verb: to belittle, to depreciate
Many people think it is less hurtful to ___________________ themselves before others have a chance to.
Back
acerbic
Front
adjective: biting, bitter in tone or taste
The ____________ old man looked like he had sucked on lemons for too long and when he spoke everyone prepared to be painfully insulted.
Back
contrite
Front
adjective: penitent, eager to be forgiven
He showed up with roses looking _______________ and remorseful.
Back
anathema
Front
noun: a cursed, detested person
In Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone, Voldemort is _____________ to so many, his name will not even be spoken.
Back
boon
Front
noun: a gift or blessing
Robert persevered through the competition and celebrated upon receiving his _________.
Back
egregious
Front
adjective: extremely bad
No one knew why they had stopped being friends, but obviously Nathalia's mistake had been ____________________.
Back
cacophony
Front
n. tremendous noise; disharmonious sound
The coughing crows caused quite a _________________ in the countryside.
Back
ebullient
Front
adjective: extremely lively, enthusiastic
Although some people saw Joe as explosive in an angry way, in reality he was just very __________________.
Back
abjure
Front
verb: to reject, renounce
The cat ____________ my frugal choice in cat food.
Back
demure
Front
adjective: quiet, modest, reserved
The ________________ girl blushed and giggled at the boy's flirtatious remarks.
Back
eschew
Front
verb: to shun, avoid
Mrs. Condron ______________ cinnamon in all of its forms since her traumatic childhood experience with it.
Back
capricious
Front
adjective: subject to whim, fickle
Romeo is ________________ with love; his object of affection changes from day to day, and he is easily distracted by his own emotions.
Back
desecrate
Front
verb: to violate the sacredness of a thing or place.
It's so sad to see when a person has ___________________ something that has so much meaning to someone else.
Back
clemency
Front
noun: mercy
The parole board gave ________________ to the man because they believed he showed remorse and would be a productive citizen.
Back
evanescent
Front
adjective: fleeting, momentary
The sparklers' ________________ fire provided a fitting conclusion to our wedding departure.
Back
alacrity
Front
noun: eagerness, speed
He pressed the buzzer with ____________, knowing he had the answer.
Back
cogent
Front
adjective: intellectually convincing
The CEO gave such a _________ argument, he received a unanimous vote from the board.
Back
diffident
Front
adjective: shy, quiet, modest (insecure)
The __________________ child could not be cajoled into joining the room filled with strangers.
Back
cajole
Front
verb: to urge, coax
Bribery, threats, and singing silly songs - the parent tried everything to __________ the child into eating his vegetables, but nothing worked.
Back
ascetic
Front
adjective: practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious
Monasteries are full of men who have given up modern luxuries for a more _____________ life.
Back
dissemble
Front
verb: to conceal, fake
Abigail ________________ her manipulative, violent nature from the judge; he believed she was pious and innocent.
Back
antipathy
Front
noun: a strong dislike; repugnance
There was so much ____________ for the office equipment, that the office celebrated its replacement by violently destroying it.
Back
ephemeral
Front
adjective: short-lived, fleeting
The ________________ beauty of spring leaves too soon.
Back
acumen
Front
noun: keen insight
If I had the ____________ of Einstein, I wouldn't care about my hair either.
Back
acrimony
Front
noun: bitterness; discord
The political _______________ has become so intense that many people don't want to vote at all.
Back
credulity
Front
noun: readiness to believe
Others didn't understand her __________________ when it came to UFOs; she seemed so logical otherwise.
Back
deleterious
Front
adjective: harmful
Knowing Michelle would not approve, he blocked the __________________________ effects of the fast food meal from his mind, so he could enjoy the moment.
Back
cursory
Front
adjective: brief to the point of being superficial
The mother spent most of her time on the phone, only giving her son a _________________ glance from time to time.
Back
brusque
Front
adjective: short, abrupt, dismissive
The judge was know for being rather _____________, so the court was surprised when she gave an emotional, sympathetic explanation for the sentencing.
Back
aspersion
Front
noun: a curse, expression of ill-will; damaging remark
The disgruntled parishioner cast unfair __________________ on the priest.
