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140 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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profligate (adj)
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recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources
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laconic (adj)
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(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words
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garrulous (adj)
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excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
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ascetic (adj)
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characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
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taciturn (adj)
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(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little
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incarnation (n)
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1: a person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit, or abstract quality
2: (with reference to reincarnation) one of a series of lifetimes that a person spends on earth |
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ideology (n)
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1: a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy; the ideas and manner of thinking characteristic of a group, social class, or individual
2: the science of ideas; the study of their origin and nature |
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demarcation (n)
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the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; a dividing line
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licentious (adj)
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1: promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters
2: disregarding accepted rules or conventions, especially in grammar or literary style |
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dissolute (adj)
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lax in morals; licentious
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abscond (v)
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to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
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aberrant (adj)
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deviating from the norm
(n: aberration) |
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alacrity (n)
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eager and enthusiastic willingness
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anomaly (n)
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deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality
(adj: anomalous) |
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approbation (n)
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an expression of approval or praise
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assuage (v)
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to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
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austere (adj)
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without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic
(n: austerity) |
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axiomatic (adj)
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taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth
(n: axiom) |
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canonical (adj)
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following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards
(n: canon) |
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capricious (adj)
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inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable
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censure (v)
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to criticize severely; to officially rebuke
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chicanery (n)
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trickery or subterfuge
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connoisseur (n)
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an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
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convoluted (adj)
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complex or complicated
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disabuse (v)
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to undeceive; to set right
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discordant (adj)
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conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
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disparate (adj)
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fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
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effrontery (n)
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extreme boldness; presumptuousness
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enervate (v)
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to weaken; to reduce in vitality
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ennui (n)
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dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
(on-wee) |
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equivocate (v)
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to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
(adj: equivocal) |
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erudite (adj)
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very learned; scholarly
(n: erudition) (AIR-e-dyte) |
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exculpate (v)
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exonerate; to clear of blame
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exigent (adj)
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urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
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extemporaneous (adj)
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improvised; done without preparation
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filibuster (n)
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intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
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fulminate (v)
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to loudly attack or denounce
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ingenuous (adj)
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artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication
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inured (adj)
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accustomed to accepting something undesirable
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irascible (adj)
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easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
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laud (v)
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to praise highly
(adj: laudatory) "all glory, laud, and honor..." |
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lucid (adj)
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clear; easily understood
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magnanimity (n)
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the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving
(adj: magnanimous) |
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mundane (adj)
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of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
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nascent (adj)
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coming into being; in early developmental stages
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nebulous (adj)
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vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form
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neologism (n)
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a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
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noxious (adj)
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harmful, injurious
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obtuse (adj)
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lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
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obviate (v)
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to anticipate and make unnecessary
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onerous (adj)
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troubling; burdensome
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paean (n)
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a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
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parody (n)
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a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, especially in literature and art
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perennial (adj)
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recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
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perfidy (n)
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intentional breach of faith; treachers
(adj: perfidious) |
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perfunctory (adj)
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cursory; done without care or interest
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perspicacious (adj)
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acutely perceptive; having keen discernment
(n: perspicacity) |
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prattle (v)
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to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
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precipitate (v)
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to cause or happen before anticipated or required
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predilection (n)
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a disposition in favor of something; preference
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prescience (n)
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foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring
(adj: prescient) |
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prevaricate (v)
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to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
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refute (v)
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to disprove; to successfully argue against
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relegate (v)
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to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position
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reticent (adj)
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quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
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solicitous (adj)
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concerned and attentive; eager
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stymie (v)
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to block; to thwart
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torque (n)
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a force that causes rotation
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tortuous (adj)
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winding, twisting; excessively complicated
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truculent (adj)
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fierce and cruel; eager to fight
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veracity (n)
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truthfulness, honesty
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virulent (adj)
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extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
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voracious (adj)
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having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous
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subterfuge (n)
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deceit in order to achieve one's goal; a statement or action resorted to in order to deceive
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cursory (adj)
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hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
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accolade (n)
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an expression of praise
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adulation (n)
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excessive praise; intense adoration
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aesthetic (adj)
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dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
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ameliorate (v)
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to make better or more tolerable
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ascetic (n)
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one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
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avarice (n)
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greed, especially for wealth
(adj: avaricious) |
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axiom (n)
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a universally recognized principle
(adj: axiomatic) |
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burgeon (v)
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to grow rapidly or flourish
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bucolic (adj)
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rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
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cacophony (n)
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harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
(adj: cacophonous) |
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castigation (n)
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severe criticism or punishment
(v: castigate) |
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catalyst (n)
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a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change
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caustic (adj)
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burning or stinging; causing corrosion
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chary (adj)
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wary; cautious; sparing
(pr: like "cherry") |
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cogent (adj)
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appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
(pr: ko-jent) |
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complaisance (n)
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the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
(adj: complaisant) |
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contentious (adj)
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argumentative; quarellsome; causing controversy or disagreement
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contrite (adj)
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regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
(n: contrition) |
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dearth (n)
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smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
(pr: durth) |
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demur (v)
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to question or oppose
(pr: di-MER) |
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didactic (adj)
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intended to teach or instruct
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discretion (n)
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cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
(adj: discrete) |
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disinterested (adj)
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free of bias or self-interest; impartial
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dogmatic (adj)
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expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles
(n: dogma) |
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ebullience (n)
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the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
(adj: ebullient) (pr: eb-U-lee-ense) |
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eclectic (adj)
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composed of elements drawn from various sources
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elegy (n)
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a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead
(adj: elegiac = e-le-dJI-ek) |
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emollient (adj/n)
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soothing, espcially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin
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enigmatic (adj)
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mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand
(n: enigma) |
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ephemeral (adj)
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brief; fleeting
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esoteric (adj)
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intended for or understood by a small, specific group
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exonerate (v)
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to remove blame
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facetious (adj)
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playful; humorous
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furtive (adj)
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marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
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gregarious (adj)
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sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
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harangue (v/n)
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to deliver a pompous speech or tirade; a long, pompous speech
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heretical (adj)
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violating accepted dogma or convention
(n: heresy) |
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impecunious (adj)
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lacking funds; without money
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incipient (adj)
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beginning to come into being or to become apparent
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inert (adj)
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unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
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innocuous (adj)
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harmless; causing no damage
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intransigent (adj)
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refusing to compromise
(n: intransigence) |
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inveigle (v)
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to obtain by deception or flattery
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odious (adj)
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evoking intense aversion or dislike
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opaque (adj)
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impenetrable by light; not reflecting light
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penurious (adj)
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penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
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pernicious (adj)
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extremely harmful; potentially causing death
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precursor (n)
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one that precedes and indicates or announces another
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preen (v)
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to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
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prodigious (adj)
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abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
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prolific (adj)
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producing large volumes or amounts; productive
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putrefy (v)
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to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
(adj: putrid) |
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quaff (v)
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to drink deeply
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quiescence (n)
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stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest
(adj: quiescent) |
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redoubtable (adj)
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awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
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sanction (n/v)
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authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority to
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satire (n)
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a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
(adj: satirical) |
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squalid (adj)
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sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
(n: squalor) |
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stoic (adj)
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indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
(n: stoicism) |
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supplant (v)
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to take the place of; to supersede
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torpid (adj)
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lethargic; sluggish; dormant
(n: torpor) |
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ubiquitous (adj)
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existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
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urbane (adj)
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sophisticated; refined; elegant
(n: urbanity) |
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vilify (v)
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to defame; to characterize harshly
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viscous (adj)
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thick; sticky
(n: viscosity) |
