question

admonish

answer

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty

question

breach

answer

(n.) an opening, gap, rupture, rift; a violation or infraction; (v.) to create an opening, break through

question

brigand

answer

(n.) a bandit, robber, outlaw, highwayman

question

circumspect

answer

(adj.) careful, cautious

question

commandeer

answer

(v.) to seize for military or official use

question

cumbersome

answer

(adj.) clumsy, hard to handle; slow-moving

question

deadlock

answer

(n.) a standstill resulting from the opposition of two equal forces or factions; (v.) to bring to such a standstill

question

debris

answer

(n.) scattered fragments, wreckage

question

diffuse

answer

(v.) to spread or scatter freely or widely; (adj.) wordy, long-winded, or unfocused; scattered or widely spread

question

dilemma

answer

(n.) a difficult or perplexing situation or problem

question

efface

answer

(v.) to wipe out; to keep oneself from being noticed

question

muddle

answer

(v.) to make a mess of; muddle through: to get by; (n.) a hopeless mess

question

opinionated

answer

(adj.) stubborn and often unreasonable in holding to one's own ideas, having a closed mind.

question

perennial

answer

(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent; (n.) a plant that lives for many years

question

predispose

answer

(v.) to incline to beforehand

question

relinquish

answer

(v.) to let go, give up

question

salvage

answer

(v.) to save from fire or shipwreck; (n.) property thus saved

question

spasmodic

answer

(adj.) sudden and violent but brief; fitful, intermittent

question

spurious

answer

(adj.) not genuine, not true, not valid

question

unbridled

answer

(adj.) uncontrolled, lacking in restraint

question

adjourn

answer

(v.) to stop proceedings temporarily; move to another place

question

alien

answer

(n.) a citizen of another country; (adj.) foreign, strange

question

comely

answer

(adj.) having a pleasing appearance

question

compensate

answer

(v.) to make up for; to repay for services

question

dissolute

answer

(adj.) loose in one's morals or behavior

question

erratic

answer

(adj.) not regular or consistent; different from what is ordinarily expected; undependable

question

expulsion

answer

(n.) the process of driving or forcing out

question

feint

answer

(n.) a deliberately deceptive movement; a pretense; (v.) to make a deceptive movement; to make a pretense of

question

fodder

answer

(n.) food for horses or cattle; raw material for a designated purpose

question

fortify

answer

(v.) to strengthen, build up

question

illegible

answer

(adj.) difficult or impossible to read

question

jeer

answer

(v.) to make fun of rudely or unkindly; (n.) a rude remark of derision

question

lucrative

answer

(adj.) bringing in money; profitable

question

mediocre

answer

(adj.) average, ordinary, undistinguished

question

proliferate

answer

(v.) to reproduce, increase, or spread rapidly

question

subjugate

answer

(v.) to conquer by force, bring under complete control

question

sully

answer

(v.) to soil, stain, tarnish, defile, besmirch

question

tantalize

answer

(v.) to tease, torment by teasing

question

terse

answer

(adj.) brief and to the point

question

unflinching

answer

(adj.) firm, showing no signs of fear, not drawing back

question

abridge

answer

(v.) to make shorter

question

adherent

answer

(n.) a follower, supporter; (adj.) attached, sticking to

question

altercation

answer

(n.) an angry argument

question

cherubic

answer

(adj.) resembling an angel portrayed as a little child with a beautiful, round, or chubby face; sweet and innocent

question

condone

answer

(v.) to pardon or overlook

question

dissent

answer

(v.) to disagree; (n.) disagreement

question

eminent

answer

(adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished; projecting

question

exorcise

answer

(v.) to drive out by magic; to dispose of something troublesome, menacing, or oppressive

