Section 1
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equivocate
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Last updated
6 years ago
Date created
Mar 14, 2020
Cards (452)
Section 1
(50 cards)
equivocate
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
mundane
of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
fulminate
to loudly attack or denounce
exigent
urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
onerous
troubling; burdensome
connoisseur
an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
chicanery
trickery or subterfuge
censure
to criticize severely; to officially rebuke
ennui
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
abscond
to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
obviate
to anticipate and make unnecessary
capricious
inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable
eloquent
well-spoken, expressive, articulate
approbation
an expression of approval or praise
disabuse
to undeceive; to set right
protract
to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; extend or protrude
enervate
to weaken; to reduce in vitality
subterfuge
an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
nebulous
vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form
erudite
very learned; scholarly
lucid
clear; easily understood
expedient
a means to an end; a means devised or employed in an exigency; resource; shift
convoluted
complex or complicated
austere
without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic
anomaly
deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality
nascent
coming into being; in early developmental stages
arduous
strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort
candid
frank; outspoken; open and sincere; informal; unposed
filibuster
intentional obstruction, esp. using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
magnanimity
the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, esp. in forgiving
neologism
a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
laud
to praise highly
irascible
easily angered prone to temperamental outbursts
discordant
conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
martial
associated with war and the armed forces
noxious
harmful, injurious
exculpate
exonerate; to clear of blame
erasure
an act or instance of erasing; place where something has been erased; spot or mark left after erasing
assuage
to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
inured
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
disparate
fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
axiomatic
taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth
effrontery
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
aberrant
deviating from the norm
extemporaneous
improvised; done without preparation
obtuse
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
alacrity
eager and enthusiastic willingness
canonical
following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards
audacious
daring and fearless; recklessly bold
ingenuous
artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication
Section 2
(50 cards)
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
static
not moving, active, or in motion; at rest
voracious
having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous
predilection
a disposition in favor of something; preference
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
relegate
to forcibly assign, esp. to a lower place or position
ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
caustic
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
recant
to retract, esp. a previously held belief
catalyst
a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change
perfidy
intentional breach of faith; treachery
veracity
truthfulness, honesty
squander
to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
synthesis
the combination of parts to make a whole
aesthetic
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
solicitous
concerned and attentive; eager
reticent
quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
sporadic
occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances
refute
to disprove; to successfully argue against
prescience
foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring
perfunctory
cursory; done without care or interest
axiom
a universally recognized principle
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, esp. as an act of religious devotion
prattle
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
qualms
misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy
perennial
recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
sordid
characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul
precipitate (v)
to cause or happen before anticipated or required
juxtapose
to place close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast
tortuous
winding, twisting; excessively complicated
torque
a force that causes rotation
perspicacious
acutely perceptive; having keen discernment (noun form: perspicacity)
parody
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, esp. in literature and art
paean
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
adulation
excessive praise; intense adoration
reservation
the act of making an exception or qualification; the act of keeping back, withholding, or setting apart
cursory
going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial
accolade
an expression of praise
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
canon
an establish set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
prevaricate
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
stymie
to block; to thwart
stupefy
to stun, baffle, or amaze
waver
to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion
precipitate
acting with excessive haste or impulse
virulent
extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
truculent
fierce and cruel; eager to fight
avarice
greed, esp. for wealth
abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
Section 3
(50 cards)
opaque
impenetrable by light; not reflecting light
enigmatic
mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand
penurious
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
gregarious
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
peruse
to examine with great care
eulogy
a speech honoring the dead
preen
to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
intransigent
refusing to compromise
oscillation
the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
chary
wary; cautious; sparing
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
facetious
playful; humorous
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
incipient
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
complaisance
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
harangue
to deliver a pompous speech or tirade; a long, pompous speech
elegy
a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead
furtive
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
quaff
to drink deeply
pious
extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion
inveigle
to obtain by deception or flattery
fallacy
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
heretical
violating accepted dogma or convention
ephemeral
brief; fleeting
prolific
producing large volumes or amounts; productive
precursor
one that precedes and indicates or announces another
prodigious
abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
odious
evoking intense aversion or dislike
empirical
based on observation or experiment
discretion
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
culpable
deserving blame
putrefy
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
innocuous
harmless; causing no damage
dogmatic
expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
esoteric
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
demur
to question or oppose
inert
unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
disinterested
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
emollient
soothing, esp. to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin
morose
sad; sullen; melancholy
contrite
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
contentious
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
dearth
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
impecunious
lacking funds; without money
pernicious
extremely harmful in a way that is not easily seen or noticed
cogent
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
quiescence
stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest
exonerate
to remove blame
Section 4
(50 cards)
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness
mendacity
the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty
dissemble
to disguise or conceal; to mislead
impassive
revealing no emotion
urbane
sophisticated; refined; elegant
redoubtable
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
infelicitous
unfortunate; inappropriate
diatribe
a harsh denunciation
ubiquitous
existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
pompous
affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important
torpid
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
satire
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
supplant
to take the place of; to supersede
fortuitous
happening by accent or chance
halcyon
calm and peaceful
aver
to state as a fact; to declare or assert
eccentric
departing from norms or conventions
loquacious
extremely talkative
viscous
thick; sticky
endemic
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people
exacerbate
to make worse or more severe
malevolent
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
germane
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
implacable
not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
hackneyed
rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
bolster
to provide support or reinforcement
stoic
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
hegemony
the consistent dominance of one state or group over others
bombastic
pompous; grandiloquent
insipid
lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge
amalgamate
to combine several elements into a whole
adulterate
to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients
vilify
to defame; to characterize harshly
malleable
capable of being shaped or formed; dishonesty
inchoate
in an initial stage; not fully formed
impunity
immunity from punishment or penalty
denunciation
public condemnation of someone or something
fervent
greatly emotional or zealous
luminous
characterized by brightness and the emission of light
archaic
outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive, time
idolatrous
given to intense or excessive devotion to something
acumen
keen, accurate judgment or insight
squalid
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
hedonism
devotion to pleasurable pursuits, esp. to the pleasures of the senses
sanction
authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority
trite
(of a remark, opinion, or idea) overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness
iconoclast
one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
grandiloquent
pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress.
