All hot words sentences 1-14

when my stomach is upset, nothing ______ my discomfort as much as a warm, homemade bowl of soup, sprinkled sit lemon zest. a. alleviates b. pacifies c. conciliates d. mediated e. appeases

alleviates

although rori preached ___ to whomever she could, she was one of the most egotistical individuals. a. squandered b. benefactor c. prodigally d. altruism e. benevolently

altruism

Students at Middlebury High School can always count on Amanda, kind-spirited and ____, to spread benevolent words to friends, teachers, and acquaintances. a. affability b. congenial c. amiable d. gregarious e. conviviality

amiable

First a disgruntled customer, ten an uncooperative delivery truck driver-- wherever salesclerk Jared turned, a red-eyed _____ was there to glare at him in te face. a. disputatious b. predator c. antagonist d. belligerent e. cantankerous

antagonist

The fact that you have several winter coats to choose from gives you no right to be aloof and _____ regarding children who do not own warm and properly fitting winter clothing. a. stolidly b. indifference c. impassively d. listless e. apathetic

apathetic

To adopt a more _____ lifestyle, Grant froze his gym membership, said goodbye to his daily mocha latte from Starbucks, and asked if his cleaning lady could only come once a month. a. penurious b. avaricious c. austere d. mercenary e. parsimony

austere

___ can be an insatiable drive, for sometimes even excessive wealth and material goods is never good enough. a. parsimony b. thriftiness c. frugality d. austerity e. avarice

avarice

___ screenplays will never make it in Hollywood because freshness and novelty will invariably be preferred over staleness. a. banal b. platitude c. prosaic d. overused e. derivative

banal

To the human lungs, fresh air is a balmy dream; smog a __________ nightmare a. nefarious b. rancorous c. iniquitous d. devious e. baneful

baneful

In politics, diplomacy and ______ are on extreme opposite ends of the relationship continuum that exists between nations a. belligerence b. polemics c. captious d. predator e. quibbling

belligerence

___ Bernadette always strives to be kindly towards others without looking for praise, payback, or recognition a. lavish b. squandering c. prodigal d. largess e. benevolent

benevolent

known for her ___, Hailey delivered a 40 second speech that pithily emphasized the many reasons why she would be the best pick for student government president. a. reticence b. brevity c. terseness d. tactiturn e. abbreviations

brevity

Even though Charles' boss bitterly ____________ him on the account of his reprehensible conduct, the praise he received from his boss earlier in the week remained palpable continuing to lift his spirits and bolster his self-esteem. a. carped b. chastised c. castigation d. deprecated e. upbraid

chastised

Speaking in ___, Janice put her audience to sleep as she droned on and on, stringing together one overused expression after another. a. prosaic b. derivative c. banal d. vapid e. clichés

clichés

a simple, sincere "I'm sorry" is often all it takes to ______ with another, even after a long-standing disagreement. a. allay b. mitigate c. pacify d. quell e. conciliate

conciliate

Rather than picturing a ferocious and potentially lethal blaze then you imagine a(n) _______, visualize a scenic bonfire on the beach at night--complete with roasted marshmallows, hot chocolate and stargazing! a. debacle b. labyrinth c. enigma d. adversity e. conflagration

conflagaration

Despite Michael's proficiency in mathematics, he still finds advanced algebra ______________ and attends extra-help sessions two mornings a week. a. confounding b. labyrinth c. turbulent d. adversary e. quagmire

confounding

"Lose your ____ tone, otherwise I am unwilling to continue this confrontational conversation with you" a. antagonist b. contentious c. belligerence d. predatory e. aversion

contentious

Gwyneth is in such a(n) ____ mood. It's as if she can't wait to bite the head off the next person who opens his mouth. a. prodigal b. altruistic c. convival d. thrifty e. contentious

contentious

Hands down, he is always the life of the arty, with the karaoke mic in one hand and a cocktail in the other, it's no wonder they call him _____ Claude! a. cordial b. congenial c. convival d. levity e. peaceable

convival

____ and pleasant conversation is always welcome in this house; save the sarcasm and complaints for elsewhere a. gregarious b. congenial c. cordial d. enmity e. gravity

