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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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altruistic
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unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others, generous
Nuns and nurses are generally very altruistic and seek to help people. |
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ambivalent
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having contrary feelings or attitudes, uncertain as to the course of action
I am ambivalent about a permanent relationship with him; I like him one day and not the next. |
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angular
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lean, sharp cornered, gaunt
The patient has lost so much weight that his face has become quite angular. |
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arrogant
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overbearingly assuming, insolently proud
Because the girl was so arrogant, she had few friends. |
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aversion
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strong disinclination, disliking
I have an aversion to getting married. |
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discern
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to differentiate between two or more things
Because of the fog, I was barely able to discern the landing strip. |
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disdain
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intense dislike, to treat with scorn or contempt, to reject as unworthy
Never having had to do manual labor, he disdained the idea of becoming a cotton picker. |
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disparage
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to degrade, to speak of someone or something in a derogatory manner
His disparaging remarks about me cause the committee to give the job to another person. |
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disparity
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inequality, the condition or fact of being unequal in age, rank, or degree
The couple got married even though there was a great disparity in their ages. |
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embellish
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to decorate, to make beautiful with ornamentation
He would embellish his narratives with the anecdotes of famous people. |
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engender
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to cause, to produce, to create
His angry words engendered strife in his relationship with his wife. |
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innocuous
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harmless, producing no injury
Since the drink was innocuous, it was safe for us to have some. |
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insipid
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boring and stupid
I am bored by your insipid talk. |
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lament
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to mourn or to express sorrow in a demonstrative manner
She lamented the death of her father. |
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laud
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to praise, to extol
Her performance was lauded by all of the critics. |
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obscure
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difficult to see, vague
Because the meaning of the play was obscure, I was unable to enjoy it. |
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ostentatious
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showy, pretentious
The ostentatious socialite wore her mink coat even during the warmest days of August. |
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prodigal
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wasteful, a person given to extravagance
The prodigal son squandered his inheritance. |
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repudiate
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to reject, to disown, to disavow
He announced that he would repudiate all the debts that had been created by his wife. |
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reticence
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restraint in speech, reluctance to speak
A lawyer must have great reticence in discussing matters that would violate his clients' rights. |
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revere
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to honor, to regard with respect
Nearly all Catholics revere the Pope. |
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serene
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calm, placid
The mountain on a clear spring morning is a serene setting. |
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subtle
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delicate, elusive, not obvious
To avoid being obtrusive in the elegant restaurant, he used subtle gestures to call the waiter to his table. |
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superfluous
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beyond what is required or needed, an overflow
The meeting lasted so long because of many superfluous comments made by the speakers. |
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taciturn
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quiet, not verbose
A shy person is usually taciturn. |
