Verbal Advantage 1

Front 1

1. PARAPHRASE (PAR-uh-frayz)

Back 1

To restate, put what someone else has expressed into different words.

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2. OSTENSIBLE (ah-STEN-suh-buul)

Back 2

Apparent, appearing or seeming to be true, professed or declared as true without being
demonstrated or proved.
Synonyms: plausible, specious.

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3. DIGRESS (di-GRES or dy-GRES)

Back 3

To wander, stray from the point, ramble, deviate, go off in another direction.
Corresponding noun: digression.
Related words: ingress, the place you walk in, the entrance; egress, the place you walk out, the exit.
Additional useful word: archaic (ar-KAY-ik), old-fashioned.

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4. UNCANNY (uhn-KAN-ee)

Back 4

Eerie, strange, weird, mysterious.

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5. CANDOR (KAN-dur)

Back 5

Frankness, openness, sincere expression.
Synonyms: straightforwardness, outspokenness, forthrightness, ingenuousness (in-JENyoo- us-nis).
Corresponding adjective: candid, frank, open, sincere. Synonyms of candid include forthright and ingenuous.

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6. MOROSE (muh-ROHS)

Back 6

Gloomy, moody, glum, grumpy, ill-tempered, depressed.
Synonyms: sullen, dolorous, lugubrious, saturnine.
Antonyms: optimistic, jovial, sanguine.
Corresponding noun: moroseness.
Additional useful word: misanthropy, hatred of humankind.

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7. ADEPT (uh-DEPT)

Back 7

Skilled, handy.
Synonyms: clever, able, deft, expert, dexterous, proficient, adroit (Level 3, Word 41).
Corresponding noun: adept (AD-ept), a highly skilled person, an expert.

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8. SATURATED (SACH-uh-ray-tid)

Back 8

Soaked, drenched, thoroughly wet, full of moisture.
Synonyms: steeped, permeated, impregnated, imbued, sodden.
Corresponding noun: saturation.

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9. PRAGMATIC (prag-MAT-ik)

Back 9

Practical, having to do with actual practice, concerned with everyday affairs as opposed to theory or speculation.

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10. CONGENIAL (kun-JEE-nee-ul)

Back 10

Sympathetic, agreeable, having the same taste, nature, or temperament.
Synonyms: compatible, kindred, harmonious.
Antonyms: alien, dissident, incongruous (in-KAHNG-groo-us).

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11. CAPRICIOUS (kuh-PRISH-us)

Back 11

Unpredictable, tending to change abruptly for no apparent or logical reason.
Synonyms: flighty, changeable, impulsive, fickle, erratic, whimsical, volatile, mercurial.
Antonyms: stable, reliable, unwavering, steadfast, abiding.
Corresponding noun: caprice, a sudden change of mind or change in the emotions.
Pronunciation tip: caprice is pronounced kuhPREES, capricious should rhyme with delicious.

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12. BLATANT (BLAY-tint)

Back 12

Noisy, disagreeably or offensively loud, boisterous, clamorous; also, sticking out in a glaring way, obtrusive, flagrant.

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13. OBLIGATORY (uh-BLIG-uh-tor-ee)

Back 13

Required, necessary, binding, mandatory.
Antonyms: optional, voluntary.

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14. NEGLIGIBLE (NEG-li-juh-bul)

Back 14

Unimportant, trifling, of little consequence.
Synonyms: trivial, insignificant

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15. ADAMANT (AD-uh-mint)

Back 15

Unyielding, immovable, inflexible, refusing to give in.
Synonyms: unshakable, unrelenting, implacable.

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16. SPORADIC (spor-RAD-ik)

Back 16

Occasional, infrequent, irregular, not constant, happening from time to time, occurring in scattered or a random way.
Antonyms: constant, incessant, unremitting.

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17. VANGUARD (VAN-gard)

Back 17

The forefront of an action or movement, leading position or persons in a movement.

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18. CONCUR (kun-KUR)

Back 18

(1) To agree, be in accord with, unite in opinion.
(2) To act together, combine in having an effect.
(3) To happen together, occur at the same time, coincide.
Etymology tip: One meaning of the Latin prefix con- is "together." By derivation, thatwhich concurs happens together, acts together, or is together in opinion.

