Question | Answer |
cursory | casual;hastily done |
flippant | lacking proper seriousness |
anecdote | short amount of an amusing or interesting event |
charlatan | quack;pretender to knowledge |
elusive | evasive;baffling;hard to grasp |
ascendancy | controlling influence |
confound | to confuse;puzzle |
expertise | specialized knowledge;expert skill |
deprecate | express disapproval of;protest against; belittle |
esoteric | hard to understand;known only to a chosen few |
discredit | defame;destroy confidence in;disbelieve |
distant | reserved or aloof;cold in manner |
benevolent | generous;charitable |
adversary | an opponent |
abate | subside or moderate |
inert | lacking power to move;inactive |
paltry | insignificant;trifling |
meander | to wind or turn in its place |
incoherent | unintelligible;muddled;illogical |
invert | to turn upside down or inside out |
mundane | worldly as opposed to spiritually |
insipid | lacking in flavor;dull |
impetuous | rash;hasty;violent |
iconoclast | one who attacks cherished traditions |
oblivion | obscurity;forgetfulness |
lethargic | drowsy;dull |
hardy | robust;able to stand inclement weather |
pomposity | acting like a stuffed shirt;self important behavior |
perpetuate | to make something last;preserve from extinction |
garrulous | loquacious;wordy;talkative |
austerity | sternness;severity;strict;economy;lack of luxuries |
tirade | extended scolding;denunciation;harangue |
skeptical | doubting;suspending judgment until one has examined the evidence |
receptive | quick or willing to receive ideas or suggestions |
buttress | support;prop up |
accolade | aware of merit |
repudiate | disown;disavow |
static | unchanging;lacking development |
sage | person who is celebrated for his wisdom |
problematic | doubtful;unsettled;questionable;perplexing |
usurp | seize another rank or power |
aloof | apart;reserved;standoffish |
provocative | arousing anger or interest;annoying |
surpass | to exceed |
apprehension | fear;capture;discernment |
defiance | refusal to yield;resistance |
disparity | difference;condition of inequality |
founder | to fail completely;sink |
facile | easily accomplished;ready or fluent;superficial |
inaugurate | to start;to initiate;to install in office |
contract | to compress or shrink;to make a pledge;to catch a disease |
enumerate | list;mention one by one |
exacting | extremely demanding |
duration | length of time something lasts |
indiscriminate | choosing at random;confused |
gravity | seriousness |
didactic | teaching;instructional |
hindrance | block;obstacle |
impair | to injure;to hurt |
composure | mental calmness |
remorse | guilt;self-reproach |
reticent | reserved;uncommunicative |
seclusion | isolation;solitude |
opaque | dark;not transparent |
misanthrope | one who hates man kind |
preclude | make impossible;eliminate |
notoriety | ill fame |
judicious | wise;sound in judgment |
intervene | come between |
magnanimous | generous |
passive | not active |
proliferation | rapid growth;spread;multiplication |
inimical | unfriendly;harmful;detrimental |
pithy | concise;meaningful;substantial;meaty |
quiescent | at rest;dormant;temporarily inactive |
virtuoso | highly skilled artist |
animosity | active enmity;extreme hatred |
benign | kindly;favorable;not malignant |
trivial | unimportant;trifling |
discrepancy | lack of consistency;difference |
aberrant | abnormal or deviant |
chronicle | report;record |
confront | face;challenge |
incongruous | not fitting;absurd |
deride | ridicule;make fun of |
sanction | approve;ratify |
sparse | not thick;thinly scattered;scantly |
ascetic | practicing self denial;austere |
substantial | ample;solid |
tangible | able to be touched; real |
adverse | unfavorable;hostile |
divergent | differing;deviating |
munificent | very generous |
rescind | cancel |
proximity | nearness |
paradigm | model;example;pattern |
ponderous | weighty;unwieldy |
oblivious | inattentive or unmindful;wholly absorbed |
steadfast | loyal;unswerving |
slacken | slow up;loosen |
surreptitious | secret;sneaky;hidden |
perturb | disturb greatly |
torpor | lethargy;sluggishness;dormancy |
curtail | shorten;reduce |
vacillate | waver;fluctuate |
proclivity | inclination;natural tendency |
recluse | hermit;loner |
florid | ruddy;reddish;flowery |
embellish | adorn;ornament |
insolvent | bankrupt;unable to pay ones debt |
idiosyncrasy | individual trait;usually odd in nature;eccentricity |
levity | lack of seriousness;lightness |
haughtiness | pride;arrogance |
medley | mixture |
irascible | irritable;easily angered |
explicit | totally clear;definite;outspoken |
genre | particular variety of art or literature |
inexorable | relentless;unyielding;implacable |
espouse | adopt;support |
implausible | unlikely;unbelievable |
altruistic | unselfish;generous;concerned for others |
cacophonous | discordant;inharmonious |
authentic | genuine |
arable | fir for growing crops |
founder | person who establishes (an organization;business) |
comprehensive | through;inclusive |
acknowledge | recognize;admit |
dutiful | respectful;obedient |
dispassionate | calm;impartial |
converge | tend to meet;come together;approach |
diffuse | wordy;rambling;spread out |
degenerate | become worse;deteriorate |
facilitate | help bring about;make less difficult |
ephemeral | short-lived;fleeting |
exalt | in rank or dignity;praise |
esteem | judge;value;respect |
discriminating | able to see differences;prejudiced |
germane | pertinent;bearing upon the case at hand |
cynic | one who is skeptical or distrustful or human motives |
fluctuate | waver;shift |
emulate | imitate;rival |
conscientious | scrupulous;careful |
civil | courteous and polite;having to do with citizens or the state |
diverse | differing in some characteristics;various |
hedonist | one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life |
implement | put into effect; supply with tools |
ignominy | deep disgrace;shame or dishonor |
exploit | deed or action;particularly a brave deed |
inconsequential | insignificant;unimportant |
abrasive | rubbing away;tending to grind down |
tantamount | equivalent in effect of value |
substantiate | verify;support;established by evidence |
spendthrift | someone who waists money |
turbulence | state of violent agitation |
aspire | seek to attain; long for |
bequeath | leave to someone by will;hand down |
advocate | urge;plead for |
prolific | abundantly fruitful |
ramble | wander aimlessly |
retiring | modest;shy |
sectarian | narrow-minded;limited |
renegade | deserter;traitor |
virulent | extremely poisonous;hostile;bitter |
antagonistic | hostile;opposed |