Words I Don't Know

Front 1

convulse

Back 1

to shake violently; agitate

Front 2

harbinger

Back 2

something that foreshadows a future event

Front 3

asphyxiate

Back 3

to cause to die or lose consciousness by impairing normal breathing, as by gas or other noxious agents; choke; suffocate; smother

Front 4

litigate

Back 4

to make the subject of the lawsuit; contest at law; to dispute

Front 5

nemesis

Back 5

an opponent or rival whom one cannot best or overcome; an agent or act of retribution or punishment

Front 6

rescind

Back 6

to abrogate; annul; revoke; repeal
to invalidate by a later action or by higher authority

Front 7

respite

Back 7

a delay or cessation for a time, especially anything of trying; an interval of relief

Front 8

reticent

Back 8

disposed to not speak freely; reluctant; reserved

Front 9

sagacious

Back 9

having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd

Front 10

retract

Back 10

to draw back or in

Front 11

perverse

Back 11

rejecting what is right, good, or proper; wicked or corrupt

Front 12

dilapidated

Back 12

reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect

Front 13

dojo

Back 13

a school or practice hall where judo, karate or other forms of martial arts are taught

Front 14

privy

Back 14

secret, concealed, or secluded

Front 15

feign

Back 15

to invent fictitiously or deceptively

Front 16

parlay

Back 16

to bet or gamble on a subsequent race
to use (one's money, talent, or assets) to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success

Front 17

impish

Back 17

mischievous, causing harm, annoyance, or trouble

Front 18

prowess

Back 18

superior ability, skill or strength

Front 19

parlance

Back 19

a way or manner of speaking; vernacular; idiom

Front 20

perilous

Back 20

full of grave risk; hazardous; dangerous

Front 21

ingratiate

Back 21

to establish (oneself) in good favor or good graces of others esp. by deliberate efforts

Front 22

epigram

Back 22

a witty, often paradoxical remark, concisely expressed

Front 23

satire

Back 23

the use of irony, sarcasm, or ridicule, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.

Front 24

tinker

Back 24

to work unskillfully or clumsily at anything

Front 25

hitherto

Back 25

up to this time; until now

Front 26

gentrification

Back 26

the restoration of run-down urban areas by the middle class (resulting in the displacement of low-income residents)

Front 27

superfluous

Back 27

serving now useful purpose; more than is needed, desired, or required

Front 28

precarious

Back 28

affording no ease or reassurance, fraught with danger

Front 29

renege

Back 29

the mistake of not following suit when able to do so; fail to fulfill a promise or obligation

Front 30

severance

Back 30

a personal or social separation; the act of severing

Front 31

whodunit

Back 31

a story about a crime (usually murder) presented as a novel, play or movie

Front 32

audacious

Back 32

invulnerable to fear or intimidation; unrestrained by convention or propriety

Front 33

espionage

Back 33

the systematic use of spies to get military or political secrets

Front 34

naught

Back 34

no amount at all; something of no value or importance; complete failure

Front 35

winnow

Back 35

separate the chaff from by using air currents

Front 36

tumult

Back 36

a state of commotion and noise and confusion

Front 37

rudimentary

Back 37

being in the earliest stages of development

Front 38

pejorative

Back 38

expressing disapproval

Front 39

covert

Back 39

secret or hidden; not openly practiced

Front 40

culpable

Back 40

deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious

Front 41

prescient

Back 41

perceiving the significance of event before they occur

Front 42

mantra

Back 42

a commonly repeated word or phrase

Front 43

injudicious

Back 43

lacking or showing lack of judgment or discretion; unwise

Front 44

satiric

Back 44

exposing human folly to ridicule

Front 45

banal

Back 45

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

Front 46

vigilant

Back 46

carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger

Front 47

rarefied

Back 47

having low density; of high moral or intellectual value

Front 48

steadfastness

Back 48

loyalty in the face of trouble and difficulty

Front 49

mundane

Back 49

found in the ordinary course of events; not challenging; dull and lacking excitement

Front 50

dilettante

Back 50

showing frivolous or superficial interest

Front 51

forbearance

Back 51

good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence

Front 52

elusive

Back 52

difficult to describe, detect, or grasp by the mind

Front 53

verisimilitude

Back 53

the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true

Front 54

visceral

Back 54

obtained through intuition rather than from reasoning or observation

Front 55

rivet

Back 55

direct one's attention on something

Front 56

culminate

Back 56

reach the highest altitude or to the summit

Front 57

apprehensive

Back 57

quick to understand; mentally upset over possible misfortune or danger, etc

Front 58

inextricable

Back 58

incapable of being disentangled or untied

Front 59

vindication

Back 59

defending against criticism or censure; the justification for some act or belief

Front 60

sonorous

Back 60

full and loud and deep

Front 61

equanimity

Back 61

steadiness of mind under stress

Front 62

precocious

Back 62

early development

Front 63

brazen

Back 63

unrestrained by convention or propriety

Front 64

incessant

Back 64

continuing forever

Front 65

frivolous

Back 65

not serious or sensible

Front 66

incalcitrant

Back 66

stubbornly resistant to authority or control

Front 67

undermine

Back 67

destroy property or hinder normal operations

Front 68

remonstrate

Back 68

argue in protest or opposition; present and urge reasons in opposition

Front 69

fortitude

Back 69

strength of mind that enables one that endure adversity with courage

Front 70

perverse

Back 70

resistant to guidance or discipline; tending to do the opposite of what is normal or wanted