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19. PRECOCIOUSNESS (pruh-KOH-shus-nis)

Back 19

Early development or maturity, especially in mental ability.
Antonym: retardation.
Corresponding adjective: precocious.

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20. ALOOF (uh-LOOF)

Back 20

Apart, at a distance, removed, withdrawn, not wishing to speak, or associate with others.
Synonyms: unsympathetic, unapproachable, standoffish, indifferent.

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21. CREED (KREED, rhymes with seed)

Back 21

Belief, professed faith or opinion, especially a system of religious belief.
Synonyms: doctrine, dogma, credo (KREE-doh or KRAY-doh).
Related words: incredible, credible, credulous. Credulous means willing to accept something as true without questioning. Credulous and gullible are synonymous.

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22. TAWDRY (TAW-dree)

Back 22

Cheap and showy, gaudy, garish, sleazy.
Etymology: Tawdry comes from the phrase "tawdry lace," a corruption of "Saint Audreylace," an inferior type of lace sold at Saint Audrey's fair in England.

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23. PEEVISH (as spelled, PEE-vish)

Back 23

Irritable, cross, complaining, fretful, ill-humored and impatient, difficult to please, full of complaints.
Corresponding noun: peeve, something that irritates or annoys. N.B. Compare cantankerous (Level 1, Word 41).

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24. ARDUOUS (AHR-joo-us)

Back 24

Very difficult, hard to achieve or accomplish, requiring great effort.
Synonyms: strenuous, laborious, toilsome.

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25. PERSONABLE (PUR-suh-nuh-buul)

Back 25

Attractive, pleasing in appearance.
Synonyms: handsome, comely, fair, presentable.
Usage tip: Avoid using personable to mean having nice personality. Sociable, affable,and amiable already suggest people who are friendly, pleasant, and approachable. Anawkward or unbecoming person, no matter how friendly and pleasant, cannot correctly bepersonable. Reserve personable either for someone who is attractive in appearance orattractive both in appearance and personality.

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26. RESOLUTE (REZ-uh-loot)

Back 26

Firmly determined or settled, resolved, having a set opinion or purpose.
Synonyms: steadfast, unwavering, persevering.
Antonyms: irresolute, unsteady, vacillating.
Corresponding verb: resolve, to decide, determine, settle once and for all.

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27. SUPPOSITION (SUHP-uh-ZISH-un)

Back 27

An assumption, theory, hypothesis, conjecture.

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28. ARBITRARY (AHR-bi-trair-ee)

Back 28

(1) Unreasoned, based on personal feelings or preferences rather than on reason, logic, orlaw, making discretionary judgments or decisions that may or may not be fair orreasonable.
(2) Determined or arrived at in a random or illogical manner.
(3) Exercising unrestrained or absolute power.
Related words: Arbiter and arbitrator both mean a judge or umpire who makes a finaldecision or resolves a dispute.

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29. MONOTONOUS (muh-NAH-uh-nus)

Back 29

Lacking variety, tediously uniform, unvarying and dull, literally, having one continuous sound or tone.
Etymology tip: The prefix mono- means "one, single," as in the related words monogamy, monocle, and monogram.

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30. LEGACY (LEG-uh-see)

Back 30

Something handed down from the past.
Synonyms: inheritance, bequest.

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31. MANIFOLD (MAN-i-fohld)

Back 31

Numerous and varied, consisting of many kinds, containing many elements, features, or characteristics.
Synonyms: multifarious, multitudinous.

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32. PLIANT (PLY-int)

Back 32

Bending easily, flexible.
Synonyms: adaptable, workable, pliable, supple.

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33. RETORT (ri-TORT)

Back 33

A quick reply, especially one that is cutting or witty.
Synonym: rejoinder.

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34. OBSTINATE (AHB-sti-nit)

Back 34

Stubborn, inflexible, unwilling to give in or compromise, not yielding to argument or persuasion.
Synonyms: hidebound, intractable, intransigent, adamant (Level 1, Word 15).
Pronunciation tip: Obstinate is sometimes mispronounced as if it were spelled obstinant. Take care to spell obstinate correctly and pronounce it AHB-sti-nit.

