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179 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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Abate
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To reduce in amount, degree, or severity
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As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm
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Abscond
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To leave secretly
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The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door
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Abstain
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To choose not to do something
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She ABSTAINED from choosing a mouthwatering dessert from the tray
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Abyss
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An extremely deep hole
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The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths
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Adulterate
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To make impure
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The chef made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water
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Advocate
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To speak in favor of
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The vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat
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Aesthetic
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Concerning the appreciation of beauty
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Followers of the AESTHETIC Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art
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Aggrandize
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To increase in power, influence, and reputation
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The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own
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Alleviate
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To make more bearable
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Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache
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Amalgamate
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To combine; to mix together
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Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated
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Ambiguous
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Doubtful or uncertain; able to be interrupted several ways
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The directions she gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn
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Ameliorate
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To make better; to improve
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The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient's suffering using painkillers
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Anachronism
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Something out of place in time
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The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases like groovy and far out that had not been popular for year
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Analogous
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Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
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in the Newtonian construct for explaining the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to a mechanical timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent "clockmaker."
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Anomaly
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Deviation from what is normal
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Albino animals may display too great an ANOMALY in their coloring to attract normally colored mates
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Antagonize
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To annoy or provoke to anger
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The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail
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Antipathy
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Extreme dislike
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The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare
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Apathy
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Lack of interest or emotion
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The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so
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Arbitrate
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To judge a dispute between two opposing parties
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Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their divorce proceedings
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Archaic
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Ancient, old-fashioned
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Her ARCHAIC Commodore computer could not run the latest software
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Ardor
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Intense and passionate feeling
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Bishop's ARDOR for the landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley
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Articulate
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Able to speak clearly and expressively
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She is such an ARTICULATE defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters
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Assuage
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To make something unpleasant less severe
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Serena used aspirin to ASSUAGE her pounding headache
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Attenuate
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To reduce in force or degree; to weaken
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The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of governments to change laws at will
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Audacious
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Fearless and daring
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Her AUDACIOUS nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving
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Austere
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Severe or stern in appearance; undercoated
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The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem AUSTERE to the civilian eye
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Banal
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Predictable, cliched boring
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He used BANAL phrases like "Have a nice day" or "Another day, another dollar"
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Bolster
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To support; to prop up
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The presence of giant footprints BOLSTERED the argument that Sasquatch was in the area
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Bombastic
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Pompous in speech and manner
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The ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact
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Cacophony
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Harsh, jarring noise
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The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune their instruments
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Candid
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Impartial and honest in speech
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The observations of a child can be charming since they are CANDID and unpretentious
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Capricious
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Changing one's mind quickly and often
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Queen Elizabeth I was quite Capricious; her courtiers could never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy
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Castigate
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To punish or criticize harshly
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Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United Sates
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Catalyst
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Something that brings about a change in something else
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The imposition of harsh taxes was the CATALYST that finally brought on the revolution
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Caustic
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Biting in wit
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Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults
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Chaos
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Great disorder or confusion
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In many religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from CHAOS
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Chauvinist
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Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
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The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefor must be obeyed is common among male CHAUVINISTS
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Chicanery
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Deception by means of craft or guile
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Dishonest used car sales people often use CHICANERY to sell their beat-up old cars
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Cogent
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Convincing and well reasoned
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Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant
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Condone
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Th overlook, pardon, or disregard
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Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as CONDONING an air of lawlessness
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Convoluted
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Intricate and complicated
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Although many people bought A Brief History of Time, few could follow its CONVOLUTED ideas and theories
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Corroborate
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To provide supporting evidence
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Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim's apartment
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Credulous
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Too trusting; gullible
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Although some four-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most CREDULOUS nine-year-olds also believe in him
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Crescendo
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Steadily increasing volume or force
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The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses
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Decorum
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Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
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The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for a visit to the palace
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Deference
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Respect, courtesy
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The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost DEFERENCE
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Deride
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Th speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
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The awkward child was often DERIDED by his "cooler" peers.