Front 71

bereavement

Back 71

state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

Front 72

debauchery

Back 72

a wild gathering involving excessively drinking and promiscuity

Front 73

vehement

Back 73

extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid

Front 74

querulous

Back 74

habitually complaining

Front 75

renounce

Back 75

give up, such as power, or duties and obligations
leave voluntarily

Front 76

placate

Back 76

cause to be favorably inclined; gain the good will of

Front 77

beseech

Back 77

ask for or request earnestly

Front 78

acquit

Back 78

pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
behave in a certain manner

Front 79

desolate

Back 79

providing no shelter or sustenance
crushed by grief

Front 80

squander

Back 80

spend thoughtlessly; throw away
spend extravagantly

Front 81

perfidy

Back 81

betrayal of a trust

Front 82

grievance

Back 82

a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation

Front 83

invective

Back 83

abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
vituperation

Front 84

malice

Back 84

feeling a need to see others suffer

Front 85

steadfast

Back 85

firm and dependable especially in loyalty

Front 86

pliant

Back 86

capable of being influenced or formed

Front 87

despondent

Back 87

without or almost without hope

Front 88

blithe

Back 88

lacking or showing a lack of due concern
carefree and happy and lighthearted

Front 89

unscathed

Back 89

not injured

Front 90

trepidation

Back 90

a feeling of alarm or dread

Front 91

guileful

Back 91

marked by skill in deception

Front 92

privation

Back 92

a state of extreme poverty

Front 93

didactive

Back 93

instructive (especially excessively)

Front 94

malady

Back 94

any unwholesome or desperate condition

Front 95

reprehensively

Back 95

shameful manner

Front 96

resplendent

Back 96

having great beauty and splendor

Front 97

avarice

Back 97

extreme greed for material wealth

Front 98

vigilant

Back 98

carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger

Front 99

vehement

Back 99

marked by extreme intensity of emotion or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid

Front 100

strident

Back 100

conspicuously and offensively loud; vehement outcry

Front 101

jubilant

Back 101

joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

Front 102

consternation

Back 102

fear resulting from the awareness of danger

Front 103

solace

Back 103

comfort in disappointment or misery

Front 104

felicity

Back 104

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

Front 105

hapless

Back 105

deserving or inciting pity

Front 106

demur

Back 106

to make objections

Front 107

demure

Back 107

affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way

Front 108

obsequious

Back 108

attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

Front 109

drudgery

Back 109

hard monotonous routine work

Front 110

covertness

Back 110

being covert and hidden

Front 111

congenial

Back 111

suitable to your needs

Front 112

commiserate

Back 112

to feel or express sympathy or compassion

Front 113

petulant

Back 113

easily irritated or annoyed

Front 114

rankness

Back 114

producing abundantly and sustaining vigorous and luxuriant growth
attribute of having a strong offensive smell

Front 115

imprudent

Back 115

lacking wise self-restraint

Front 116

scrupulous

Back 116

arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled
extreme care and great effort

Front 117

indignant

Back 117

angered at something unjust or wrong

Front 118

reprove

Back 118

reprimand; express disapproval

Front 119

conniving

Back 119

acting together in secret toward a fraudulent or illegal end

Front 120

assiduous

Back 120

marked by care and persistent effort

Front 121

heedful

Back 121

taking heed; giving close and thoughtful attention

Front 122

surreptitious

Back 122

marked by quiet and caution and secrecy

Front 123

wistful

Back 123

showing pensive sadness

Front 124

rancor

Back 124

a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

Front 125

bereaved

Back 125

sorrowful through loss of deprivation

Front 126

cower

Back 126

crouch or curl up
show submission or fear

Front 127

fecundity

Back 127

the state of being fertile; producing offspring

Front 128

impudent

Back 128

casual disrespect

Front 129

volition

Back 129

conscious choice and decision and intention

Front 130

redolent

Back 130

serving to bring to mind

Front 131

jocular

Back 131

meant lightly and humorously, facetious

Front 132

attest

Back 132

to give proof of, manifest

Front 133

prosaic

Back 133

commonplace, or dull

Front 134

abjure

Back 134

to renounce, repudiate, retract
avoid, shun

Front 135

exculpate

Back 135

to clear from charge of crime

Front 136

tortuous

Back 136

full of plot twists and turns

Front 137

enervating

Back 137

to deprive force or energy of

Front 138

esoteric

Back 138

understood only by a few, recondite

Front 139

abhorrent

Back 139

repugnant; detestable

Front 140

expurgate

Back 140

to amend by removing words

Front 141

laconic

Back 141

using a few words; concise

Front 142

ponderous

Back 142

heavy in weight

Front 143

jejune

Back 143

without interest or significance; dull; insipid

Front 144

limpid

Back 144

free from obscurity, clear

Front 145

mercurial, protean

Back 145

changeable in shape or form

Front 146

despotic

Back 146

autocratic, tyrannical

Front 147

magnanimous

Back 147

generous in forgiving insults; noble

Front 148

pernicious

Back 148

causing insidious harm, injurious

Front 149

malinger

Back 149

to pretend illness in order to shirk one's duty

Front 150

consanguineous

Back 150

from the same ancestry, related by blood

Front 151

palpable

Back 151

obvious; easily seen

Front 152

salacious

Back 152

obscene, indecent, lecherous; lustful

Front 153

indigent

Back 153

lacking food or clothes

Front 154

esurient

Back 154

hungry; greedy

Front 155

truculent

Back 155

cruel; savagely brutal

Front 156

aberrant

Back 156

departing from right, normal

Front 157

dilettante

Back 157

someone who takes up art, activity merely for amusement

Front 158

temerity

Back 158

recklessness and foolishly daring

Front 159

impediment

Back 159

obstacle

Front 160

intransigent

Back 160

unwilling to compromise

Front 161

jejune

Back 161

immature, sophomoric

Front 162

contrived

Back 162

artificial, devised