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Top GRE Words 2013
Top GRE Words in Context: Kaplan Premiere 2013 Appendix C
180
Language - English
Graduate
07/24/2012

Additional Language - English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
ABATE
(a-bate)
Definition
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

As the hurricane's force ______, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.

(Why the HECK were you watching the sea during a hurricane!? RUN!!!)
Term
ABSCOND
(ab-scond)
Definition
to leave secretly

The patron ______ from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door.

Bastard.
Term
ABSTAIN
(ab-stain)
Definition
to choose not to do something

She ______ from choosing a mouthwatering dessert from the tray.

(Well..good for her..i say, YOLO! Eat what ya want! :P)
Term
ABYSS
(uh-bis)
Definition
an extremely deep hole

The submarine dove into the ______ to chart the previously unseen depths.

Yellow. Submarine. :P
Term
ADULTERATE
(a·dul·ter·ate)
Definition
to make impure

The chef made his ketchup last longer by ______ it with water.

Easy A
Term
ADVOCATE
(ad·vo·kate)
Definition
to speak in favor of

The vegetarian ______ a diet containing no meat.

So...they want to eat the animals' food?
Term
AESTHETIC
Definition

concerning the appreciation of beauty

 

Followers of the ______ Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art. ..and the Beast

Term
AGGRANDIZE
Definition
to increase in power, influence, and reputation

The supervisor sought to ______ herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own.

Bitch.
Term
ALLEVIATE
Definition
to make more bearable

Taking aspirin helps to ______ a headache.

I'm sure if you are reading these cards, you could use an aspirin too....
Term
AMALGAMATE
Definition
to combine; to mix together

Giant Industries ______ with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incoporated.

Potions Class...
Term
AMBIGUOUS
Definition
doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways

The directions he gave were so ______ that we disagreed on which way to turn.

...ask for directions?
Term
AMELIORATE
Definition
to make better; to improve

The doctor was able to ______ the patient's suffering using painkillers.
Term
ANACHRONISM
Definition
something out of place in time

The aged hippie used ______ phrases like "groovy" and "far out" that had not been popular for years.

SHAGGY!!
Term
ANALOGOUS
Definition
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

In the Newtonian construct for explaining the existence of God, the universe is ______ to a mechanical timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent "clockmaker."

Geppetto made Pinocchio...?
Term
ANOMALY
Definition
deviation from what is normal

Albino animals may display too great an ______ in their coloring to attract normally colored mates.
Term
ANTAGONIZE
Definition
to annoy or provoke to anger

The child discovered that he could ______ the cat by pulling its tail.

Kid best start running...
Term
ANTIPATHY
Definition
extreme dislike

The ______ between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare.

Brussel sprouts.
Term
APATHY
Definition
lack of interest or emotion

The ______ of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.

Sasuke Uchiha :P
Term
ARBITRATE
Definition
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties

Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ______ their divorce proceedings.

Referee...
Term
ARCHAIC
Definition
ancient, old-fashioned

Her ______ Commodore computer could not run the latest software.

WOW. THAT is an old computer...
Term
ARDOR
Definition
intense and passionate feeling

Bishop's ______ for the landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley.

It's probably something akin to the way we feel about chocolate :P
Term
ARTICULATE
Definition
able to speak clearly and expressively

She is such an ______ defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters.

"I'm laughing out loud!" vs lol...rofl ;)
Term
ASSUAGE
Definition
to make something unpleasant less severe

Serena used aspirin to ______ her pounding headace.
Term
ATTENUATE
Definition
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken

The Bill of Rights ______ the traditional power of governments to change laws at will.

..what we need is a Bill of Responsibilities...
Term
AUDACIOUS
Definition
fearless and daring

Her ______ nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving.

Jack Sparrow. Captain Jack Sparrow.
Term
AUSTERE
Definition
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem ______ to the civilian eye.
Term
BANAL
Definition
predictable, cliched, boring

He usaed ______ phrases like "Have a nice day", or "Another day, another dollar."

