Balderdash Words Flashcards

Vocabulary Study Notes

• Capricious

  • Describes a tendency to make sudden and unpredictable changes.

• Bombastic

  • Characterized by pompous, overblown speech; often uses excessively lofty language.

• Loquacious

  • Refers to an inclination to talk excessively or at length.

• Mitigate

  • A verb that means to lessen severity, harshness, or hostility; to alleviate pain or discomfort.

• Jingoism

  • Signifies extreme nationalism, often associated with a belligerent foreign policy stance.

• Ossified

  • Means to become hardened or conventional, showing resistance to change.

• Dictum

  • A noteworthy or formal statement expressing a principle or opinion.

• Respite

  • A noun indicating a temporary delay or relief; an interval for rest.

• Nascent

  • Refers to something in the early stages of development or formation, often in an active form.

• Cryptic

  • Describes something that is deliberately mysterious or has hidden meanings; secretive in nature.

• Supercilious

  • Reflects an attitude of contempt and arrogance towards others.

• Pugnacious

  • Indicates a tendency toward aggression or a fighting disposition.

• Indigence

  • Denotes extreme poverty, where basic life necessities are absent.

• Perfidy

  • Represents betrayal or deceitful behavior, often in a literary context.

• Aspersion

  • A statement that attacks a person's character or reputation, commonly used in plural.

• Pastoral

  • Relates to rural life or countryside, often idealizing such environments; can also pertain to religious duties.

• Obtrusive

  • Describes a tendency to impose oneself on others; highly noticeable, often negatively perceived.

• Dubious

  • Characterized by uncertainty regarding outcomes; suggests untrustworthiness or questionable moral quality.

• Palpable

  • Refers to something intense enough to be felt physically or easily observed; tangible in examination contexts.

• Diaphanous

  • Describes delicate, transparent material; fragile and slight, often used in a literary sense.

• Variegated

  • Indicates something marked with different colors or forms; diverse in appearance.

• Egalitarian

  • Pertains to beliefs that advocate for equal rights and opportunities among all people.

• Dowager

  • Refers to a woman who inherits property or title from a deceased husband; often implies respectability.

• Dilettante

  • Describes someone with superficial knowledge or interest in an art or specialized field.

• Iconoclast

  • Refers to individuals who challenge traditional beliefs and customs; may also denote those opposed to religious images.

• Esoteric

  • Indicates something intended for or understood by only a small, specialized group; often complex or difficult to grasp.

• Indignant

  • Describes feelings of anger or annoyance due to perceived unfairness or unreasonable actions.

• Tenable

  • Indicates a position that can be justified and defended with rational reasoning; also refers to the ability to be occupied or maintained.

• Impugn

  • A verb suggesting distrust or questioning the integrity of someone or something.