil
to find fault without good reason
celerity
speed, alacrity
chimera
an illusion
contumacious
insubordinate, rebellious; contumely means insult, scorn, aspersion
debacle
rout, fiasco, complete failure
denouement
an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
descry
to discriminate or discern
desuetude
disuse
desultory
random; aimless; marked by a lack of a plan or purpose
diaphanous
transparent, gauzy
diffident
reserved, shy, unassuming; lacking in self-confidence
dirge
a song of grief or lamentation
encomium
glowing and enthusiastic praise; panegyric, tribute, eulogy
eschew
to shun or avoid
excoriate
to censure scathingly, to upbraid
execrate
to denounce, to feel loathing for, to curse, to declare to be evil
exegesis
critical examination, explication
expiate
to atone or make amends for
extirpate
to destroy, to exterminate, to cut out, to exscind
fatuous
silly, inanely foolish
fractious
quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable
gainsay
to deny, to dispute, to contradict, to oppose
heterodox
unorthodox, heretical, iconoclastic
imbroglio
difficult or embarrassing situation
indefatigable
not easily exhaustible; tireless; dogged
ineluctable
certain, inevitable
inimitable
one of a kind, peerless
insouciant
unconcerned, carefree, heedless
inveterate
deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
jejune
vapid, uninteresting, nugatory; childish, immature, puerile
lubricious
lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery
mendicant
a beggar, supplicant
meretricious
cheap, gaudy, tawdry, flashy, showy; attracting by false show
minatory
menacing, threating
nadir
low point, perigee
nonplussed
baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or think
obstreperous
noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous
ossified
tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile, and reactionary with age; literally, turned into bone
palliate
to make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense
panegyric
formal praise, eulogy, encomium; panegyrical means expressing elaborate praise
parsimonious
cheap, miserly
pellucid
transparent, easy to understand, limpid
peroration
the concluding part of a speech; flowery; rhetorical speech
plangent
pounding, thundering, resounding
prolix
long-winded, verbose; prolixity means verbosity
propitiate
to appease; to conciliate; propitious means auspicious, favorable
puerile
childish, immature, jejune, nugatory
puissance
power, strength; puissant means powerful, strong
pusillanimous
cowardly, craven
remonstrate
to protest, to object
sagacious
having sound judgment; perceptive, wise; like a sage
salacious
lustful, lascivious, bawdy
salutary
remedial, wholesome, causing improvement
sanguine
cheerful, confident, optimistic
saturnine
gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
sententious
aphoristic or moralistic; epigrammatic; tending to moralize excessively
stentorian
extremely loud and powerful
stygian
gloomy, dark
sycophant
toady, servile, self-seeking flatterer; parasite
tendentious
biased; showing marked tendencies
timorous
timid, fearful, diffident
tyro
novice, greenhorn, rank amateur
vitiate
to corrupt, to debase, to spoil, to make ineffective
voluble
fluent, verbal, having easy use of spoken language