Vocabulary Quiz: Challenging Words

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

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?

<p>Poseur (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Fortification (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which word represents the study of word origins?

<p>Etymology (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adulation' signify?

<p>Strong admiration (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used to describe being uncommunicative or restrained?

<p>Reticent (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the best description of 'sagacious'?

<p>wise (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'precarious' imply about a situation?

<p>unstable and risky (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term best relates to being 'aloof'?

<p>distant (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>burdensome or hard to undertake (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'transient' describe?

<p>short-lived or ephemeral (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>being undecided or wavering (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option is closest in meaning to 'illusive'?

<p>deceptive and misleading (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an 'alibi'?

<p>an excuse showing absence from a location (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which word describes something that is excessively elaborate or decorated?

<p>Ornate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the term 'execrable'?

<p>Very, very bad (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which word signifies a person who is morally corrupted?

<p>Depraved (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Desecrate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'truant' imply?

<p>Someone who is absent without permission (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which word means clear or easily understood?

<p>Lucid (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'amity' stand for?

<p>Friendship (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Salubrious (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'equivocal' mean?

<p>Ambiguous and open to interpretation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'indigence' refer to?

<p>Condition of poverty (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'facetiouness'?

<p>Not intended to be taken seriously (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'veneration'?

<p>Worship and deep respect (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'predilection' imply?

<p>A strong preference or interest for something (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mitigation' refer to?

<p>Reducing the severity of an issue (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'coda'?

<p>An ending or concluding part (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'moribund'?

<p>On the point of death (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which word is synonymous with 'strident'?

<p>Loud and harsh (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'intransigent' mean?

<p>Stubborn; unyielding (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes someone who is 'persnickety'?

<p>Fastidious and fussy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'garble'?

<p>To distort or confuse (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'balk' mean in a behavioral context?

<p>To hinder and hesitate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'rancor'?

<p>A strong dislike or resentment (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which word is associated with 'volatile'?

<p>Easily unstable; evaporates easily (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'equivocation' refer to?

<p>The act of speaking ambiguously (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Skill and expertise in a specific area (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the closest meaning of 'meretricious'?

<p>Falsely attractive or tawdry (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'foppish' imply?

<p>Excessively concerned with how one dresses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'augury' relate to?

<p>The practice of predicting omens (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase best captures the essence of 'culpability'?

<p>The quality of being blameworthy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you define 'imperturbability'?

<p>The quality of being unable to be disturbed (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Done with careful consideration or intention (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Retention

The act of keeping or holding something; preservation.

Timorous

To be cowardly or fearful.

Adroit

To be skillful, clever, or adept.

Brevity

To be brief or concise.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Decorum

Dignified and correct behavior.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Err

To make a mistake.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Hinder

To obstruct or hinder something.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Largess

Generosity or giving gifts.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Pragmatist

A person who is concerned with usefulness.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Rotund

A round or plump shape.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Tranquil

A state of peacefulness and tranquility.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Alibi

An excuse that proves someone was not at the scene of a crime.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Buttress

To strengthen or support something.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Delineation

A clear and detailed explanation or outline.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Evacuate

To leave a place quickly, especially due to danger.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Idiosyncrasy

A unique characteristic or habit of a person.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Execrable

Very, very bad; extremely unpleasant.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Exemplify

To serve as a good example or model.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Impecunious

Having no money; poor.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Lucid

Clear and easily understood.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Ornate

Highly decorated; ornate.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Precipice

A steep slope or cliff.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Salutary

Something that teaches you a lesson; beneficial.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Truncate

To cut something short.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Conciliate

To bring together, to end a dispute.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Genre

A category, type, or classification of a specific subject.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Condone

To tacitly support, overlook, or forgive.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Dynamic

Lively, vibrant, and energetic.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Eclectic

Taking things from different sources.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Mundane

Ordinary, worldly, and commonplace.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Perpetuate

To cause something to continue indefinitely.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Rancor

Resentment, hostility, or bad feeling.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Blandishment

Words used to coax or flatter, often insincerely.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Boor

An ill-mannered person; rude and insensitive.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Cardinal

  1. Of the highest rank in the Church. 2. Extremely important.
Signup and view all the flashcards

Deliberate

  1. To think carefully before acting. 2. To happen slowly. 3. To happen on purpose.
Signup and view all the flashcards

Equivocate

To speak ambiguously, often to mislead or avoid commitment.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Feckless

Weak, helpless, and lacking initiative, like a useless 'feck'.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Imperturbability

The quality of remaining calm and undisturbed, even under pressure.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Meretricious

Attractive but superficial and insincere, like cheap jewels.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Filibuster

A delaying tactic used in legislative bodies, often characterized by lengthy speeches or other delaying maneuvers designed to stall a vote or debate.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Gambit

An opening move in a game, negotiation, or situation; a strategic action taken to gain an advantage.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Mitigation

To make something less severe or harmful; to lessen the severity of a situation.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Obligate

Something that is required or obligatory; something that someone is compelled to do.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Predilection

A preference or fondness for something; a strong liking for something.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Propitiate

To try to appease or gain favor from someone, often through offerings or rituals.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Stanch

To stop the flow of something, especially blood; to halt.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Travesty

A ridiculous or distorted imitation of something; a parody or mockery.

Signup and view all the flashcards

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

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

1500 Vocabulary Words PDF

More Like This

English Vocabulary Quiz
4 questions

English Vocabulary Quiz

StellarRadon avatar
StellarRadon
Vocabulary Study Quiz
6 questions

Vocabulary Study Quiz

FelicitousBagpipes avatar
FelicitousBagpipes
Vocabulary Study Notes
5 questions

Vocabulary Study Notes

LionheartedAllusion5684 avatar
LionheartedAllusion5684
Vocabulary Study Notes
91 questions

Vocabulary Study Notes

FastestGrowingBurgundy8248 avatar
FastestGrowingBurgundy8248
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser