Vocabulary building

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following scenarios BEST exemplifies the word 'insidious'?

  • A sudden, unexpected storm that causes widespread damage.
  • A politician who openly declares their corrupt intentions.
  • A blatant act of violence committed in broad daylight.
  • A slowly spreading rumor that gradually destroys a person's reputation. (correct)

In which situation would it be MOST appropriate to use the word 'recalcitrant'?

  • Describing a prisoner who refuses to follow instructions from the guards. (correct)
  • Characterizing a witness who willingly cooperates with law enforcement.
  • Referring to a cooperative team player who readily accepts feedback.
  • Describing a well-trained dog that always obeys commands.

Which of the following actions would be considered 'gratuitous'?

  • Making an unprovoked and offensive remark during a friendly conversation. (correct)
  • Volunteering time to support a local charity.
  • Providing necessary assistance to someone in need.
  • Offering constructive criticism to help someone improve.

A company known for its 'bombastic' advertising campaigns is MOST likely to:

<p>Make exaggerated claims and use flamboyant language. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario BEST illustrates the meaning of 'circumlocution'?

<p>A student who avoids answering a question by talking around the subject. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following scenarios would a 'catalyst' be MOST beneficial?

<p>Accelerating the production of a vital medicine during a health crisis. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which situation would be MOST likely to result in someone being described as a 'pariah'?

<p>Being ostracized due to their controversial beliefs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following BEST describes a 'sinecure'?

<p>A job that offers high pay for minimal work. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions taken by a government would MOST likely be described as 'sedition'?

<p>Suppressing dissent and arresting political activists who advocate for revolution. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes 'turpitude'?

<p>Conduct that is considered morally reprehensible. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'abate' mean?

<p>To make something less intense or widespread (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'abject' mean?

<p>Extremely bad or severe (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'aberration' refer to?

<p>A deviation from the expected or usual course (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'beguile' mean?

<p>To trick or deceive someone (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'berate' mean?

<p>To criticize someone angrily (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'bereft' mean?

<p>Deprived of or lacking something (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'blandishment' mean?

<p>A form of flattery or warm encouragement (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'bovine' refer to?

<p>Cattle or animals resembling cattle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'braggart' mean?

<p>A person who boasts about achievements (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'cacophony' mean?

<p>A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'cavort'?

<p>To dance or jump around excitedly (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'censorious' mean?

<p>Inclined to criticize severely (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'circumlocution' refer to?

<p>An indirect way of speaking (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'circumscribe' mean?

<p>To restrict something within limits (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'clamor' mean?

<p>A loud and confused noise (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'denigrate' mean?

<p>To criticize unfairly (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'despot' refer to?

<p>A ruler with absolute power (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'diaphanous'?

<p>Very thin and transparent (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'dirge'?

<p>A lament for the dead (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'disparate' mean?

<p>Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'disrepute' mean?

<p>Loss of reputation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'eclectic' mean?

<p>Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'ebullient' mean?

<p>Cheerful and full of energy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'edict'?

<p>A formal proclamation or order (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'fortuitous'?

<p>Happening by chance or accident (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Epicureanism?

<p>The attainment of physical pleasure and avoidance of pain (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'fractious' mean?

<p>Easily irritated or difficult to control (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'garrulous' mean?

<p>Talkative or chatty (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'grandiloquent' mean?

<p>Extravagant or pompous in style (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'grotto' refer to?

<p>A small cave or chamber (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'hapless'?

<p>Unfortunate or unlucky (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an injunction?

<p>A legal order preventing someone from doing a specific act (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'inoculate' mean?

<p>To introduce a vaccine into the body (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'insidious' mean?

<p>Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'insurgent'?

<p>A rebel or revolutionary (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Abandon

Give up completely

Abate

Lessen or reduce in intensity

Beguile

Charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way.

Demur

Show reluctance or raise objections.

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Diaphanous

Light and translucent.

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Fortuitous

Happening by chance or coincidence.

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Garrulous

Talkative or excessively wordy.

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Insidious

Slowly harmful or sneaky.

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Pandemic

Disease prevalent over a large area or the entire world.

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Recalcitrant

Stubbornly uncooperative or resistant to authority.