Twilight.
Term
BOLSTER
Definition
to support; to prop up

The presecence of giant footprints ______ the argument that Sasquatch was in the area.

Bras...
Term
BOMBASTIC
Definition
pompous in speech and manner

The ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly ______; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.
Term
CACOPHONY
Definition
harsh, jarring noise

The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable ______ as they tried to tune their instruments.

My alarm clock >.<
Term
CANDID
Definition
impartial and honest in speech

The observations of a child can be charming since they are ______ and unpretentious.

"Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind."
Term
CAPRICIOUS
Definition
changing ones mind quickly and often

Queen Elizabeth I was quite ______; her courtiers could never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy.

The gossip that must have resulted!!O.O
Term
CASTIGATE
Definition
to punish or criticize harshly

Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore ______ perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States.

7.20.12. Their is not a harsh enough punishment.
Term
CATALYST
Definition
something that brings about a change in something else

The imposition of harsh taxes was the ______ that finally brought on the revolution.

Chemistry!
Term
CAUSTIC
Definition
biting in wit

Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for ______ wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults.

Sounds like my sister! <3
Term
CHAOS
Definition
great disorder or confusion

In many religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from ______.

And yet,entropy is always increasing...
Term
CHAUVINIST
Definition
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs

The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male ______.

Ahem. Tell me again, who has the higher retention rate in colleges?
Term
CHICANERY
Definition
deception by means of craft or guile

Dishonest used car sales people often use ______ to sell their beat-up old cars.

So..they are too chicken to tell the truth?
Term
COGENT
Definition
convincing and well reasoned

Swayed by the ______ argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant.

Pie tastes good. I should eat it.
Term
CONDONE
Definition
to overlook, pardon, or disregard

Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as ______ an air of lawlessness.

I will NOT condone the fact that you ate the last cookie! >.<
Term
CONVOLUTED
Definition
intricate and complicated

Although many people bought "A Brief History of Time," few could follow its ______ ideas and theories.

A girl's thought-process.
Term
CORROBORATE
Definition
to provide supporting evidence

Figerprints ______ the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim's apartment.

NCIS or CSI?
Term
CREDULOUS
Definition
too trusting; gullible

Although some four-year-olds believe in the Eatser Bunny, only the most ______ nine-year-olds also believe in him.

DORI!!! <'(((><
Term
CRESCENDO
Definition
steadily increasing volume or force

The______ of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses.

Nuff said.
Term
DECORUM
Definition
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the ______ appropriate for a visit to the palace.

Cinderella didn't hear her :P
Term
DEFERENCE
Definition
respect, courtesy

The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost ______.

Respect the Pouch. RESPECT IT!
Term
DERIDE
Definition
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock

The awkward child was often ______ by his "cooler" peers.

And they will all end up working for him.
Term
DESICCATE
Definition
to dry out thoroughly

After a few weeks of lying in the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely ______.

Jerky.
Term
DESULTORY
Definition
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected

Diane had a ______ academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years.

Spiderman
Term
DIATRIBE
Definition
an abusive, condemnatory speech

The trucker bellowed a ______ at the driver who had cut him off.

Bad guys talk too much
Term
DIFFIDENT
Definition
lacking self-confidence

Steve's ______ manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field.

Just breath and plunge in!
Term
DILATE
Definition
to make larger; to expand

When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes ______ to let in more light.

It's really cool!
Term
DILATORY
Definition
intended to delay

The congressman used ______ measures to delay the passage of the bill.

That one kid in class that gets the professor to tell stories....is a master.
Term
DILETTANTE
Definition
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

Jerry's friends were such ______ that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.

A new job every week!? Where do they FIND them!?
Term
DIRGE
Definition
a funeral hymn or mournful speech

Melville wrote a poem "A ______for James McPherson" for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864.
Term
DISABUSE
Definition
to set right; to free from error

Galileo's observations ______ scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the earth.