question

fabricate

answer

(v.) to make, manufacture; to make up, invent

question

irate

answer

(adj.) angry

question

marauder

answer

(n.) a raider, plunderer

question

obesity

answer

(n.) excessive fatness

question

pauper

answer

(n.) an extremely poor person

question

pilfer

answer

(v.) to steal in small quantities

question

rift

answer

(n.) a split, break, breach

question

semblance

answer

(n.) a likeness; an outward appearance; an apparition

question

surmount

answer

(v.) to overcome, rise above

question

terminate

answer

(v.) to bring to an end

question

trite

answer

(adj.) commonplace; overused, stale

question

usurp

answer

(v.) to seize and hold a position by force or without right

question

abscond

answer

(v.) to run off and hide

question

access

answer

(n.) approach or admittance to places, persons, things; an increase; (v.) to get at, obtain

question

anarchy

answer

(n.) a lack of government and law; confusion

question

arduous

answer

(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort

question

auspicious

answer

(adj.) favorable, fortunate

question

biased

answer

(adj.) favoring one side unduly; prejudiced

question

daunt

answer

(v.) to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage

question

disentangle

answer

(v.) to free from tangles or complications

question

fated

answer

(adj.) determined in advance by destiny or fortune

question

hoodwink

answer

(v.) to mislead by a trick, deceive

question

inanimate

answer

(adj.) not having life; without energy or spirit

question

incinerate

answer

(v.) to burn to ashes

question

intrepid

answer

(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable

question

larceny

answer

(n.) theft

question

pliant

answer

(adj.) bending readily; easily influenced

question

pompous

answer

(adj.) overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious

question

precipice

answer

(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster

question

rectify

answer

(v.) to make right, correct

question

reprieve

answer

(n.) a temporary relief or delay; (v.) to grant a postponement

question

revile

answer

(v.) to attack with words, call bad names

question

accomplice

answer

(n.) a person who takes part in a crime

question

annihilate

answer

(v.) to destroy completely

question

arbitrary

answer

(adj.) unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness

question

brazen

answer

(adj.) shameless, impudent; made of brass

question

catalyst

answer

(n.) a substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction; any agent that causes change

question

exodus

answer

(n.) a large-scale departure or flight

question

facilitate

answer

(v.) to make easier; to assist

question

incorrigible

answer

(adj.) not able to be corrected; beyond control

question

latent

answer

(adj.) hidden, present but not realized

question

militant

answer

(adj.) given to fighting; active and aggressive in support of a cause; (n.) an activist

question

morose

answer

(adj.) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

question

opaque

answer

(adj.) not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense, stupid

question

paramount

answer

(adj.) chief in importance, above all others

question

prattle

answer

(v.) to talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; to babble; (n.) baby talk; babble

question

rebut

answer

(v.) to offer arguments or evidence that contradicts an assertion; to refute

question

reprimand

answer

(v.) to scold; find fault with; (n.) a rebuke

question

servitude

answer

(n.) slavery, forced labor

question

slapdash

answer

(adj.) careless and hasty

question

stagnant

answer

(adj.) not running or flowing; foul from standing still; inactive, sluggish, dull

