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74 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Decimate
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VERB) kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies. Modern usage gives the word decimate its "drastically reduced" meaning, but the verb can also be used to mean "to wipe out" or "to eliminate
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Importune
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VERB) beg persistently and urgently. Imagine needing something so badly that you cannot stop asking for it: then you might importune someone to get it.
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Encumber
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To encumber is to weigh someone or something down with a physical or psychological burden. You may find yourself encumbered by a heavy backpack or with anxieties.
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Interpolate
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VERB) insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby
VERB) estimate the value of |
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Enervate
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VERB) debilitate mentally or morally
ADJ) Weak |
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Parlay
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To parlay is to take something you have or something you win and transform it into something more valuable.
When you win $100 at the casino and you bet that $100 and end up winning thousands, this is an example of when you parlay your winnings. |
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Maraud
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As a verb maraud means to rove about the countryside looking for goods to steal and in general, to make mayhem and trouble.
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Exhort
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VERB) encourage especially by cheers and shouts
you exhort a person to take great caution when climbing a mountain. |
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Inculcate
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inculcate is to teach through frequent instruction. If you repeatedly tell your brother how important it is to be responsible, then you’re trying to inculcate in him a sense of responsibility.
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Obviate
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To obviate means to eliminate the need for something or to prevent something from happening. If you want to obviate the possibility of a roach infestation, clean your kitchen regularly.
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Hospitable
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When someone makes you feel comfortable and at home, that person is being hospitable, providing a warm, friendly environment. Anything hospitable is welcoming and open.
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Ingratiate
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VERB) To ingratiate is to make obvious efforts to gain someone's favor
if you ingratiate your teacher, I'd call you "teachers puppy" |
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Insinuate
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To insinuate is defined as to suggest or imply something but not come right out and say it.
An example of insinuate is when you suggest that you hate your spouse's new coat without coming right out and saying you do. |
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Salubrious
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Salubrious is a fancy way to describe something that’s good for you or is generally favorable to mind or body, but it need not be limited to describing healthy foods or liquids.
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Inculcate
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To inculcate is to teach through frequent instruction. If you repeatedly tell your brother how important it is to be responsible, then you’re trying to inculcate in him a sense of responsibility.
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Ascribe
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Ascribe means to give credit to, like if you ascribe the A you got on your group project to the hard work of your partners!
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Inure
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To inure is to get used to something difficult or unpleasant. If after spending an hour in your brother's room, you stop noticing the stinky-sock smell, you have become inured to the odor.
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Remonstrate
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VERB) ARGUE IN PROTEST OR OPPOSITION
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Defer
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If you're excellent at pushing things to a later date and a master at procrastination, then you already know how to defer. But defer can also mean to comply with another person’s opinion or wishes.
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Impugn
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To impugn means to call into question or attack as wrong. If your usually grumpy brother is suddenly nice and sweet, you'll impugn his motives if you're smart — he probably just wants something from you.
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Resurgence
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Resurgence means coming back. Biker jackets are always cool––but in certain decades they experience a resurgence, and suddenly you see them everywhere
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Transliteration
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NOUN) A transcription from one alphabet to another
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Compilation
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A compilation is a collection. You might have enough fascinating stories about compasses to publish your own compilation of the best.
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Impudence
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When you show impudence, you lack shame about your rude behavior. Examples of impudence? Not tipping the waiter, sticking your tongue out, tripping your grandmother — you get the picture.
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Impartiality
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ADJ) Favoring no one side or party more than another; without prejudice or bias; fair; just.
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Perspicuity
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Someone who is clear and understands things shows perspicuity. When it comes to particle physics, it helps to have a teacher of real perspicuity to explain its complex principles.
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Prevarication
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Prevarication is when someone tells a lie, especially in a sneaky way. A boy might use prevarication to avoid telling the whole truth about how the kitchen window got broken.
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Vacillation
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Vacillation is when you constantly change your opinion. It also refers to swinging back and forth physically.
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Replenish
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To replenish something is to refill it. If you have a pet pooch, you’re probably obligated to replenish his food bowl to avoid being barked at incessantly.
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Penultimate
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something’s the penultimate, then it’s the second to last thing in a series. If you’re watching the penultimate episode of your favorite TV show, you know that there’s only one more episode to go
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Inure
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To inure is to get used to something difficult or unpleasant. If after spending an hour in your brother's room, you stop noticing the stinky-sock smell, you have become inured to the odor.
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Radiant
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The adjective radiant is useful for describing anything that glows with warmth or light. When you open your eyes on a sunny summer morning and see your curtains glowing with sunlight, you can call them radiant.
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Oblige
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To oblige is to do something you have to, because you're bound by either good manners or the law.
I'm obliged to pay back... |
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Dazzled
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Have you ever had a light shine in your face so you couldn't see for a second? You were dazzled. To dazzle is to blind someone in this way. A car's high-beam lights can dazzle other drivers. Looking directly at the sun is a way to dazzle yourself. Dazzling puts you in a daze for a second. Also, anything impressive can dazzle. A great writer dazzles readers. An impressive speaker dazzles listeners. It's like you're blinded by their brilliance
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Gregarious
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If you know someone who's outgoing, sociable, and fond of the company of others, you might want to call her gregarious.
