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69 Cards in this Set
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- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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Venal |
capable of being bought; corrupt
why do these venal politicians care about their ratings? |
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Ostentatious |
pretentious
books that people buy and display ostentatiously but never finish. |
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Floundering |
to move in an awkward way with difficulty. The horses were floundering through the heavy snow.
to be unsure on what to do or decide. |
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Coterie |
a group of people interested in the same thing.
her coterie of her fellow musicians. |
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Callous |
having no emotions and sympathy. hardened and thickened.
a callous young man |
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entrance (v) |
to carry away with delight
the ballet entranced the audience. |
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geneology |
an account or history of a decendent of a person.
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bereft |
feeling of loss after someone we know dies.
I was bereft by my cat dying. |
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Chary |
Discreetly cautious.
foreign investors are chary about doing business in india. |
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purvey |
to supply or provide
a shop purveying local merchandise. |
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jibe |
to be in accord, to agree with, to fit together conceptually.
What the wife said did not jibe with what the husband said yesterday. |
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Trechearous |
not being able to be trusted.
A trechearous act of betrayal. |
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indelicate |
improper; tactless
indelicate topic |
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disband |
to set free; to disunite
After 3 years, metallica disbanded. |
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Candid |
honest;open; frank
The politician's candid admission of mistakes went well with the public. |
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derogatory |
Showing lack of respect to something/someone
Fans made a stream of derogatory remarks about the soccer player. |
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taunt |
a sarcastic challenge or insult.
The boys continually taunted each other. |
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Facade |
a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect
1. They were trying to preserve the facade of a happy marriage. |
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Hostility |
unfriendliness |
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incumbent |
a person politically in office
Voters will have the chance to see the incumbent and her opponent in a series of three debates. |
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calculating (adj) |
Always considering advantages
* The young man's cheerful expression belied a cold, calculating demeanor. |
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Charlatan |
deceptive about knowledge that he/she does not posses |
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incelement |
severe/harsh
inclement weather |
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Catalyst |
a person or thing that brings about an event. |
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allot |
to set aside as one's share |
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relegate |
to transfer to a lower position
the bill has been relegated to commitee for discusions |
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usurp |
to hold and keep in possesion without the right
1. Some people have accused city council members of trying to usurp the mayor's power. |
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trifle |
something insignificant with no meaning
she dismissed her son's interested to the local girl and considered it trifle |
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discount |
less in value
she felt sad by her sister's discount of her opinions. |
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reactionary |
One who favors reaction, or seeks to undo political progress or revolution.
* Because of Allan's efforts to challenge the school dress code, the administration thought of him as a reactionary. |
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irresolute |
Not decided or determined; wavering; given to doubt
putin: obama is being irresolute |
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belittle |
to minimize the importance of something |
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pious |
deeply religious -falsely appearing to be good or moral
1. I'm tired of hearing politicians making piouspronouncements about their devotion to the people.
2. They lived a pious life |
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Blatant |
obvious
blatant truth |
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perilous |
dangerous * The road along the coast offers drivers scenic views, but its sharp turns and narrow lanes also make it perilous. |
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PERENNIAL |
perpetual
continuing throughout the year |
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procure |
(verb) is To come into possession of; to gain; to get; to acquire .
1. She managed to procure a ticket to the concert. |
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undermine |
(verb) is To remove the foundation or support of; to ruin in an underhanded way.. |
1. The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government
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affable |
friendly * Willard was an affable colleague; every morning he greeted the other accountants with a smile and asked after their well-being. |
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continual |
without a pause, continuing * The continual noise from the construction site so infuriated the neighbors that some threatened to sue the developer. |
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tacit |
Done or made in silence; implied, but not expressed.
1. She felt that she had her parents' tacit approval to borrow the car. |
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tamper |
to alter and meddle with
tampering with the smoke detector |
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misrepresent |
To present in an inaccurate, false, or unfair fashion. |
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shun |
to avoid deliberately and especially habitually
he shuns parties and social events |
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consolidate |
Strengthen; unite; make firm and compact
* The prime minister hoped that his support for the popular reform program would help to consolidate the gains his party had made in the recent election. |
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cultivate |
refine or civilized or improve * His temper tantrum was so violent that it destroyed his carefully cultivated reputation as an imperturbable, gentle soul. |
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coerce |
To cause someone to do something by threat or force.
* the mob coerced local shop-owners into paying them protection money. |
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inane |
silly- without meaning - foolish 1. The film's plot is inane and full of clichés. |
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confine |
To restrain within limits; to restrict; to shut away
confined in a wheelchair. |
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palatial |
Like a castle, magnificent, stately
* Coming from a small town in Iowa, Eva was amazed by the palatial houses of the celebrities in Hollywood. |
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topography |
geological layout of something |
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supple |
flexible
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detain |
to hold back -- put someone in prison
they were detained by the police for questioning |
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manifest |
clearly shown or visible 1. Their sadness was manifest in their faces |
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serene |
calm, peaceful |
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inherent |
Existing in something as a permanent and inseparable quality |
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indelible |
unable to be removed/washed away * The children's names were written on their clothes in indelible ink so that they would not be washed off in the laundry. |
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acme |
the top or highest point
his fame was at its acme |
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colloquial |
: used when people are speaking in an informal way : using an informal style
a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful |
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enduring |
lasting * The civil rights leader's birthday was commemorated by speeches that stressed her enduring legacy. |
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wrench |
To pull with a twist; to twist, or force by violence.. 1. I tried to wrench free from his grip. |
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tepid |
not hot and not cold |
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lucrative |
profitable * The author capitalized on the success of her book by signing a lucrative movie deal. |
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extrapolate |
To expand given knowledge in order to make a prediction or conclusion about the unknown
* Extrapolating from her experience working with chimpanzees, the animal rescuer determined that the gorilla would not attack her unless it felt threatened |
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luster |
brightness, radiant
a photograph having a glossy or a luster finish |
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subsist |
to exist or continue to exist
a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist |
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amend |
To change or modify in any way for the better.
* The president believed the issue was an important one, but he did not agree with those who wanted to amend the constitution because of it. |
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Stagnant |
Not flowing or running, lacking development or advancement, unchanging
work has been stagnant |
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placate |
To calm, soothe or appease
The administration placated protesters by agreeing to consider their demands |
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