question

succumb

answer

(v.) to give way to superior force, yield

question

atone

answer

(v.) to make up for

question

bondage

answer

(n.) slavery; any state of being bound or held down

question

credible

answer

(adj.) believable

question

defray

answer

(v.) to pay for

question

diligent

answer

(adj.) hardworking, industrious, not lazy

question

doleful

answer

(adj.) sad; dreary

question

ghastly

answer

(adj.) frightful, horrible; deathly pale

question

hamper

answer

(v.) to hold back

question

hew

answer

(v.) to shape or cut down with an ax; to hold to

question

impoverished

answer

(adj.) poor, in a state of poverty; depleted

question

incessant

answer

(adj.) never stopping, going on all the time

question

intricate

answer

(adj.) complicated; difficult to understand

question

lucid

answer

(adj.) easy to understand, clear; rational, sane

question

posthumous

answer

(adj.) occurring or published after death

question

prim

answer

(adj.) overly neat, precise, proper, or formal; prudish

question

sardonic

answer

(adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic

question

superfluous

answer

(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess

question

supplant

answer

(v.) to take the place of, supersede

question

taunt

answer

(v.) to jeer at, mock; (n.) an insulting or mocking remark

question

tenacious

answer

(adj.) holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent

question

adieu

answer

(int.) "Farewell!"; (n.) a farewell

question

advent

answer

(n.) an arrival; a coming into place or view

question

apex

answer

(n.) the highest point, tip

question

assimilate

answer

(v.) to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully

question

bogus

answer

(adj.) false, counterfeit

question

exorbitant

answer

(adj.) unreasonably high; excessive

question

interim

answer

(n.) the time between; (adj.) temporary, coming between two points in time

question

inundate

answer

(v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size

question

malign

answer

(v.) to speak evil of, slander; (adj.) evil

question

meander

answer

(v.) to wander about, wind about; (n.) a sharp turn or twist

question

metropolis

answer

(n.) a large city; the chief city of an area

question

momentous

answer

(adj.) very important

question

obstreperous

answer

(adj.) noisy; unruly, disorderly

question

pensive

answer

(adj.) thoughtful; melancholy

question

perilous

answer

(adj.) dangerous

question

shoddy

answer

(adj.) of poor quality; characterized by inferior workmanship

question

sprightly

answer

(adj.) lively, full of life; spicy, flavorful

question

surly

answer

(adj.) angry and bad-tempered; rude

question

tirade

answer

(n.) a long, angry speech, usually very critical

question

vagrant

answer

(n.) an idle wanderer, tramp; (adj.) wandering aimlessly

question

assurance

answer

(n.) a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence

question

asylum

answer

(n.) an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety

question

console

answer

(v.) to comfort; (n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device

question

dilate

answer

(v.) to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon

question

dross

answer

(n.) refuse, waste products

question

dwindle

answer

(v.) to lessen, diminish

question

flippant

answer

(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy

question

immunity

answer

(n.) resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation

question

institute

answer

(v.) to establish, set up; (n.) an organization for the promotion of learning

question

liability

answer

(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous

question

preposterous

answer

(adj.) ridiculous, senseless

question

pugnacious

answer

(adj.) quarrelsome, fond of fighting

question

rabid

answer

(adj.) furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies

question

realm

answer

(n.) a kingdom; a region or field of study

question

rejuvenate

answer

(v.) to make young again; to make like new

question

remunerate

answer

(v.) to reward, pay, reimburse

question

sparse

answer

(adj.) meager, scant; scattered

question

sterling

answer

(adj.) genuine, excellent; made of silver of standard fineness

question

venture

answer

(n.) a risky or daring undertaking; (v.) to expose to danger; to dare

question

warp

answer

(v.) to twist out of shape; (n.) an abnormality

question

auxiliary

answer

(adj.) giving assistance or support; (n.) a helper, aid

question

candid

answer

(adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unposed

question

cubicle

answer

(n.) a small room or compartment

question

drudgery

answer

(n.) work that is hard and tiresome

question

envoy

answer

(n.) a representative or messenger (as of a government)

question

escalate

answer

(v.) to elevate; to increase in intensity

question

expedient

answer

(n.) a means to an end; (adj.) advantageous, useful

question

feign

answer

(v.) to pretend

question

flair

answer

(n.) a natural quality, talent, or skill; a distinctive style

question

grievous

answer

(adj.) causing sorrow or pain; serious

question

heterogeneous

answer

(adj.) composed of different kinds, diverse

question

horde

answer

(n.) a vast number (as of people); a throng

question

impel

answer

(n.) to force, drive forward

question

incredulous

answer

(adj.) disbelieving, skeptical

question

inscribe

answer

(v.) to write or engrave; to enter a name on a list

question

monologue

answer

(n.) a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person

question

prognosis

answer

(n.) a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease or situation

question

rasping

answer

(adj.) with a harsh, grating sound; (n.) a harsh sound

question

repugnant

answer

(adj.) offensive, disagreeable, distasteful

question

scuttle

answer

(v.) to sink a ship by cutting holes in it; to get rid of something in a decisive way; to run hastily, scurry; (n.) a pail

question

adept

answer

(adj.) thoroughly skilled; (n.) an expert

question

aspire

answer

(v.) to have ambitious hopes or plans, strive toward a higher goal, desire earnestly; to ascend