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Spendthrift
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A spendthrift person is reckless and wasteful with his money. Spendthrifts who like to take you out to nice lunches...
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Gracious
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ADJ) Even at a difficult moment, a gracious person remains thoughtful and kind, like the gracious way you treat a waiter who spills a glass of juice on your lap.
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Penurious
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ADJ)excessively unwilling to spend
ADJ)not having enough money to pay for necessities |
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Mangy
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Imagine something really disgusting — crusty, dirty, falling apart — you know, like zombie flesh. If it’s shoddy, gross, and really, really cruddy, it can be called mangy
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Maladroit
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If you are clumsy, you are maladroit. But the word can mean all kinds of clumsy. Trip over your words? You are verbally maladroit. Stumble in social situations? You're socially maladroit.
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Ponderous
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ADJ) having great mass and weight
“a ponderous stone” “a ponderous burden” “ponderous weapons” |
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Superfluous
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ADJ) more than is needed, desired, or required
“delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words” |
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Brusque
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ADJ) A brusque manner of speaking is unfriendly, rude, and very brief.
Brusque answer of the salesperson |
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Euphemism
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The definition of a euphemism is a polite, vague word or phrase that is used in place of word or phrase that might be considered offensive, harsh, unpleasant or inappropriate to say.
(noun)An example of a euphemism is someone saying "passed away" instead of "died." |
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Exemplar
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This word can mean both “perfect example” and “typical example.” A fireman can be an exemplar of courage.
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Antidote
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NOUN) A remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
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Periphery
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The definition of a periphery is a boundary of an area, or the surrounding space of an area.(noun)
An example of a periphery is a patio that goes around a pool. |
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Anomaly
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NOUN) Something unusual, abnormality
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Rove
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VERB) move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
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Felony
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felony is a serious crime, like murder, arson, or burglary. Fashion critics may think that wearing white shoes after Labor Day is a felony, but it isn’t really.
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Shun
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If you purposely stay away from someone, you shun that person. A sensitive baker may ask why you are shunning her cookies
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Ostracize
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VERB) Expel from a community or group
VERB) avoid speaking to or dealing with |
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Ostensible
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When something is ostensible it appears to be the case but might not be. Research for a role is the ostensible reason for Nat's drinking. But I think it's because he just likes to drink.
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Aberrant
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ADJ) The definition of aberrant is something that does not follow the correct or expected course or something that is not typical or normal.
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Resplendent
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ADJ) When people or things are resplendent, they are dazzling, splendiferous, glorious, or lovely.
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Obsequious
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If you disapprove of the overly submissive way someone is acting — like the teacher's pet or a celebrity's assistant — call them by the formal adjective obsequious.
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Contentious
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A contentious issue is one that people are likely to argue about, and a contentious person is someone who likes to argue or fight.
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Discordant
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If you believe that movies should entertain, but your friend insists that movies should inspire, then the two of you hold discordant views on the purpose of movies. That means your opinions are in conflict.
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Redolent
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People used to use redolent of something with a strong, distinctive odor. " carpet and handsome woodwork are redolent of the place's former glory."
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Sardonic
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If someone is being scornful and mocking in a humorous way, call her sardonic. If you want to write comic sketches for late-night talk shows, work on being sardonic.
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Vicarious
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If something is vicarious, it delivers a feeling or experience from someone else. If your child becomes a big star, you might have a vicarious experience of celebrity.
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Eclectic
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The definition of eclectic is something that is made up of various sources or styles.An example of eclectic is the taste in music of a person who enjoys listening to country, hip hop, gospel and classical music.
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Esoteric
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ADJ) The definition of esoteric is something only understood by a chosen group.
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Divulge
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VERB) make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
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Dubious
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ADJ)fraught with uncertainty or doubt
“dubious about agreeing to go” |
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Malign
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If you malign someone, you badmouth them — just like the jilted girlfriend who tells the whole school her ex has bad breath and head lice.
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Inscrutable
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Any person or thing that's mysterious, mystifying, hard to read, or impossible to interpret is inscrutable. You ever notice how it's hard to tell what some people are thinking? Those folks are inscrutable.
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Traduce
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To traduce is to badmouth someone or something. If you don't want people talking trash about you, then don't traduce them either — even if they started it
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Magnanimous
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A magnanimous person has a generous spirit. Letting your little sister have the last of the cookies, even though you hadn't eaten since breakfast, would be considered a magnanimous act.
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Parsimonious
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A parsimonious person is unwilling to spend a lot of money. You know those people who count up every penny when it's time to split a restaurant bill? You can call them parsimonious. Or cheap.
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Insensate
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Insensate is a word to describe something without feelings or consciousness. Cars, computers, and stuffed animals are all insensate.
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Vigilant
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Use vigilant to describe someone who keeps awake and alert in order to avoid danger or problems. When taking the subway, be vigilant about your wallet––always know where it is, or someone might steal it from you.
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Dismissive
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To be dismissive is to be indifferent and a little rude. Being dismissive is a sign of disrespect.
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Redolent
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People used to use redolent of something with a strong, distinctive odor. " carpet and handsome woodwork are redolent of the place's former glory."
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