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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
1. ADVOCATE (AD-vuh-kayt)
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To support, plead for, be in favor of, defend by argument, especially, to speak or write infavor or in defense of a person or cause.
Synonyms: champion, endorse, espouse. Corresponding noun: advocate, a supporter or defender of a cause, a champion, or aperson who speaks for another. Related words (from the Latin vocare, to call, summon): vocation, avocation,vocational, vocal, convoke, to call together, convocation, the act of calling together, or agroup that has been summoned, evoke, to call out, call forth, and evocative, calling forth aresponse, especially an emotional one. |
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2. DELEGATE (DEL-uh-gayt)
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To entrust with authority or power, deliver to another's care or management, hand over toan agent or representative.
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3. UNPRECEDENTED (uhn-PRES-uh-den-tid)
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Unheard-of, novel, new, having no precedent or parallel, having no prior example orjustification.
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4. POIGNANT (POYN-yint)
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Piercing, sharp, penetrating, specifically, piercing or penetrating to the senses, to theemotions, or to the intellect.
Synonyms: biting, cutting, keen, acute. Related words (from the Latin pungere, to pierce or prick): puncture, pungent, piercingto the smell or taste, expunge, to punch out, erase, delete. |
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5. NEBULOUS (NEB-yuu-lus)
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Unclear, vague, obscure, hazy, indefinite, indistinct.
Related word: nebula, a cloudy mass of dust or gas visible between stars in space(plural, nebulae). |
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6. CLANDESTINE (klan-DES-tin)
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Kept secret, done in secrecy, especially for an evil, immoral, or illegal purpose.
Synonyms: private, concealed, covert, underhand, sly, stealthy, furtive, surreptitious. Pronunciation tip: Avoid the recent variants klanDES-tyn, klan-DES-teen, KLAN-destyn,and KLAN-des-teen. The traditional and preferred pronunciation is klan-DES-tin. |
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7. TIRADE (TY-rayd or ty-RAYD)
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A long-drawn-out speech, especially a vehement and abusive one.
Additional useful words: protracted, drawn out to great length (see Level 3, Word 25),vituperative, full of harsh, abusive language, censorious, tending to censor, to blame orcondemn. |
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8. RECUR (ri-KUR or nee-KUR)
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To happen again, occur again, especially at intervals or after some lapse of time.N.B. This discussion explains the distinction between the verbs recur and reoccur.
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9. TACIT (TAS-it)
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Unspoken, silent, implied or understood without words, done or made in silence, notexpressed or declared openly.
Related word: taciturn (Level 3, Word 2). |
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10. ALLEGATION (AL-uh-GAY-shin)
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An assertion or declaration, especially one made without proof. In law, an allegation isan assertion. of what one intends to prove.
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11. GULLIBLE (GUHL-uh-buul)
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Easily deceived, fooled, or cheated.
Synonym: credulous. Related words: gull and dupe, which both mean to fool, cheat, deceive, take advantageof. |
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12. BENIGN (buh-NYN, rhymes with a sign)
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(1) Kindly, good-natured, gracious, mild, having or showing a gentle disposition.
(2) Favorable, positive, propitious. (3) Of the weather or climate, healthful, beneficial, wholesome, salubrious. (4) In medicine: mild, not deadly, or severe. |
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13. PERIPHERAL (puh-RIF-uh-rul)
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External, outer, lying at or forming the outside or boundary of something, hence, notessential, irrelevant.
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14. REBUFF (ri-BUF or ree-BUF)
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To refuse bluntly, reject sharply, turn down abruptly, snub, spurn.
Corresponding noun: rebuff, an abrupt refusal or rejection. |
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15. ANIMOSITY (AN-i-MAH-si-tee)
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Ill will, hostility, antagonism, strong dislike or hatred.
Synonyms: malice, aversion, malevolence, antipathy, rancor, enmity. |
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16. TENUOUS (TEN-yoo-us)
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Thin, slender, slight, flimsy, weak, not dense or substantial, lacking a strong basis, havinglittle substance or strength.
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17. COMPLACENT (kum-PLAY-sint)
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Self-satisfied, smug, overly pleased with oneself.
Usage tip: Take care to distinguish between complacent and complaisant, which ispronounced kum-PLAY-zint and means inclined to please, gracious, obliging, courteous,affable, and urbane (Level l, Word 45). |
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18. ACME (AK-mee)
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The peak, highest point, especially the point of culmination, the highest possible point inthe development or progress of something.