Physics.
Term
DISCERN
Definition
to perceive; to recognize

It is easy to ______ the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.

Please tell me you didn't eat it with a spoon...
Term
DISPARATE
Definition
fundamentally different; entirely unlike

Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are ______.

Black and white.
Term
DISSEMBLE
Definition
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character

The villain could ______ to the police no longer- he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man.

O.o.....
Term
DISSONANCE
Definition
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds

Cognitive ______ is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence.
Term
DOGMA
Definition
a firmly held opinion; often a religious belief

Linus's central ______ was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded.

PEANUTS!!!
Term
DOGMATIC
Definition
dictorial in one's opinions

The dictator was ______- he, and only he, was right.

Stubborn?
Term
DUPE
Definition
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived

Bugs Bunny was able to ______ Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit.

HAHA!!! Miss these cartoons!
Term
ECLECTIC
Definition
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

Budapest's architecture is an ______ mix of Eastern and Western styles.
Term
EFFICACY
Definition
effectiveness

The ______ of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which it was administered.
Term
ELEGY
Definition
a sorrowful poem or speech

Although Thomas Gray's "______ Written in a Country Churchyard" is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life and to truest in spirituality.
Term
ELOQUENT
Definition
persuasive and moving, especially in speech

The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but also because of its ______ words.

I love this word.
Term
EMULATE
Definition
to copy; to try to equal or excel

The graduate student sought to ______ his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class.

Don't forget to be your own person! :D
Term
ENERVATE
Definition
to reduce in strength

The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would ______ the regular army.

Lex & Kent
Term
ENGENDER
Definition
to produce, cause, or bring about

His fear and hatred of clowns ______ when he witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a clown.

O.o
Term
ENIGMA
Definition
a puzzle; a mystery

Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an ______.

BATMAN.
Term
ENUMERATE
Definition
to count, list, or itemize

Moses returned from the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were ______.

It's as easy as 1,2,3!
Term
EPHEMERAL
Definition
lasting a short time

The lives of mayflies seem ______ to us, since the flies's average life span is a matter of hours.

Ice cream melts so fast!
Term
EQUIVOCATE
Definition
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

When faced with criticism of her policies, the politician ______ and left all parties thinking she agreed with them.

i.e. Sarcasm.
Term
ERRATIC
Definition
wandering and unpredictable

The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ______ turns that surprised the audience.

Harry Potter
Term
ERUDITE
Definition
learned, scholarly, bookish

The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ______, well-published individuals in the field.

Hermione
Term
ESOTERIC
Definition
known or understood by only a few

Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ______ world of particle physics.

The GRE.
Term
ESTIMABLE
Definition
admirable

Most people consider it ______ that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India.
Term
EULOGY
Definition
speech in praise of someone

His best friend gave the ______, outlining his many achievements and talents.
Term
EUPHEMISM
Definition
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one

The funeral director preferred to use the ______sleeping instead of the word dead.

Fudge Muffins.
Term
EXACERBATE
Definition
to make worse

It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief, the drug will only ______ the problem.

What is with all the aspirin!?
Term
EXCULPATE
Definition
to clear from blame; prove innocent

The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to ______those who are innocent.
Term
EXIGENT
Definition
urgent; requiring immediate action

The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was ______ to stop the source of the bleeding.
Term
EXONERATE
Definition
to clear of blame

The fugitive was ______ when another criminal confessed to committing the crime.
Term
EXPLICIT
Definition

clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

 

The owners of the hourse left a list of ______ instructions detailing their house-sitter's duties, including a schedule for watering the house plants.

 

 Really...the house plants?

Term
FANATICAL
Definition
acting excessively enthusiastic;filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion

The stormtroopers were ______ in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him.

Kaplan appreciates the awesomeness that is STAR WARS!
Term
FAWN
Definition
to grovel

The understudy ______ over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis.

Bambi.
Term
FERVID
Definition
intensely emotional;feverish

The fans of Maria Callas were unusually ______, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer.