question

bleak

answer

(adj.) bare, dreary, dismal

question

chide

answer

(v.) to blame; scold

question

despicable

answer

(adj.) worthy of scorn, contemptible

question

diminutive

answer

(adj.) small, smaller than most others of the same type

question

emancipate

answer

(v.) to free from slavery; to release or liberate

question

erroneous

answer

(adj.) incorrect, containing mistakes

question

exploit

answer

(v.) to make use of, develop; to make improper use of for personal profit; (n.) a feat, deed

question

extemporaneous

answer

(adj.) made or delivered on the spur of the moment

question

impair

answer

(v.) to make imperfect, damage, harm

question

invincible

answer

(adj.) not able to be defeated, unbeatable

question

languid

answer

(adj.) drooping; without energy, sluggish

question

mire

answer

(n.) mud; wet, swampy ground; a tough situation; (v.) to get stuck

question

obtrusive

answer

(adj.) forward; undesirably prominent; thrust out

question

preamble

answer

(n.) an introduction to a speech or piece of writing

question

render

answer

(v.) to cause to become; to perform; to deliver officially; to process, extract

question

rugged

answer

(adj.) rough, irregular; severe, stern; strong; stormy

question

skeptical

answer

(adj.) inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true

question

slipshod

answer

(adj.) untidy in dress, personal habits, etc.; careless, sloppy

question

brevity

answer

(n.) shortness

question

comport

answer

(v.) to conduct or bear oneself, behave; to be in agreement

question

concise

answer

(adj.) expressing much in a few words

question

demure

answer

(adj.) sober or serious in manner, modest

question

depreciation

answer

(n.) a lessening in value; a belittling

question

deteriorate

answer

(v.) to lower in quality or value; to wear away

question

divulge

answer

(v.) to tell, reveal; to make public

question

enlightened

answer

(adj.) free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding

question

forestall

answer

(v.) to prevent by acting first

question

garble

answer

(v.) to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible

question

proponent

answer

(n.) one who puts forward a proposal; one who supports a cause or belief

question

quaver

answer

(v.) to shake, tremble; to trill

question

recoil

answer

(v.) to spring back, shrink; (n.) the act of springing back

question

recoup

answer

(v.) to make up for, regain

question

reek

answer

(n.) an unpleasant smell; (v.) to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression

question

relentless

answer

(adj.) unyielding, harsh, without pity

question

rivulet

answer

(n.) a small stream

question

squander

answer

(v.) to spend foolishly, waste

question

staccato

answer

(adj.) detached or disconnected in sound or style

question

statute

answer

(n.) a law

question

appreciable

answer

(adj.) sufficient to be noticed or measured

question

autocratic

answer

(adj.) absolute in power or authority

question

blanch

answer

(v.) to remove the color from; to make or turn pale; to parboil

question

blasphemy

answer

(n.) an act, utterance, or writing showing contempt for something sacred

question

brawny

answer

(adj.) strong, muscular

question

concerted

answer

(adj.) planned or performed in cooperation with others

question

contend

answer

(v.) to fight, struggle; to compete; to argue

question

humane

answer

(adj.) kind, merciful

question

illustrious

answer

(adj.) very famous, distinguished

question

intolerable

answer

(adj.) unbearable

question

irreverent

answer

(adj.) disrespectful

question

laborious

answer

(adj.) not easy, requiring hard work; hardworking

question

lithe

answer

(adj.) bending easily, limber

question

maltreat

answer

(v.) to abuse, use roughly or crudely

question

ponder

answer

(v.) to consider carefully, reflect on

question

subversive

answer

(adj.) intended to undermine or overthrow; (n.) one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system

question

synthetic

answer

(adj.) made or put together by people; (n.) something artificial

question

temperate

answer

(adj.) mild, moderate

question

venomous

answer

(adj.) poisonous; spiteful, mean

question

wily

answer

(adj.) sly, shrewd, cunning

question

ad infinitum

answer

(adv.) endlessly

question

apportion

answer

(v.) to divide and give out in shares

question

bona fide

answer

(adj.) genuine; sincere

question

buoyant

answer

(adj.) able to float easily; able to hold things up; cheerful, hopeful

question

clique

answer

(n.) a small, exclusive group of people

question

concede

answer

(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submit

question

congenial

answer

(adj.) getting on well with others; agreeable, pleasant

question

lofty

answer

(adj.) very high; noble

question

migration

answer

(n.) a movement from one country or region to another

question

perceive

answer

(v.) to be aware of through the senses, observe; to grasp mentally

question

perverse

answer

(adj.) inclined to go against what is expected; stubborn; turned away from what is good and proper