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Study Notes

  • Abandon – to give up completely.
  • Abate – to lessen in intensity or degree.
  • Abject – utterly without pride or dignity.
  • Aberration – a deviation from what is normal or expected.
  • Beguile – to charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way.
  • Berate – to scold or criticize someone severely and at length.
  • Bereft – deprived of or lacking something.
  • Blandishment – a flattering statement used to persuade someone gently.
  • Bias – a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way that’s considered to be unfair.
  • Bombastic – using inflated or pompous language.
  • Bovine – resembling a cow, especially in being dull or slow-moving.
  • Braggart – a person who boasts about their achievements or possessions.
  • Cacophony – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
  • Catalyst – a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction.
  • Cavort – to dance around excitedly.
  • Censorious – severely critical of others.
  • Circumlocution – using many words, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.
  • Circumscribe – to restrict something within limits.
  • Clamor – a loud and confused noise.
  • Clout – influence or power, especially in politics or business.
  • Demur – to show reluctance or raise objections.
  • Denigrate – to disparage or criticize unfairly.
  • Despot – a tyrant or dictator.
  • Diaphanous – light and translucent.
  • Dirge – a song of lament for the dead.
  • Discomfit – to make someone feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.
  • Disparate – different from one another.
  • Disrepute – a state of disgrace.
  • Eclectic – deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
  • Edict – an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.
  • Ebullient – cheerful and lively.
  • Epicureanism – the belief that pleasure is the most important aspect of life.
  • Effluvia – an unpleasant odor.
  • Fortuitous – happening by chance or accident.
  • Fractious – irritable and difficult to control.
  • Garrulous – excessively talkative.
  • Grandiloquent – pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner.
  • Gratuitous – uncalled for or unnecessary.
  • Grotto – a small cave or cave-like structure.
  • Hapless – unfortunate.
  • Injunction – a court-ordered command.
  • Inoculate – to vaccinate against a disease.
  • Insidious – slowly harmful or sneaky.
  • Instigate – to provoke action.
  • Insurgent – a rebel against authority.
  • Interlocutor – a participant in a conversation.
  • Illusion – a false idea or belief. Also, magic tricks performed for entertainment.
  • Litigant – a person involved in a lawsuit.
  • Maelstrom – a powerful storm or chaotic situation.
  • Maudlin – overly sentimental or self-pitying.
  • Maverick – an independent-minded nonconformist.
  • Mawkish – overly sentimental in a sickly way.
  • Maxim – a concise statement of truth or principle.
  • Mendacious – inclined to lie.
  • Meretricious – attractive but lacking value.
  • Pandemic – a disease prevalent over an entire country.
  • Paradigm – a typical example or model.
  • Pariah – an outcast.
  • Paucity – scarcity; a lack of something.
  • Pejorative – expressing strong disapproval.
  • Penchant – a strong liking or tendency.
  • Penurious – extremely poor.
  • Pert – attractive and confident.
  • Pernicious – harmful or destructive.
  • Precision – attention to detail.
  • Prestidigitation – magic tricks performed for entertainment.
  • Recalcitrant – stubbornly uncooperative.
  • Relegate – to demote to a lower position.
  • Remiss – negligent or careless.
  • Reprieve – cancellation of punishment.
  • Reprobate – a morally unprincipled person.
  • Rescind – to revoke or cancel.
  • Ribald – improper or lewd.
  • Rife – widespread or prevalent.
  • Sedition – conduct or speech inciting people to rebel.
  • Sinecure – a position requiring little or no work.
  • Toady – a sycophant or flatterer.
  • Torpid – lethargic; sluggish.
  • Travesty – a mockery or parody.
  • Trenchant – sharp and forceful in expression.
  • Trounce – to defeat decisively.
  • Truculent – aggressively argumentative.
  • Turpitude – moral wickedness or depravity.
  • Ubiquitous – found everywhere.
  • Umbrage – offense or annoyance.
  • Usury – lending money at unlawful rates.
  • Vituperate – to strongly blame or insult someone.
  • Vociferous – outspoken and vehement in speech.
  • Wanton – deliberate and unprovoked; sexually unrestrained.
  • Winsome – attractive or charming.
  • Yield – to surrender or give way to pressure.
  • Yoke – to tie two things together.

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