You give me fever...
Term
FLORID
Definition
excessively decorated or embellished

The alace had been decorated in a ______ style;every surface had been carved and gilded.

Is it just me, or did you think "flower" too?
Term
FOMENT
Definition
to arouse or incite

The protesters tried to ______ feeling against the war through their speeches and demonstrations.

Not to be confused with ferment...
Term
FRUGALITY
Definition
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap

Scrooge McDuck's ______ was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money.

Scrooge...purdy much sums it up.
Term
GARRULOUS
Definition
tending to talk a lot

The ______ parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking.

Think of a media character! :D
Term
GREGARIOUS
Definition
outgoing, sociable

She was so ______ that when she found herself alone, she felt quite sad.

The opposite of introverted...
Term
GUILE
Definition
deceit or trickery

Since he was not fast enough to ctahc the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to ______ in an effort to trap his enemy.

Meep Meep!!
Term
GULLIBLE
Definition
easily deceived

The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool ______ bank customers into giving him their account information.

I actually wrote gullible on the ceiling once; best prank ever! :P
Term
HOMOGENEOUS
Definition
of a similar kind

The class was fairly ______, since almost all of the students were senior journalism majors.

Genetics.
Term
ICONOCLAST
Definition
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ______.

A clashing icon?
Term
IMPERTURBABLE
Definition
not capable of being disturbed

The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed ______, even when faces with the wildest tantrums.

The dead.
Term
IMPERVIOUS
Definition
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected

A good raincoat will be ______ to moisture.

Fortresses and castles!
Term
IMPETUOUS
Definition
quick to act without thinking

It is not good for an investment broker to be ______, since much thought should be given to all the possible options.

Naruto, Luffy, Black Star, Natsu, etc. etc.
Term
IMPLACABLE
Definition
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful

His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained ______ for weeks.
Term
INCHOATE
Definition
not fully formed; disorganized

The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an ______ form in his earliest writing.

Puzzles/Babies
Term
INGENIOUS
Definition
showing innocence or childlike simplicity

She was so ______ that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would be exploited when she visited the big city.

The game!
Term
INIMICAL
Definition
hostile, unfriendly

Even though the children had grown up together, they were ______ to each other at school.

#sibilingissues
Term
INNOCUOUS
Definition
harmless

Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are ______ and pose no danger to humans.

Coral vs. King
Term
INSIPID
Definition
lacking interest or flavor

The critic claimed that the painting was ______, containing no interesting qualities at all.

plain pasta
Term
INTRANSIGENT
Definition
uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled

The professor was ______ on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time.

Man, I hated when that happened :/
Term
INUNDATE
Definition
to overwhelm; to cover with water

The tidal wave ______ Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water.

Love the Disney movie!
Term
IRASCIBLE
Definition
easily made angry

Attila the Hun's ______and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives.

THE HULK
Term
LACONIC
Definition
using few words

She was a ______ poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible.

Yoda!
Term
LAMENT
Definition
to express sorrow; to grieve

The children continued to ______ the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise.

Sad word :'(
Term
LAUD
Definition
to give praise; to glorify

Parades and fireworks were staged to ______ the success of the rebels.

Loud parties!
Term
LAVISH
Definition
to give unsparingly (v.); extremely generous or extravagant (adj.)

She ______ the puppy with so many treats that it soon became overweight and spoiled.

Spoiled. Exactlyyyy.
Term
LETHARGIC
Definition
acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner

The clerk was so ______that, even when the store was slow, he always had a long line in front of him.

LAZZZZZZZZZZZZZY.
Term
LOQUACIOUS
Definition
talkative

She was naturally ______, which was a problem in situations in which listening was more important than talking.

The words is very..elegant... though.
Term
LUCID
Definition
clear and easily understood

The explanations were written in a simple and ______ manner so that students were immediately able to apply what they learned.

Clear water.
Term
LUMINOUS
Definition
bright, brilliant, glowing

The park was bathed in ______ sunshine, which warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors.