Synonyms: summit, zenith. Corresponding adjective: acmatic. |
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19. DEFUNCT (di-FUNGKT or dee-FUNGKT)
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Dead, extinct, obsolete, no longer in existence, effect, operation, or use.
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20. ABET (uh-BET)
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To encourage, support, help, aid, promote, assist in achieving a purpose (either good orevil).
Usage tip: Abet is often used to mean assist in wrongdoing, as in the legal cliché "to aidand abet," but abet may also be used favorably to mean assist in achieving a goodpurpose. |
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21. HAGGARD (HAG-urd)
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Worn out, tired, drawn, wild-eyed and wasted, as from exhaustion, illness, or grief.
Synonyms: gaunt, emaciated. |
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22. WAIVE (like wave)
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To relinquish voluntarily, give up, forgo, also, to postpone, defer, or dispense with.
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23. CARNAL (KAHR-nul)
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Bodily, pertaining to the flesh as opposed to the spirit.
Synonyms: sensual, corporeal. Usage tip: Carnal is used of basic physical appetities. |
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24. SANCTION (SANGK-shin, be sure to pronounce the C)
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To approve, allow, permit, authorize, certify, ratify.
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25. AMBIGUOUS (am-BIG-yoo-us)
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Uncertain, unclear, doubtful, dubious, questionable, puzzling, having an obscure orindefinite meaning.
Synonyms: enigmatic, cryptic, equivocal. Antonyms: distinct, apparent, evident, conspicuous, manifest. |
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26. SPENDTHRIFT (pronounced as spelled, stress on spend)
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Wasteful, spending extravagantly or foolishly, squandering one's resources.
Synonyms: improvident, prodigal, profligate |
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27. MOLLIFY (MAH-li-fy)
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To calm, soothe, soften in feeling or tone, make less harsh or severe.
Synonyms: pacify, appease, assuage (Level 2, Word 37). Related word: emollient (adjective), softening, soothing, mollifying, (noun) a softeningor soothing agent. |
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28. UNEQUIVOCAL (UHN-i-KWIV-uh-kul)
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Clear and direct, definite, straightforward, certain, having a single, obvious meaning,capable of being interpreted in only one way.
Antonyms: equivocal, ambiguous (Level 2, Word 25). Pronunciation tip: Many people mispronounce (and misspell) unequivocal asunequivocable. Unequivocal ends with -vocal, not -vocable. Take care to pronounce the word in five syllables: un-e-qui-vo-cal. |
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29. MALLEABLE (MAL-ee-uh-buul or MAL-yuhbuul)
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Capable of being shaped, able to be molded or manipulated.
Synonyms: adaptable, impressionable, tractable. Antonyms: inflexible, unyielding, stubborn, adamant, obstinate, intransigent. |
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30. VERBOSE (vur-BOHS)
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Wordy, having too many words, long-winded, full of verbiage.
Synonyms: garrulous (Level 4, Word 8), loquacious, voluble (Level 5, Word 1), prolix(Level 9, Word 1). Corresponding noun: verbosity. Related words (from the Latin verbum, word): verbal, verbatim, expressed in preciselythe same words, verbiage, an excess or overabundance of words. Additional useful word: proffer, to put forward for acceptance, present as a gift. Pronunciation tip: Carriage and marriage have two syllables, but verbiage and foliagehave three. Don't say VUR-bij and FOH-lij (or FOY-lij). Take care to pronounce these words in three syllables: VUR-bee-ij and FOH-lee-ij.N.B. This discussion concludes with a "Word to the Wise" on the proper distinctionbetween oral and verbal. |
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31. TRANSIENT (TRAN-shint)
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Temporary, passing away with time, lasting or staying only a short while, momentary,fleeting, short-lived.
Synonyms: transitory, evanescent, ephemeral (Level 4, Word 12), fugitive, fugacious. Antonyms: permanent, timeless, eternal, everlasting. Pronunciation tip: Pronounce transient in two syllables, with the same sh sound as inancient. Also, in the words short-lived and long-lived, the second half, -lived, does notcome from the verb to live but from the noun life plus the suffix -ed. Therefore thepreferred pronunciation for the I is long, as in the adjective alive. |
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32. NETTLE (NET'l)
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To irritate, annoy, vex, harass, pester, provoke.