question

prelude

answer

(n.) an introduction; that which comes before or leads off

question

rancid

answer

(adj.) stale, spoiled

question

rustic

answer

(adj.) country-like; simple, plain; awkward; (n.) one who lives in the country

question

sever

answer

(v.) to separate, divide into parts

question

sordid

answer

(adj.) wretchedly poor; run-down; mean or selfish

question

untenable

answer

(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain

question

versatile

answer

(adj.) able to do many things well; capable of many uses

question

vindicate

answer

(v.) to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing; to defend successfully against opposition; to justify

question

wane

answer

(v.) to lose size, strength, or power

question

annex

answer

(v.) to add to, attach; to incorporate; (n.) an attachment or addition

question

cleave

answer

(v.) To cut or split open; to cling to

question

cordial

answer

(adj.) in a friendly manner, hearty; cheery; (n.) a liqueur

question

cornerstone

answer

(n.) the starting point of a building; a fundamental principle or element

question

debacle

answer

(n.) an overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure

question

devitalize

answer

(v.) to make weak or lifeless

question

embroil

answer

(v.) to involve in a conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion

question

exonerate

answer

(v.) to clear from a charge or accusation

question

glib

answer

(adj.) ready and fluent in speech; thoughtless, insincere

question

haphazard

answer

(adj.) by chance, not planned; lacking order

question

improvise

answer

(v.) to compose or perform without preparation; to construct from available materials

question

incite

answer

(v.) to rouse, stir up, urge on

question

influx

answer

(n.) a coming in, inflow

question

pallor

answer

(n.) an extreme or unnatural paleness

question

pedigree

answer

(n.) a list of ancestors, family tree; the history or origins of something

question

precipitous

answer

(adj.) very steep

question

profuse

answer

(adj.) very abundant; given or flowing freely

question

reconcile

answer

(v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign (oneself)

question

shackle

answer

(v.) to put into chains; (n., usually pl.) a chain, fetter

question

threadbare

answer

(adj.) shabby, old and worn

question

abase

answer

(v.) to lower in esteem, degrade; to humble

question

actuate

answer

(v.) to move to action; to impel

question

avert

answer

(v.) to turn aside, turn away; to prevent, avoid

question

boorish

answer

(adj.) rude, unrefined; clumsy

question

brunt

answer

(n.) the main impact, force, or burden

question

combatant

answer

(n.) a fighter; (adj.) engaged in fighting

question

dormant

answer

(adj.) inactive; in a state of suspension; sleeping

question

dubious

answer

(adj.) causing uncertainty or suspicion; in a doubtful or uncertain state of mind, hesitant

question

harangue

answer

(v.) to deliver a loud, ranting speech; (n.) a loud speech

question

harry

answer

(v.) to make a destructive raid on; to torment, harass

question

impenitent

answer

(adj.) not feeling remorse or sorrow for errors or offenses

question

knave

answer

(n.) a tricky, unprincipled, or deceitful fellow

question

legion

answer

(n.) a large military force; any large group or number; (adj.) many, numerous

question

liberality

answer

(n.) generosity, generous act; breadth of mind or outlook

question

plaintiff

answer

(n.) one who begins a lawsuit

question

probe

answer

(v.) to examine, investigate thoroughly; (n.) an investigation; a device used to explore or examine

question

protract

answer

(v.) to draw out or lengthen in space or time

question

quarry

answer

(v.) to cut or take from (or as if from) a quarry; (n.) a place from which stone is taken; something that is hunted or pursued

question

spurn

answer

(v.) to refuse with scorn, disdain

question

subterfuge

answer

(n.) an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something

Vocabulary Workshop Level D Units 1-15 – Flashcards

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