Vocabulary Quiz: Challenging Words

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'deference' most closely mean?

Disrespect

Respect (correct)

Resentment

Indifference

Which word refers to an inactive or lazy state?

Bristle

Torpid (correct)

Lax

Timorous

What does 'histrionic' imply when describing behavior?

Heroic

Genuine

Theatrical (correct)

Subtle

Which term describes a person who puts on an act or facade?

Poseur Signup and view all the answers

What does 'bulwark' mean in the context of protection?

Fortification Signup and view all the answers

Which word represents the study of word origins?

Etymology Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adulation' signify?

Strong admiration Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used to describe being uncommunicative or restrained?

Reticent Signup and view all the answers

What is the best description of 'sagacious'?

wise Signup and view all the answers

What does 'precarious' imply about a situation?

unstable and risky Signup and view all the answers

Which term best relates to being 'aloof'?

distant Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of an 'onery' task?

burdensome or hard to undertake Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'transient' describe?

short-lived or ephemeral Signup and view all the answers

What does 'lack of clarity' refer to in the context of the term 'ambivalence'?

being undecided or wavering Signup and view all the answers

Which option is closest in meaning to 'illusive'?

deceptive and misleading Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an 'alibi'?

an excuse showing absence from a location Signup and view all the answers

Which word describes something that is excessively elaborate or decorated?

Ornate Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the term 'execrable'?

Very, very bad Signup and view all the answers

Which word signifies a person who is morally corrupted?

Depraved Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the act of damaging a holy place?

Desecrate Signup and view all the answers

What does 'truant' imply?

Someone who is absent without permission Signup and view all the answers

Which word means clear or easily understood?

Lucid Signup and view all the answers

What does 'amity' stand for?

Friendship Signup and view all the answers

Which word is best defined as something that is beneficial or health-giving?

Salubrious Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'equivocal' mean?

Ambiguous and open to interpretation Signup and view all the answers

What does 'indigence' refer to?

Condition of poverty Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'facetiouness'?

Not intended to be taken seriously Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'veneration'?

Worship and deep respect Signup and view all the answers

What does 'predilection' imply?

A strong preference or interest for something Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mitigation' refer to?

Reducing the severity of an issue Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'coda'?

An ending or concluding part Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'moribund'?

On the point of death Signup and view all the answers

Which word is synonymous with 'strident'?

Loud and harsh Signup and view all the answers

What does 'intransigent' mean?

Stubborn; unyielding Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes someone who is 'persnickety'?

Fastidious and fussy Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'garble'?

To distort or confuse Signup and view all the answers

What does 'balk' mean in a behavioral context?

To hinder and hesitate Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'rancor'?

A strong dislike or resentment Signup and view all the answers

Which word is associated with 'volatile'?

Easily unstable; evaporates easily Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'equivocation' refer to?

The act of speaking ambiguously Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'virtue' in 'virtuosity'?

Skill and expertise in a specific area Signup and view all the answers

What is the closest meaning of 'meretricious'?

Falsely attractive or tawdry Signup and view all the answers

What does 'foppish' imply?

Excessively concerned with how one dresses Signup and view all the answers

What does 'augury' relate to?

The practice of predicting omens Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase best captures the essence of 'culpability'?

The quality of being blameworthy Signup and view all the answers

How would you define 'imperturbability'?

The quality of being unable to be disturbed Signup and view all the answers

What does 'deliberate' signify in the context of action?

Done with careful consideration or intention Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Word List Study Notes

Abhor: hate
Bigot: narrow-minded, prejudiced person
Counterfeit: fake; false
Enfranchise: give voting rights
Hamper: hinder; obstruct
Kindle: to start a fire
Noxious: harmful; poisonous; lethal
Placid: calm; peaceful
Remuneration: payment for work done
Talisman: lucky charm
Abrasive: rough; coarse; harsh
Bilk: cheat; defraud
Covert: hidden; undercover
Engender: cause
Hangar: storage area (like garage) for a plane
Knotty: complex; difficult to solve
Nuance: something subtle; a fine shade of meaning
Plagiarism: taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas
Renown: fame
Tangent: going off the main subject
Abasement: humiliation; degradation
Billowing: swelling; fluttering; waving
Cower: recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
Enhance: improve; make better or clearer
Harangue: noisy, attacking speech
Labyrinth: a maze; complex, convoluted structure
Nullify: to counter; make unimportant
Plaintiff: petitioner (in court of law)
Replete: full
Tangible: can be touched
Abrogate: cancel; deny; repeal
Blasphemy: speech which offends religious sentiments
Credible: believable
Enigma: puzzle; mystery
Harbingers: indicators; bringers of warnings
Labyrinthine: complicated; highly convoluted
Nuzzle: cuddle; snuggle
Plaudit: statement giving strong praise
Reprehensible: shameful; very bad
Tardy: slow; late; overdue; delayed
Absolution: forgiveness; pardon; release
Blatant: obvious
Creditable: praiseworthy
Ensconce: establish firmly in a position
Hasten: hurry; accelerate; rush
Laceration: a cut
Obdurate: stubborn
Plausible: can be believed; reasonable
Reprieve: a respite; postponement of a sentence
Tawdry: of little value; gaudy
Abstain: desist; go without; withdraw
Blighted: damaged; destroyed; ruined
Credulous: gullible; ready to believe anything
Enshroud: cover
Haughtiness: arrogance; pride
Lachrymose: tearful; sad
Obfuscate: deliberately make something difficult to understand
Plethora: an excess
Repudiate: shun; eschew
Tedium: boredom
Abstemious: self-denying; refraining from indulging
Blithe: free-spirited; carefree
Crepuscular: active at dawn and dusk
Enunciation: clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
Headstrong: stubborn; willful
Lackluster: dull; monotonous; bland
Objective: unbiased; not subjective
Pliable: flexible; not stubborn
Rescind: retract; repeal
Abstruse: difficult to understand; obscure
Blunderbuss: 1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person
Cringe: recoil; flinch; shy away

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Description

Test your knowledge of complex vocabulary with this quiz focused on nuanced terms and their meanings. From 'deference' to 'alibi', explore how well you understand each word's definition and usage. Perfect for language enthusiasts and students alike!