cordial

First you ______ me among our closest friends, then you down right _________ me in public-what sort of harsh treatment should I expect next? a. deprecate; upbraiding b. deride; castigate c. deprecate; pugnacious d. impugn; carp e. chastise; rebuff

deride; castigate

Your story about the Three little Pythons sounds familiar and _________, as if i have heard this tale before. a. derivative b. tritest c. platitude d. mundane e. cliché

derivative

According to some nutritionists, a daily vitamin regime could be beneficial to one's health, but overuse of supplements due to poor diet could be _______ instead. a. iniquitous b. nefarious c. rancorous d. malicious e. detrimental

detrimental

tonights dinner conversation was downright ____; I was unable to recall even a morsel of wisdom or substance. a. colloquial b. grandiloquent c. diffuse d. ramble e. garrulous

diffuse

Juan observed that speakers who tend to ______ from their topics have more light-hearted and care free personalities, while those who unconditionally stay on course tend to be uptight and serious. a. digress b. circumlocutory c. rant d. glib e. bombast

digress

Peter has a (an) ___air about him; when he speaks to his colleagues, it's as if he addresses them up from a big horse. a. swaggering b. braggart c. insolent d. narcissism e. disdainful

disdainful

"Please just this once, agree with what i am saying and stop being so difficult and _______." a. animosity b. disputatious c. contention d. polemic e. predatory

disputatious

___ is a communications skill that can get one places, especially if he or she want to go into news broadcasting or radio announcing a. prattle b. eloquence c. verbosity d. circumlocution e. ranting

eloquence

Even after being in her presence on several social occasions, Heidi remains a(n) ______ because she hardly speaks and gives only brief answers when she is asked questions. a. adversity b. confounding c. conflagration d. enigma e. turmoil

enigma

Are you shy around unfamiliar people, or do you consider yourself ____________? a. frugal b. antagonistic c. turbulent d. parsimonious e. gregarious

gregarious

"I'm happy with either warm destination. It makes no difference to me whether we vacation in Acapulco or in Cabo San Lucas this year," mother remarked in a cheerful, yet _____________ tone. a. stolid b. nonchalantly c. indifferent d. remote e. stoical

indifferent

The supervisor's suggestions to the presenter are both ___ and humdrum, completely lacking excitement nd interest. a. derived b. platitudes c. insipid d. triteness e. hack

insipid

"Bold and ______ conduct won't get you farther than the detention room or the demerit list," Mr. McKee admonished as he looked sharply into the bully's eyes. a. egoistical b. smug c. haughty d. complacent e.insolent

insolent

The department chair advised Miss Prim to replace her serious stiff teaching style with a(n) _____ approach that would engage and enliven her students-- even spark them to laugh occasionally-- so that they would have her fun while learning. a. levity b. affable c. compatible d. convival e. jocular

jocular

The dormitory seemed like a (an) ____________; the bedrooms, hallways, and common living quarters intersected each other in an intricate, maze-like pattern. a. quandary b. enigma c. labyrinth d. turmoil e. quagmire

labyrinth

when nothing is new under the sun, the days seem long, dull, and _______. a. hackneyed b. lackluster c. platitude d. trite e. cliché

lackluster

Filled with a heavy feeling of _______, all i could manage to do all day was read a little, then rest on the couch, then read a little more, then watch television on the couch. a. stagnant b. soporific c. torpid d. sluggish e. languor

languor

With a giving spirit, Donald practices ____ each month by giving a portion of his earnings to his three favorite charities. a. altruistic b. largess c. prodigality d. lavish e. benediction

largess

If gravity is studying five hours for a precalculus test, then ____ is sinking into the couch and sucking on a Ring Pop while watching Glee. a. amity b. levity c. enmity d. affability e. jocularity

levity

With her balloon sculpting and bubble blowing, Cleo the Clown created an atmosphere of ____ that gave every guest enjoyment. a. antagonism b. avarice c. animosity d. levity e. munificence

levity

A ______ Saturday afternoon involves the some old errands, the same old lunch haunt, and the same old house chores. a. listless b. indifferent c. detached d. nonchalance e. aloof

listless

Poised and _________, Lucille was born for the actor's playhouse and podium. a. digressive b. rhetorical c. colloquial d. bombastic e. loquacious

