Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
125 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
Blemish
|
Spotted/ Stained-Spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect
|
- thousands of Web pages are blemished with embarrassing typos
|
|
Debase
|
Spotted/ Stained-Reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade
|
- the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama
|
|
Sully
|
Spotted/ Stained-Damage the purity or integrity of; defile
|
- they were outraged that anyone should sully their good name
|
|
Taint
|
Spotted/ Stained-Contaminate or pollute (something)
|
- the air was tainted by fumes from the cars
|
|
Tarnish
|
Spotted/ Stained-Lose or cause to lose luster, esp. as a result of exposure to air or moisture
|
- silver tarnishes too easily
|
|
Deface
|
Spoil the surface or appearance of (something), e.g., by drawing or writing on it
|
- he defaced library books
|
|
Distort
|
Pull or twist out of shape (Spoil/disfigure)
|
- a grimace distorted her fine mouth
|
|
Mar
|
Impair the appearance of; disfigure (Spoil/disfigure)
|
- no wrinkles marred her face
|
|
Warp
|
Become or cause to become bent or twisted out of shape, typically as a result of the effects of heat or dampness (Spoil/disfigure)
|
- wood has a tendency to warp
|
|
Adulterate
|
Render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one (Impure/poisonous)
|
- the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour
|
|
Contaminate
|
Make (something) impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance (Impure/poisonous)
|
- the site was found to be contaminated by radioactivity
|
|
Noxious
|
Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant (Impure/poisonous)
|
- they were overcome by the noxious fumes
|
|
Toxic
|
Poisonous (Impure/poisonous)
|
- the dumping of toxic waste
|
|
Vitiate
|
Spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of (Impure/poisonous)
|
- development programs have been vitiated by the rise in population
|
|
Catharsis
|
The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions (Get rid off/Clease)
|
"music is a means of catharsis for them
|
|
Expurgate
|
Remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account) (Get rid off/Clease)
|
- the expurgated Arabian Nights
|
|
Purge
|
Rid (someone) of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, typically giving a sense of cathartic release (Get rid off/Clease)
|
- Bob had helped purge Martha of the terrible guilt that had haunted her
|
|
Inimitable
|
So good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; (Unmached/ unique)
|
- the inimitable ambience of Hawaii
|
|
Peerless
|
Unequaled; unrivaled (Unmached/ unique)
|
- a peerless cartoonist
|
|
Cajole
|
Persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery (Persuade)
|
- he hoped to cajole her into selling the house
|
|
Coax
|
Coaxial (Persuade)
|
- coax connectors
|
|
Cogent
|
(of an argument or case) Clear, logical, and convincing (Persuade)
|
"they put forward cogent arguments for British membership
|
|
Enjoin
|
Instruct or urge (someone) to do something (Persuade)
|
- the code enjoined members to trade fairly
|
|
Exhort
|
Strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something (Persuade)
|
- the media have been exhorting people to turn out for the demonstration
|
|
Induce
|
Succeed in persuading or influencing (someone) to do something (Persuade)
|
- the pickets induced many workers to stay away
|
|
Urge
|
Try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something (Persuade)
|
- he urged her to come and stay with us
|
|
Wheedle
|
Employ endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something or give one something (Persuade)
|
- you can contrive to wheedle your way onto a court
|
|
Woo
|
*Try to gain the love of (someone, typically a woman), esp. with a view to marriage (Persuade)
|
- he wooed her with quotes from Shakespeare
|
|
Gratuitous
|
Uncalled for; lacking good reason; (to make unnecessary)
|
- gratuitous violence
|
|
Justifiable
|
Able to be shown to be right or reasonable; defensible (to make unnecessary)
|
- it is not financially justifiable
|
|
Obviate
|
Remove (a need or difficulty) (X-to make unnecessary)
|
- the Venetian blinds obviated the need for curtains
|
|
Necessitate
|
X- Make (something) necessary as a result or consequence (X- to make unnecessary)
|
- the severe arthritis eventually necessitated a total hip replacement
|
|
Warrant
|
X- Justify or necessitate (a certain course of action)
|
- that offense is serious enough to warrant a court marshal
|
|
Coercion
|
The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats (Put pressure)
|
- it wasn't slavery because no coercion was used
|
|
Compel
|
Force or oblige (someone) to do something (Put pressure)
|
- a sense of duty compelled Harry to answer her questions
|
|
Extort
|
Obtain (something) by force, threats, or other unfair means (Put pressure)
|
- he was convicted of trying to extort $1 million from a developer
|
|
Goad
|
Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction (Put pressure)
|
- he goaded her on to more daring revelations
|
|
Press
|
Put (someone or something) to a specified use, esp. as a temporary or makeshift measure (Put pressure)
|
- many of these stones have been pressed into service as gateposts
|
|
Dissuade
|
Persuade (someone) not to take a particular course of action (Put pressure)
|
- his friends tried to dissuade him from flying
|
|
Allure
|
Powerfully attract or charm; (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
|
|
Beguile
|
Charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- every prominent American artist has been beguiled by Maine
|
|
Collude
|
Come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose; conspire (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- university leaders colluded in price-rigging
|
|
Connive
|
Secretly allow (something considered immoral, illegal, wrong, or harmful) to occur (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- you have it in your power to connive at my escape
|
|
Conspire
|
Make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- they conspired against him
|
|
Entice
|
Attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- a show that should entice a new audience into the theater
|
|
Lure
|
Tempt (a person or an animal) to do something or to go somewhere, esp. by offering some form of reward (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- the child was lured into a car but managed to escape
|
|
Ploy
|
A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- the president has dismissed the referendum as a ploy to buy time
|
|
Ruse
|
An action intended to deceive someone; a trick (tempt/plot/trick-)
|
- Eleanor tried to think of a ruse to get Paul out of the house
|
|
Hallmark
|
Stamp with a hallmark (important mark)
|
2. Designate as distinctive, esp. for excellence
|
|
Landmark
|
An object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance, esp. one that enables someone to establish their location (important mark)
|
- the spire was once a landmark for ships sailing up the river
|
|
Milestone
|
A stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles to a particular place (important mark)
|
2. An action or event marking a significant change or stage in development
|
|
Watershed
|
An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas (important mark)
|
|
|
Apotheosis
|
The highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax (Best Example)
|
- his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career
|
|
Archetype
|
A very typical example of a certain person or thing (Best Example)
|
- the book is a perfect archetype of the genre
|
|
Embody
|
Be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, quality, or feeling) (Best Example)
|
- a team that embodies competitive spirit and skill
|
|
Epitome
|
A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type (Best Example)
|
- she looked the epitome of elegance and good taste
|
|
Exemplify
|
Be a typical example of (Best Example)
|
- rock bands that best exemplify the spirit of the age
|
|
Paradigm
|
A typical example or pattern of something; a model (Best Example)
|
- there is a new paradigm for public art in this country
|
|
Paragon
|
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality (Best Example)
|
- it would have taken a paragon of virtue not to feel viciously jealous
|
|
Personify
|
Represent (a quality or concept) by a figure in human form (Best Example)
|
- public pageants and dramas in which virtues and vices were personified
|
|
Acuity
|
Sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing (Intelligent/wise)
|
- intellectual acuity
|
|
Acumen
|
The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain (Intelligent/wise)
|
- business acumen
|
|
Astute
|
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage (Intelligent/wise)
|
- an astute businessman
|
|
Discerning
|
Having or showing good judgment (Intelligent/wise)
|
- the restaurant attracts discerning customers
|
|
Discriminating
|
(of a person) Having or showing refined taste or good judgment (Intelligent/wise)
|
- he became a discriminating collector and patron of the arts
|
|
Insightful
|
Having or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive (Intelligent/wise)
|
- thank you for all the insightful comments
|
|
Judicious
|
Having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense (Intelligent/wise)
|
- the efficient and judicious use of pesticides
|
|
Perceptive
|
Having or showing sensitive insight (Intelligent/wise)
|
- an extraordinarily perceptive account of their relationship
|
|
Perspicacious
|
Having a ready insight into and understanding of things (Intelligent/wise)
|
- it offers quite a few facts to the perspicacious reporter
|
|
Prudent
|
Acting with or showing care and thought for the future (Intelligent/wise)
|
- no prudent money manager would authorize a loan without first knowing its purpose
|
|
Sagacious
|
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd (Intelligent/wise)
|
- they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation
|
|
Sage
|
Having, showing, or indicating profound wisdom (Intelligent/wise)
|
- they nodded in agreement with these sage remarks
|
|
Savant
|
A learned person, esp. a distinguished scientist (Intelligent/wise)
|
"He is a telecom savant
|
|
Shrewd
|
Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute (*Intelligent/wise)
|
- she was shrewd enough to guess the motive behind his gesture
|
|
Impolitic
|
unwise. (X-Intelligent/wise)
|
"it was impolitic to pay the slightest tribute to the enemy"
|
|
Secular
|
Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis (Not Sacred/Worldly)
|
- secular buildings
|
|
Temporal
|
Of or situated in the temples of the head (Not Sacred/Worldly)
|
"the Church did not imitate the secular rulers who thought only of temporal gain"
|
|
Intrinsic
|
Belonging naturally; essential (Inborn/firmly fixed)
|
- access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life
|
|
Innate
|
Inborn; natural (Inborn/firmly fixed)
|
- her innate capacity for organization
|
|
Inherent
|
Existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute (Inborn/firmly fixed)