evanescent
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing
grandiloquence
pompous speech or expression
Section 5
(50 cards)
opprobrium
disgrace; contempt; scorn
repudiate
to refuse to have anything to do with; to disown
placate
to appease; to calm by making concessions
pedagogy
the profession or principles of teaching, or instructing
pine
to year intensely; to languish; to lose vigor
tenacity
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination
pervasive
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout
rescind
to invalidate; to repeal; to retract
zealous
fervent; ardent; impassioned; devoted to a cause
profuse
given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
alchemy
a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, esp. base metals into gold
pith
the essential or central part
polemical
controversial; argumentative
pirate
to illegally use or reproduce
misanthrope
one who hates all other humans
mitigate
to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate
querulous
prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish
tenuous
having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak
rancorous
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
obsequious
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
aggrandize
to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige
prodigal
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish
solvent
able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
spurious
lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
amendable
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
tirade
a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation
specious
seeming truth, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false
intractable
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
recalcitrant
obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
pedantic
overly concerned with the trivial details of learning or education; show-offish about one's knowledge
meticulous
characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail
subpoena
a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
surfeit
an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess
superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
reverent
marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect
platitude
a superficial remark, esp. one offered as meaningful
obdurate
unyielding; hardhearted; intractable
transient
fleeting; passing quickly; brief
rhetoric
the art or study or effective use of language for communication and persuasion
astringent
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; sever; something with a tightening effect on tissue
plummet
to plunge or drop straight down
pithy
precise and brief
succinct
brief; concise
penury
poverty; destitution
salubrious
promoting health or well-being
proliferate
to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly
anachronism
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
acerbic
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
queries
questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations
occlude
to obstruct or block
Section 6
(50 cards)
hubris
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
dilettante
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
obstinate
stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
inimical
damaging; harmful; injurious
presumptuous
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
refulgent
radiant; shiny; brilliant
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
derision
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
flout
to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
ostentatious
characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
renege
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
shard
a piece of broken pottery or glass
neophyte
a recent convert; a beginner; novice
plethora
an overabundance; a surplus
indifferent
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
rarefy
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
quixotic
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
proclivity
a natural predisposition or inclination
convention
a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
desiccate
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
laconic
using few words; terse
divulge
to disclose something secret
maverick
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
contiguous
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
garrulous
pointlessly talkative; talking too much
pragmatic
practical rather than idealistic
disparage
to slight or belittle
recondite
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
phlegmatic
calm; sluggish; unemotional
mollify
to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
pervade
to permeate throughout
prosaic
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
fawn
to flatter or praise excessively
pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
obfuscate
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
impetuous
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
intrepid
steadfast and courageous
quotidian
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
pristine
pure; uncorrupted; clean
probity
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
glib
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
imminent
about to happen; impending
credulous
tending to believe too readily; gullible
immutable
not capable of change
soporific
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
mercurial
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
sedulous
diligent; persistent; hard-working
decorum
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
cynicism
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
Section 7
(50 cards)
acrimony
bitterness and ill will
castigate
to reprimand harshly
veracious
truthful
amalgam
a mixture of multiple things
trenchant
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
artful
exhibiting artistic skill; clever in a cunning way
vexation
annoyance; irritation
auspicious
favorable, the opposite of sinister
parochial
narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
betray
to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally
involved
complicated, and difficult to comprehend
vigilant
alertly watchful
ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
restive
restless
vindicate
to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof
sparse
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
egregious
standing out in a negative way; shockingly bad
tout
to publicly praise or promise
vacillate
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another
terse
brief and concise in wording
tacit
implied; not explicitly stated
frugal
not spending much money (but spending wisely)
venerate
to respect deeply
upbraid
to reproach; to scold
undermine
to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)
parsimonious
extremely frugal; miserly
venality
the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
calumny
making of a false statement meant to injure a person's reputation
flummoxed
bewildered or perplexed
maintain
to assert
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
galvanize
to excite or inspire (someone) to action
impertinent
being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
equivocal
confusing or ambiguous
extant
