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156 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Imperturbable
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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esurient
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greedy, hungry
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insolent
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rude, arrogant lack of respect
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indolent
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lazy
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indigent
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poor, needy
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patricians
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wealthy noblemen
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plebians
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commoners, poverished
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truculent
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cruel
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nuance
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subtle difference in meaning or expression
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sullied
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cast doubt on
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pliant
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adaptable
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abase
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put down
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aberrant
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wandering person
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divergent
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differing, deviating
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abhorrent
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detestable
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myopic
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transigent, stubborn
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ambivalent
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mixed feelings
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haughty
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snobbish
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impertinent
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not relevant
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cosseted
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to treat as a pet, coddle
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dandled
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to pet/pamper, bounce a baby on your knee
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wizened
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withered, shriveled
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edifying
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morally instructing
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expurgate
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censoring
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alacrity
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swiftness
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invective
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abusive speech, diatribe
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dearth
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scarcity
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belied
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contradict
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benign
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kind, pleasant, beneficial
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precarious
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uncertain, unstable, potentially dangerous
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acumen
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keen insight, shrewdness
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shrewd
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keen, sharp in practicality
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polemical
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a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine
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arcane
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esoteric
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venal
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able to be bribed
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impudent
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insulting, rude, brazen
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elusive
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hard to express or define
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portent/portentous
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warning/sign that something is going to happen,
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vestige
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a slight trace amount of something
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nascent
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beginning to develop, emerging
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supine
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laying on back, having palm face up, inactive or passive
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blight
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destruction, disease, deterioration
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jettison
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to cast overboard, to discard
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doctrinaire
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an impractical theorist
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confound
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perplex, amaze
daze, nonplus, astound |
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recapitulate
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to recap, sum up
to repeat development or restate in sonata form (music) |
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cunning
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shrewd, artfulness, trickery, finesse, slyness, deception
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pugnacious
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ready to fight, belligerent, quarrelsome
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quotidian
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daily, commonplace, ordinary
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indolent
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lazy, SLOTH like
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saturnine
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sluggish, taciturn
*could be due to lead poisoning |
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conciliate
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placate, win over, reconcile
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extemporaneous
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without preparation
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vertiginous
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dizzying
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descry
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discern
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sanguine
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cheerful
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mawkish
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sentimental or saccharine
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tremulous
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timorous, fearful, hesitant
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toadies
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sycophant, brown noser
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mirth
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amusement, laughter
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