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Desiccate
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To dry out thoroughly
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After a few weeks of lying of the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely DESICCATED
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Desultory
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Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
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Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years
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Diatribe
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An abusive, condemnatory speech
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The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had cut him off
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Diffident
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Lacking self-confidence
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Steve's DIFFIDENT manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field
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Dilate
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To make larger; to expand
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When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light
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Dilatory
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Intended to delay
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The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill
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Dilettante
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Some with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
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Jerry's friends were such DILETTANTES that they seems to have new jobs and hoppies every week
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Dirge
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A funeral hymn or mournful speech
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Melville wrote the poem "A DIRGE for James McPherson" for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864
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Disabuse
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To set right; to free from error
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Galileo's observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the earth
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Discern
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To perceive; to recognize
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It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping
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Disparate
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Fundamentally different; entirely unlike
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Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are DISPARATE
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Dissemble
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To present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
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The villain could DISSEMBLE to the police no longer - he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man
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Dissonance
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A harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
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Cognitive DISSONANCE is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence
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Dogma
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A firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
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Linus's central DOGMA was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded
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Dogmatic
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Dictatorial in one's opinions
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The dictator was DOGMATIC - he, and only he, was right
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Dupe
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To deceive; a person who is easily deceived
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Bugs Bunny was able to DUPE Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit
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Eclectic
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Selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
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Budapest's architecture is an ECLECTIC mix of Eastern and Western styles
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Efficacy
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Effectiveness
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The EFFICACY of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which it was administered
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Elegy
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A sorrowful poem or speech
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Although Thomas Gray's "ELEGY Written in a Country Churchyard" is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life and to trust in spirituality
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Eloquent
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Persuasive and moving, especially in speech
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The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but also because of its ELOQUENT words
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Emulate
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To copy; to try to equal or excel
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The graduate student sought to EMULATE his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class
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Enervate
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To reduce in strength
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The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would ENERVATE the regular army
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Engender
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To produce, cause or bring about
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His fear and hatred of clowns was ENGENDERED when he witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a clown
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Enigma
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A puzzle; a mystery
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Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an ENIGMA
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Enumerate
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To count, list, or itemize
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Moses returned from the mountain with tables on which the commandments were ENUMERATED
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Ephemeral
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Lasting a shot tim
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The lives of mayflies seem EPHEMERAL to us, since the flies' average life span is a matter of hours
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Equivocate
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To use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
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When faced with criticism of her policies, the politician EQUIVOCATED and left all parties thinking she agreed with them
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Erratic
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Wandering and unpredictable
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The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ERRATIC turns that surprised the audience
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Erudite
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Learned, scholarly, bookish
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The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ERUDITE, well-published individuals in the field
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Esoteric
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Known or understood by only a few
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Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ESOTERIC world of particle physics
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Estimable
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Admirable
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Most people consider it ESTIMABLE that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India
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Eulogy
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Speech in praise of someone
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His best friend gave the EULOGY, outlining his many achievements and talents
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Euphemism
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Use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
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The funeral director preferred to use the EUPHEMISM sleeping instead of the word dead
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Exacerbate
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To make worse
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It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief, the drug will only EXACERBATE the problem
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Exculpate
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To clear from blame; prove innocent
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The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to EXCULPATE those who are innocent
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Exigent
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Urgent; requiring immediate action
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The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of the bleeding
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Exonerate
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To clear of blame
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The fugitive was EXONERATED when another criminal confessed to committing the crime
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Explicit
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Clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
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The owners of the hosue left a list of EXPLICIT instructions detailing their house-sitter;s duties, including a schedule for watering the house plants
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Fanatical
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Acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
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The stormtroopers were FANATICAL in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him
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Fawn
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To grovel
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The understudy fawned over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis
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Fervid
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Intensely emotional; feverish
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The fans of Maria Callas were unusually FERVID, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer
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Florid
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Excessively decorated or embellished
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The palace had been decorated in a FLORID style; every surface had been carved and gilded
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Foment
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To arouse or incite
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The protesters tried to FOMENT feeling against the war through their speeches and demonstrations
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Frugality
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A tendency to be thrifty or cheap
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Scrooge McDurek's FRUGALITY was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money
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Garrulous
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Tending to talk a lot
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The GARRULOUS parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking
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Gregarious
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Outgoing, sociable
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She was so GREGARIOUS that when she found herself alone, she felt quite sad
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Guile
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Deceit or trickery
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Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to GUILE in an effort to trap his enemy
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Gullible
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Easily deceived