still in existence (usually refers to documents)
unfeigned
genuine; not false or hypocritical
intimate
to suggest something subtly
vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
chastise
to reprimand harshly
wanting
lacking
subtle
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
belie
to give a false representation to; misrepresent
amenable
easily persuadable
qualify
to make less severe; to limit (a statement)
commensurate
to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
untenable
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
volatile
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive
amorphous
shapeless
ambivalent
mixed or conflicting emotions about something
anomalous
not normal
Section 8
(50 cards)
forlorn
marked by or showing hopelessness
deferential
showing respect
refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
treacherous
tending to betray; dangerously unstable and unpredictable
haughty
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
lambast
criticize severely or angrily
rustic
characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
decorous
characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
gainsay
deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
obscure
make unclear; known by only a few
frustrate
hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
circumvent
cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations
culminate
reach the highest or most decisive point
apathetic
marked by a lack of interest
itinerant
traveling from place to place to work
gossamer
characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
volubility
the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
chortle
to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way
languid
not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
jingoism
fanatical patriotism
conspicuous
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
insidious
working in a subtle but destructive way
inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent
derivative
not original but drawing strongly on something already in existence, especially in reference to a creative product (e.g. music, writing, poetry etc.).
denote
be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
delineate
describe in detail
staunch
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
frivolous
not serious in content or attitude or behavior
vociferous
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
mawkish
overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
diffident
showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
belligerent
characteristic of one eager to fight
engender
give rise to
impudent
improperly forward or bold
dictatorial
expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler
elucidate
make clearer and easier to understand
derive
come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
preclude
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
cryptic
mysterious or vague, usually intentionally
jubilant
full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success
incisive
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
entrenched
fixed firmly or securely
panache
distinctive and showy elegance
glut
an excessive supply; supply with an excess of
banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
contrive
to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
gall
the trait of being rude and impertinent; feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
concede
acknowledge defeat; admit (to a wrongdoing); give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
guileless
free of deceit
eschew
avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
Section 9
(50 cards)
lacquer
a protective coating consisting of a resin, cellulose ester, or both, dissolved in a volatile solvent, sometimes with pigment added
periscope
an optical instrument for viewing objects that are above the level of direct sight or in an otherwise obstructed field of vision
bedizen
to dress or adorn in a showy, gaudy, or tasteless manner
crucible
a severe, searching test or trial
gilded
covered or highlighted with gold or something of a golden color
phalanx
a number of individuals, especially persons united for a common purpose.
subsume
contain or include; consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
swallow-tail
tail coat
tenacious
stubbornly unyielding
disaffected
discontented as toward authority
automan
a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power; robot
blithe
joyous, merry; without thought or regard; carefree
crepe
a lightweight fabric of silk, cotton, or other fiber, with a finely crinkled or ridged surface
screed
a long discourse or essay, especially a diatribe
rudimentary
being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
travesty
an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
droll
amusing in an odd way; whimsically humorous
superlative
of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme
incongruous
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
crinoline
a petticoat of haircloth or other stiff material, worn under a full skirt to keep it belled out
pendulous
hanging down loosely; swinging freely; oscillating
abstain
choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)
trellis
a frame or structure of latticework; lattice
brocade
fabric woven with an elaborate design, especially one having a raised overall pattern
pagoda
a temple or sacred building, usually a pyramidlike tower and typically having upward-curving roofs over the individual stories
immoderate
not moderate; exceeding just or reasonable limits; excessive; extreme
apathy
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
eminent
standing above others in quality or position
linnet
a small Old World finch
unprecedented
without previous instance; never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled
disdainful
full of or showing disdain; scornful
coiffure
a style of arranging or combing the hair
pinnacle
to place on or as on a pinnacle
vehement
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
deft
dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever
fete
a day of celebration; holiday
disconcerting
disturbing to one's composure or self-possession; upsetting, discomfiting
intone
to utter with a particular tone or voice modulation
vestibule
a passage, hall, or antechamber between the outer door and the interior parts of a house or building
lilliputian
extremely small; tiny; diminutive
precocious
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
quadrile
a square dance for four couples, consisting of five parts or movements, each complete in itself
mezuzah
a parchment scroll inscribed on one side with the Biblical passages Deut. 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 and on the other side with the word Shaddai (a name applied to God), inserted in a small case or tube so that Shaddai is visible through an aperture in front, and attached by some Jews to the doorpost of the home.
tantamount
being essentially equal to something
affectation
an effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed; the pretense of actual possession
unequivocal
admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
profusion
abundance; abundant quantity
negligible
so small as to be meaningless; insignificant
anon
in a short time; soon
cowl
a hooded garment worn by monks
Section 10
(3 cards)