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35. LACERATE (LAS-ur-rayt)

Back 35

Literally, to tear, cut roughly, rend, mangle. Figuratively, to wound, afflict, cause pain.

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36. OMNIPOTENT (ahm-NIP-uh-tint)

Back 36

All-powerful, almighty, having unlimited power or authority.
Etymology tip: The element omni- means "all," as in omnidirectional, omnipresent, andomniscient (ahm-NISH-int), all-knowing.

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37. UNSCRUPULOUS (uhn-SKROO-pyoo-lus)

Back 37

Untrustworthy, dishonorable, deceitful, corrupt, lacking integrity or moral principles.
Related words: scruple, something that causes hesitation or doubt in determining what is appropriate and proper, scrupulous, having scruples-hence, taking pains to do something exactly right.

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38. RENAISSANCE (ren-uh-SAHNS orREN-uh-sahns)

Back 38

A revival, renewal of life or vigor.
Synonyms: rebirth, resurgence

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39. GENESIS (JEN-uh-sis)

Back 39

A coming into being, beginning.
Synonyms: origin, birth, creation.

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40. WARRANT (WAH-rint or WAR-int)

Back 40

(1) To justify, give good reason for, authorize, sanction.
(2) To guarantee, promise, give formal assurance of.
Related word: unwarranted, without good reason or authorization, unjustifiable.

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41. CANTANKEROUS (kan-TANGK-uh-rus)

Back 41

Difficult to deal with, disagreeable, argumentative, quick to quarrel or to exhibit ill will.
Synonyms: contentious, malicious, irascible (i-RAS-uh-buul).N.B. Compare peevish (Level 1, Word 23).

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42. FLIPPANT (FLIP-'nt)

Back 42

Disrespectful in a frivolous way, treating something serious in a trivial manner.
Synonyms: cheeky, fresh, thoughtless, impertinent.
Antonyms: solemn, sober, sedate, grave.

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43. SUBJUGATE (SUHB-juh-gayt)

Back 43

To conquer, defeat, vanquish, overwhelm completely, bring under rigid control, makesubmissive, dominate, enslave.
Corresponding noun: subjugation.

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44. WRY (like rye, rhymes with why)

Back 44

Twisted, crooked, lopsided, askew, distorted in an odd, amusing way.

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45. URBANE (ur-BAYN)

Back 45

Polished, sophisticated, suave, cosmopolitan.
Related word: urban, pertaining to or living in a city. Urbane suggests the polished sophistication of a city dweller.

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46. JARGON (JAHR-gun)

Back 46

Specialized and often pretentious language, unnecessarily complex phraseology, speech or writing that is highly technical and difficult to understand; obscure language or a private vocabulary used and understood only by members of a particular group or profession.

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47. PRUDENT (PROO-dint)

Back 47

(1) Cautious, careful, planning wisely, exercising sound judgment in practical matters.
Synonyms: discreet, circumspect (Level 3, Word 21).
(2) Spending carefully, using one's resources wisely.
Synonyms: thrifty, economical, frugal (Level 2, Word 35).
Related words: provide, provident (Level 4, Word 1).

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48. INVIOLABLE (in-VY-ul-uh-bul)

Back 48

Secure, safe from assault, infringement, or destruction.
Synonyms: sacred, untouchable, unassailable, incorruptible.
Etymology tip: Inviolable combines the prefix in-, not, the suffix -able, and the verb toviolate, and means literally "not able to be violated."

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49. COMMODIOUS (kuh-MOH-dee-us)

Back 49

Spacious, having plenty of room, comfortably convenient.
Synonyms: ample, capacious (kuh-PAY-shus).
Related words: commode, accommodate, accommodations.

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50. PROXIMITY (prahk-SIM-i-tee)

Back 50

Nearness, closeness, the state of being in the vicinity of something.
Usage tip: Avoid using the common phrase "close proximity." It's a redundancy. Proximity means closeness, therefore, "close proximity" means "close closeness." Drop close and let proximity do its work alone.