|
- any form of mountaineering has its inherent dangers
|
|
Entrenched
|
(of an attitude, habit, or belief) Firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained (Inborn/firmly fixed)
|
- an entrenched resistance to change
|
|
Congenital
|
(esp. of a disease or physical abnormality) Present from birth (Inborn/firmly fixed)
|
- a congenital malformation of the heart
|
|
Ferret
|
(of a person) Hunt with ferrets, typically for rabbits (Uncover a secret)
|
"ferreting is increasing in popularity"
|
|
Unearth
|
Find (something) in the ground by digging (Uncover a secret)
|
"workmen unearthed an ancient artillery shell"
|
|
Unravel
|
Undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads) (Uncover a secret)
|
"they were attempting to unravel the cause of death"
|
|
Astray
|
Away from the correct path or direction (Go off track)
|
- we went astray but a man redirected us
|
|
Awry
|
Away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss (Go off track)
|
- many youthful romances go awry
|
|
Circuitous
|
(of a route or journey) Longer than the most direct way (Go off track)
|
- the canal followed a circuitous route
|
|
Desultory
|
Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm (Go off track)
|
- a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion
|
|
Digress
|
Leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing (Go off track)
|
- I have digressed a little from my original plan
|
|
Discursive
|
Digressing from subject to subject (Go off track)
|
- students often write dull, secondhand, discursive prose
|
|
Divergent
|
Tending to be different or develop in different directions (Go off track)
|
- divergent interpretations
|
|
Ramble
|
Walk for pleasure, typically without a definite route (Go off track)
|
"I spent most of my spare time rambling and climbing"
|
|
Tangential
|
Of, relating to, or along a tangent (Go off track)
|
- a tangential line
|
|
Cognizant
|
Having knowledge or being aware of (Aware)
|
- statesmen must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work
|
|
Oblivious
|
Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one(X-UnAware)
|
- she became absorbed, oblivious to the passage of time
|
|
Affected
|
Influenced or touched by an external factor (Artificial/ Pretense)
|
- apply moist heat to the affected area
|
|
Contrived
|
Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously (Artificial/ Pretense)
|
- the carefully contrived image of party unity
|
|
Mannered
|
Behaving in a specified way (Artificial/ Pretense)
|
- pleasant-mannered
|
|
Posture
|
Behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others (Artificial/ Pretense)
|
- a masking of fear with macho posturing
|
|
Pretentious
|
Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed (Artificial/ Pretense)
|
- a pretentious literary device
|
|
Behest
|
A person's orders or command (Flattering/Beg)
|
- they had assembled at his behest
|
|
Beseech
|
Ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat (Flattering/Beg)
|
- they beseeched him to stay
|
|
Entreaty
|
An earnest or humble request (Flattering/Beg)
|
- the king turned a deaf ear to his entreaties
|
|
Implore
|
Beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something (Flattering/Beg)
|
- he implored her to change her mind
|
|
Importune
|
Ask (someone) pressingly and persistently for or to do something (Flattering/Beg)
|
- if he were alive now, I should importune him with my questions
|
|
Supplicate
|
Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly (Flattering/Beg)
|
- the plutocracy supplicated to be made peers
|
|
Asinine
|
Extremely stupid or foolish (Studpid/foolish)
|
- Lydia ignored his asinine remark
|
|
Fatuous
|
Silly and pointless (Studpid/foolish)
|
- a fatuous comment
|
|
Imbecile
|
Stupid; idiotic (Studpid/foolish)
|
- try not to make imbecile remarks
|
|
Inane
|
Silly; stupid (Studpid/foolish)
|
- don't constantly badger people with inane questions
|
|
Oafish
|
Stupid, uncultured, or clumsy (Studpid/foolish)
|
- oafish behavior
|
|
Obtuse
|
Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand (Studpid/foolish)
|
- he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse
|
|
Behold
|
See or observe (a thing or person, esp. a remarkable or impressive one) (to see)
|
- behold your king!
|
|
Discerning
|
Having or showing good judgment (to see)
|
- the restaurant attracts discerning customers
|
|
Espy
|
Catch sight of (to see)
|
- she espied her daughter rounding the corner
|
|
Perceive
|
Become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand (to see)
|
- his mouth fell open as he perceived the truth
|
|
Imperceptible
|
Impossible to perceive (X-to see)
|
- his head moved in an almost imperceptible nod
|
|
Dour
|
Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance (sulking or bad tempered)
|
- a hard, dour, humorless fanatic
|
|
Morose
|
Sullen and ill-tempered (sulking or bad tempered)
|
|
|
Peevish
|
Easily irritated, esp. by unimportant things (sulking or bad tempered)
|
- all this makes Steve fretful and peevish
|
|
Petulant
|
(of a person or their manner) Childishly sulky or bad-tempered (sulking or bad tempered)
|
- he was moody and petulant
|
|
Pout
|
Push one's lips or one's bottom lip forward as an expression of petulant annoyance or in order to make oneself look sexually attractive (sulking or bad tempered)
|
- she lounged on the steps, pouting
|
|
Saturnine
|
(of a person or their manner) Slow and gloomy (sulking or bad tempered)
|
- a saturnine temperament
|
|
Sullen
|
Bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy (sulking or bad tempered)
|
- a sullen pout
|