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33. REPUDIATE (ri-PYOO-dee-ayt)
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(1) To reject, cast off, disown, renounce, refuse to accept as one's own.
(2) To reject as false, deny the authority of, refuse to accept as true. |
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34. IMPETUOUS (im-PETCH-oo-us)
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Hasty, rash, overeager, acting in a sudden, vigorous, emotional way, with little thought.
Synonyms: impulsive. Antonyms: prudent (Level 1, Word 47), discreet, circumspect (Level 3, Word 21). |
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35. FRUGAL (FROG-gul)
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Spending carefully and wisely, also, involving little expense, not wasteful or lavish.
Synonyms: thrifty, economical, provident, parsimonious. |
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36. INCONGRUOUS (in-KAHNG-groo-us)
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Out of place, inappropriate, inconsistent, unsuitable, lacking harmony of parts oragreement in character.
Related words: congruous and congruent, which both mean coming togetherharmoniously, fitting in consistently. |
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37. ASSUAGE (uh-SWAYJ)
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To relieve, ease, make less severe or intense, also, to satisfy, appease, make content.
Synonyms: allay, mollify (Level 2, Word 27), mitigate. Pronunciation tip: Don't pronounce the G in assuage like the G in garage or the Z in azure. In assuage, the A is long (as in day) and the G is pronounced like J: uh-SWAYJ. |
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38. CORROBORATE (kuh-RAHB-uh-rayt)
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To confirm, support, make more certain or believable, strengthen by providing additionalevidence or proof.
Synonyms: authenticate, verify, substantiate. |
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39. EMBELLISH (em-BEL-ish)
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To decorate, dress up, adorn, enhance with ornamentation, make more beautiful, elegant,or interesting.
Corresponding noun: embellishment, an ornament, decoration. |
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40. AVARICIOUS (AV-uh-RISH-us)
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Greedy, money-grubbing, miserly, consumed with a selfish desire to accumulate moneyor property.
Synonyms: covetous, mercenary (Level 3, Word 14). Corresponding noun: avarice, greed, an inordinate desire for wealth. |
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41. CURSORY (KUR-suh-ree or KUR-sur-ee)
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Quick, hasty, not methodical, done rapidly with little attention to detail, passing quicklyover or through something that deserves closer examination.
Synonyms: hurried, haphazard, slapdash, superficial. Antonyms: thorough, careful, scrupulous, exhaustive, prolonged, protracted. Related words (from the Latin currere, to run): course, curriculum, courier. |
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42. VACILLATE (VAS-i-layt)
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To waver, fluctuate, be indecisive, show uncertainty, hesitate in making up one's mind.
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43. CLEMENT (KLEM-int)
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(1) Mild, calm, tranquil, moderate, temperate, not severe or extreme.
(2) Merciful, lenient, inclined to pardon or forgive. Corresponding noun: clemency. |
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44. LUCRATIVE (LOO-kruh-tiv)
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Profitable, producing wealth, money-making, financially productive, remunerative.
Related word: lucre (LOO-kur), money, profit, especially tainted money, ill-gotten gains(as in the cliché "filthy lucre"). |
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45. ALLOCATE (AL-uh-kayt or AL-oh-kayt)
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To assign, designate, earmark, set aside for a specific purpose.
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46. RECONCILE (REK-un-syl or rek-un-SYL)
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(1) To make friendly again, restore friendly relations between, settle, resolve, bring intoharmony or agreement.
(2) To bring into agreement, make consistent. (3) To resign oneself to accept something undesirable. |
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47. PARAGON (PAR-uh-gahn)
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A model of excellence, perfect example.
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48. ANALOGOUS (uh-NAL-uh-gus)
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Similar, alike in certain ways, corresponding partially, sharing some aspects of form,function, or content.
Synonyms: akin, comparable. Related word: analogy, a partial similarity, likeness, or resemblance that allows for acomparison between things. |
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49. DIURNAL (dy-URN-'l)
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(1) Daily, recurring each day, performed or happening in the course of a day.
(2) Active during the day, as opposed to nocturnal, active at night. |
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50. PRETEXT (PREE-tekst)
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An excuse, ostensible reason or motive, professed purpose, specifically, an excuse orfalse reason given to hide the true reason or purpose.
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