Lumos maxima!
Term
MALINGER
Definition
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

A common way to avoid the draft was by ______- pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the army.

MOOOOOOM!!! I don't wanna go to school this morning! :P
Term
MALLEABLE
Definition
capable of being shaped

Gold is the ______ of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape.

Those easily influenced...
Term
METAPHOR
Definition
a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol

The ______ "a sea of troubles" suggests a lot of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea.

Oh English Lit....
Term
METICULOUS
Definition
extremely careful about details

To find all the clues at the crime scene, the investigators ______ examined every inch of the house.
Term
MISANTHROPE
Definition
a person who dislikes others

The character Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" is such a ______ that even the sight of children singing makes him angry.

Not to be confused with a lycanthrope...
Term
MITIGATE
Definition
to soften; to lessen

A judge may ______ a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need.
Term
MOLLIFY
Definition
to calm or make less severe

Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would ______ them.
Term
MONOTONY
Definition
lack of variation

The ______ of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy.

drip, drip, drip...drip
Term
NAIVE
Definition
lacking sophistication or experience

Having never traveled before, the elementary school students were more ______ than their high school counterparts on the field trip.
Term
OBDURATE
Definition
hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion

The president was completely ______ on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind.

Bull-headed
Term
OBSEQUIOUS
Definition
overly submissive and eager to please

The ______ new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue.

Suck-up.
Term
OBSTINATE
Definition
stubborn, unyielding

The ______ child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked.
Term
OBVIATE
Definition
to prevent; to make unnecessary

The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which ______the need for a bridge.
Term
OCCLUDE
Definition
to stop up; to prevent the passage of

A shadow is thrown across the earth's surface during a solar eclipse, when the light from the sun is ______ by the moon.

Beaver dam
Term
ONEROUS
Definition
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome

The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved ______ to the team in charge of it.

All those research papers >.<
Term
OPAQUE
Definition
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

The heavy buildup of dirt and grime on the windows almost made them ______.

Sounds like you need a new maid....
Term
OPPROBRIUM
Definition
public disgrace

After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter ______.
Term
OSTENTATION
Definition
excessive showiness

The ______ of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles.
Term
PARADOX
Definition
a contradiction or dilemma

It is a ______ that those most in need of medical attention are often those least able to obtain it.

Time warp continuum
Term
PARAGON
Definition
model of excellence or perfection

She is the ______ of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just.

An Olympian!
Term
PEDANT
Definition
someone who shows off learning

The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a ______.

Know-it-all
Term
PERFIDIOUS
Definition
willing to betray one's trust

The actress's ______ companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist.

The traitor
Term
PERFUNCTORY
Definition
done in a routine way; indifferent

The machienelike bank teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a ______ smile.

Cashiers
Term
PERMEATE
Definition
to penetrate

This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to ______ stains and dissolve them in minutes!

Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean!
Term
PHILANTHROPY
Definition
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the ______ of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum.
Term
PLACATE
Definition
to soothe or pacify

The burglar tried to ______ the snarling dog by saying, "Nice doggy," and offering a treat.
Term
PLASTIC
Definition
able to be molded, altered, or bent

The new material was very ______ and could be formed into products of vastly different shapes.
Term
PLETHORA
Definition
excess

Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a ______ of excuses.

You know what happens when you ass-u-me! :P
Term
PRAGMATIC
Definition
practical as opposed to idealistic

While daydreaming gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, ______ gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them.
Term
PRECIPITATE
Definition
to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation

Upon learning that the couple married after knowing each other only two months, friends and family members expected such a ______ marriage to end in divorce.

And here I thought we were talking about chemistry....
Term
PREVARICATE
Definition
to lie or deviate from the truth

Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee ______ and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time.

Big kid word for "fibbing!"
Term
PRISTINE
Definition
fresh and clean; uncorrupted

Since concerted measuures had been taken to prevent looting, the archaeological site was still ______ when researchers arrived.