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The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool GULLIBLE bank customers into giving him their account information
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Homogenous
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Of a similar kind
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The class was fairly HOMOGENOUS, since almost all of the students were senior journalism majors
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Iconoclast
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One who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
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His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ICONOCLAST
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Imperturbabale
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Not capable of being disturbed
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The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed IMPERTURBABLE, even when faced with the wildest tantrums
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Impervious
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Impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
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A good raincoat will be IMPERVIOUS to moisture
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Impetuous
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Quick to act without thinking
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It is not good for an investment broker to be IMPETUOUS, since much thought should be given to all the possible options
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Implacable
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Unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
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His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained IMPLACABLE for weeks
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Inchoate
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Not fully formed; disorganized
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The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an INCHOATE form in his earliest writing
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Ingenuous
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Showing innocence or childlike simplicity
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She was so INGENUOUS that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would be exploited when she visited the big city
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Inimical
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Hostile, unfriendly
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Even though the children had grown up together, they were INIMICAL to each other at school
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Innocuous
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Harmless
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Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are INNOCUOUS and pose no danger to humans
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Insipid
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lacking interest or flavor
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The critic claimed that the painting was INSIPID, containing no interesting qualities at all
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Intransigent
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Uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
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The professor was INTRANSIGENT on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time
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Inundate
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To overwhelm; to cover with water
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The tidal wave INUNDATED Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water
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Irascible
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Easily made angry
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Attila the Hun's IRASCIBLE and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives
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Laconic
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Using few words
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She was a LACONIC poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible
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Lament
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To express sorrow; to grieve
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The children continued to LAMENT the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise
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Laud
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To give praise; To glorify
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Parades and fireworks were staged to LAUD the success o the rebels
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Lavish
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To give unsparingly (v.); extremely generous or extravagant (adj.)
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She LAVISHED the puppy with so many treats that is soon became overweight and spoiled
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Lethargic
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Acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
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The clerk was so LETHARGIC that, even when the store was slow, he always had a long line in front of him
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Loquacious
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Talkative
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She was naturally LOQUACIOUS, which was a problem in situation in which listening was more important than talking
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Lucid
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Clear and easily understood
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The explanations were written in a simple and LUCID manner so that students were immediately able to apply what they learned
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Luminous
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Bright, brilliant, glowing
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The park was bathed in LUMINOUS sunshine, which warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors
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Malinger
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To evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
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A common way to avoid the draft was by MALINGERING - pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the ARMY
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Malleable
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Capable of being shaped
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Gold is the most MALLEABLE of previous metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape
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Metaphor
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A figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
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The METAPHOR "a sea of troubles" suggests a lot of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea
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Meticulous
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Extremely careful about details
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Th find all the clues at the crime scene, the investigators METICULOUSLY examined every inch of the area
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Misanthrope
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A person who dislikes other
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The character Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" is such a MISANTHROPE that even the sight of children singing makes him angry
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Mitigate
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To soften; to lessen
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A judge may MITIGATE a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need
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Mollify
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To calm or make less severe
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Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would MOLLIFY them
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Monotony
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Lack of variation
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The MONOTONY of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy
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Naive
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Lacking sophistication or experience
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Having never traveled before, the elementary school students were more NAIVE than their high school counterparts on the field trip
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Obdurate
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Hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
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The president was completely OBDURATE on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind
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Obsequious
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Overly submissive and eager to please
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The OBSEQUIOUS new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue
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Obstinate
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Stubborn, unyielding
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The OBSTINATE child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked
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Obviate
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To prevent; to make unnecessary
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The rive was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which OBVIATED the need for a bridge
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Occlude
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To stop up; to prevent the passage of
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A shadow is thrown across the earth's surface during a solar eclipse, when the light from the sun is OCCLUDED by the moon
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Onerous
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Troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
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The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved ONEROUS to the team in charge of it
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Opaque
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Impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
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The heavy buildup of dirt and grime on the windows almost made them OPAQUE
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Opprobrium
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Public disgrace
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After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter OPPROBRIUM
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Ostentation
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Excessive showiness
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The OSTENTATION of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles
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Paradox
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A contradiction or dilemma
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it is a PARADOX that those most in need of medical attention are often those least able to obtain it
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Paragon
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Model of excellence of perfection
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She is the PARAGON of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking and just
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Pedant
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Someone who shows off learning
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The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a PEDANT
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Perfidious
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Willing to betray one's trust
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The actress's PERFIDIOUS companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist
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Perfunctory
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Done in a routine way; indifferent
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The machinelike bank teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a PERFUNCTORY smile
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Permeate
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To penetrate
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This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to PERMEATE stains and dissolve them in minutes!
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Philanthropy
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Charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
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New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the PHILANTHROPY of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum
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Placate
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To soothe or pacify
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The burglar tried to PLACATE the snarling dog by saying "Nice doggy" and offering it a treat
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Plastic
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Able to be molded, altered, or bent
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The new material was very PLASTIC and could be formed into products of vastly different shapes
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Plethora
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Excess
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Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a PLETHORA of excuses
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Pragmatic
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Practical as opposed to idealistic
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While daydreaming gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, PRAGMATIC gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them
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Prevaricate
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The lie or deviate from the truth
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Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee PREVARICATED and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time
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Pristine
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Fresh and clean; uncorrupted
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Since concerted measures had been taken to prevent looting, the archaeological site was still PRISTINE when researchers arrived
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Prodigal
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Lavish, wasteful
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The PRODIGAL son quickly wasted all of his inheritance of a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure
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Proliferate
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To increase in number quickly
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Although she only kept two guinea pigs initially, the PROLIFERATED to such an extent that she soon had dozens
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Propitiate
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To conciliate; to appease
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The management PROPITIATED the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members
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Propriety
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Correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
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The aristocracy maintained a high level of PROPRIETY, adhering to even the most minor social rules
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Prudence
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Wisdom, caution, or restraint
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The college student exhibited PRUDENCE by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume.
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Pungent
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Sharp and irritating to the senses
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The smoke from the burning tires was extremely PUNGENT
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Quiescent
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Motionless
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Many animals are QUIESCENT over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy
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Rarefy
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To make thinner or sparser
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Since the atmosphere RAREFIES as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe.
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Repudiate
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To reject the validity of
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The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was REPUDIATED when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them
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Reticent
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Silent, reserved
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Physically small and RETICENT in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those upon whom she was reporting
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Rhetoric
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Effective writing or speaking
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Lincoln's talent for RHETORIC was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address
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Satiate
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To satisfy fully or overindulge
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His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could SATIATE it
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Soporific
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Causing sleep or lethargy
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The movie proved to be so SOPORIFIC that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theater
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Specious
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Deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
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The student's SPECIOUS excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when her teacher called her home
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Stigma
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A mark of shame or discredit
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In "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne was required to wear the letter A on her clothes as a public STIGMA for her adultery
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Stolid
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Unemotional; lacking sensitivity
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The prisoner appeared STOLID and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence
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Sublime
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Lofty or grand
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The music was so SUBLIME that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place
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Tacit
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Done without using words
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Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a TACIT agreement had been made about which course of action to take
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Taciturn
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Silent, not talkative
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The clerk's TACITURN nature earned him the nickname "Silent Bob"
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Tirade
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Long, harsh speech or verbal attack
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Observers were shocked at the manager's TIRADE over such a minor mistake
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Torpor
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Extreme mental and physical sluggishness
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After surgery, the patient experience TORPOR until the anesthesia wore off
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Transitory
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Temporary, lasting a brief time
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The reported lived a TRANSITORY life, staying in one place only long enough to cover the current story
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Vacillate
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To sway physically; to be indecisive
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The customer held up the line as he VACILLATED between ordering chocolate chip or rocky road ice cream
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Venerate
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To respect deeply
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In a traditional Confucian society, the young VENERATE their elders, deferring to the elders' wisdom and experience
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Veracity
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Filled with truth and accuracy
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She had a reputation for VERACITY, so everyone trusted her description of events
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Verbose
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Wordy
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The professor's answer was so VERBOSE that his student forgot what the original question had been
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Vex
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To annoy
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The old man who loved his peace and quiet was VEXED by his neighbor's loud music
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Volatile
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Easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
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His VOLATILE personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything
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Waver
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To fluctuate between choices
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If you WAVER too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice
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Whimsical
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Acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
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The ballet was WHIMSICAL, delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets
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Zeal
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Passion, excitement
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She brought her typical ZEAL to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members
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