Raise your hand if you thought of water!
Term
PRODIGAL
Definition
lavish, wasteful

The PRODIGAL son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure.

Not to be confused with Prodigy...
Term
PROLIFERATE
Definition
to increase in number quickly

Although she only kept two guinea pigs initially, they ______ to such an extent that she soon had dozens.

...like rabbits they are
Term
PROPITIATE
Definition
to conciliate; to appease

The management ______ the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members.

"To make nice"
Term
PROPRIETY
Definition
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs

The aristocracy maintained a high level of ______, adhering to even the most minor social rules.

Medieval politics, manners, & titles
Term
PRUDENCE
Definition
wisdom, caution, or restraint

The college student exhibited ______ by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume.

But the real question is, "Did she get a job in her field?"
Term
PUNGENT
Definition
sharp and irritating to the senses

The smoke from the burning tires was extremely ______

Rotten fish
Term
QUIESCENT
Definition
motionless

Many animals are ______ over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy.

Bears in torpor.
Term
RAREFY
Definition
to make thinner or sparser

Since the atmosphere ______ as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe.

Threatened => Endangered species
Term
REPUDIATE
Definition
to reject the validity of

The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was ______ when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them.

Rejected.
Term
RETICENT
Definition
silent, reserved

Physically small and ______ in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those upon whom she was reporting.

Alison Z!
Term
RHETORIC
Definition
effective writing or speaking

Lincoln's talent for ______ was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address.
Term
SATIATE
Definition
to satisfy fully or overindulge

His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could ______ it.

too.much.food.
Term
SOPORIFIC
Definition
causing sleep or lethargy

The movie proved to be so ______ that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theater.

Lectures by Mick W!
Term
SPECIOUS
Definition
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious

The student's ______ excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when her teacher called her home.

Half-truths
Term
STIGMA
Definition
a mark of shame or discredit

In "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne was required to wear the letter "A" on her clothes as a public ______ for her adultery.

Easy A!
Term
STOLID
Definition
unemotional;lacking sensitivity

The prisoner appeared ______ and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence.
Term
SUBLIME
Definition
lofty or grand

The music was so ______ that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place.
Term
TACIT
Definition
done without using words

Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a ______ agreement had been made about which course of action to take.

That moment when you look at someone and have a conversation with your eyes.
Term
TACITURN
Definition
silent, not talkative

The clerk's ______ nature earned him the nickname "Silent Bob."

Can we fix it!? Yes we can! Bob the Builder....
Term
TIRADE
Definition
long harsh speech or verbal attack

Observers were shocked at the manager's ______ over such a minor mistake.

Angry attack!
Term
TORPOR
Definition
extreme mental and physical sluggishness

After surgery, the patient experienced ______ until the anesthesia wore off.

Bears!!
Term
TRANSITORY
Definition
temporary, lasting a brief time

The reporter lived a ______ life, staying in one place only long enough to cover the current story.

My current job....
Term
VACILLATE
Definition
to sway physically; to be indecisive

The customer held up the line as he ______ between ordering chocolate chip or rocky road ice cream.
Term
VENERATE
Definition
to respect deeply

In a traditional Confucian society, the young ______their elders, deferring to the elders' wisdom and experience.
Term
VERACITY
Definition
filled with truth and accuracy

She had a reputation for ______, so everyone trusted her description of events.
Term
VERBOSE
Definition
wordy

The professor's answer was so ______ that his student forgot what the original question had been.

BEEN THERE!
Term
VEX
Definition
to annoy

The old man who loved his peace and quiet was ______ by his neighbor's loud music.
Term
VOLATILE
Definition
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive

His ______ personality mad it difficult to predict his reaction to anything.

TRINITROTOLUENE!
Term
WAVER
Definition
to fluctuate between choices

If you ______ too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice.
Term
WHIMSICAL
Definition
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

The ballet was ______, delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets.

Tinker Bell :P
Term
ZEAL
Definition
passion, excitement

She brought her typical ______ to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members.

DONE! :D
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