loquacious

The epitome of ___, Luke sought to give his time, resources, and encouragement wherever the opportunity arose. a. squanderer b. lavishness c. magnanimity d. munificent e. prodigal

magnanimity

A natural born peacemaker among her friends and family, Lana makes a talented ___ in the business world as well. a. mitigator b. allay c. quell d. pacified e. mediator

mediator

The knuckles of the ___ old man were perpetually white from strong clutching his coins, dollars, and prized possessions. a. penury b. parsimony c. austere d. miserly e. frugal

miserly

tears subsided and happy voices sounded once mother decided to _______ the feud between her son and daughter by actively sympathizing with each child's side of the story, no matter how diverge their tales were. a. pacifier b. appease c. conciliate d. mitigate e. allay

mitigate

A soft nightlight is one way to _____ nighttime fear and erase spooky visions of monsters under the bed. a. mollify b. conciliate c. mediate d. placate e. allaying

mollify

___ Janice is truly magnificent, especially when it comes to giving of her time, her help, and her dreamy homemade desserts a. prodigal b. humane c. lavishly d. squandering e. munificent

munificent

Natalia is more than _____; she is categorically ______ , for even if she lost her scholarship, broke up with her boyfriends, and was kicked off the varsity lacrosse team, she would still carry on as if the world revolved smoothly around her. a. detached; listless b. nonchalant; stolid c. phlegmatic; indifference d. detachment; aloofness e. apathetic; nonchalance

nonchalant; stolid

Despite myriad programs geared toward societal improvement, still rampant and among the most __________ and _______ crimes are still vandalism, assault and battery, and child abduction. a. odious; nefarious b. virulent; pernicious c. ominous; detrimental d. malevolent; detrimental e. foreboding; virulence

odious; nefarious

Distressingly, the ___ community was overwrought with one-parent homes, drug peddling, and petty crime, all resulting from destitution. a. penurious b. thrifty c. mercenary d. austerity e. parsimonious

penurious

Although she took a vow of reticence and verbal temperance, Yolanda spread ____________________, yet true, accounts about her neighbor that eventually drove poor Ms. Jade to move to another town. a. rancor b. bane c. ominous d. pernicious e. devious

pernicious

Even though the snowy, icy cold day made me feel _____ while closed up indoors all day, I still managed to peel, chop, and dice as I cooked up a health brew: hearty chicken soup simmered with seven vegetables. a. stoical b. remote c. impassively d. aloof e. phlegmatic

phlegmatic

Gabe is a master of __________________ because he can usually get his point across in three words or less! a. tersely b. reticence c. abbreviation d. pithiness e. laconic

pithiness

__________ on and on at record speed about nonsense, Desiree left her listeners with no clue as to what she was talking about, but left them transfixed by her bright red lips. a. prattling b. diffusing c. volubly d. ranting

prattling

Walking along wet, mossy stones in the water is _____, you very well might slip and fall headfirst into the water. a. parsimonious b. precarious c. pugnacious d. philanthropic e. polemical

precarious

opportunistic Pete practices one _____ move after another; he's either cheating, scheming, or planning his next lie. a. polemical b. disputatious c. bellicose d. cantankerous e. predatory

predatory

___ hunter has no friends; every time he talks, he mentions his latest athletic accolades, academic accomplishments, or financial windfalls. a. scornful b. presumptuous c. egotistically d.insolent e. pretentious

pretentious

I felt punished under the rug when I tried to share my perspective on extracurricular activities with Ava, for my point of view was quickly ____________ following her eerie and unsympathetic laugh! a. carp b. upbraided c. reproving d. rebuffed e. berate

rebuffed

Instead of complaining about how your parents scold you, get your act together and prove to them that you no longer deserve their ______________ for being remiss in your schoolwork and household chores. a. reproval b. carp c. censorious d. rebuffed e. impugning

reproval

_________________ people make me feel uncomfortable because they are so quiet and disengaged that it makes them hard to read. a. succinct b. reservedly c. reticent d. concise e. brevity

reticent

Nomadic hunters and gatherers, wandering Indian tribes, and early American settlers-- the last thing one can call these industrious groups of people is _______. a. soporific b. lethargy c. sedentary d. sluggishly e. languor

sedentary

Chamomile tea with a drizzle of honey and a trickle of lemon makes a _______ potion that suddenly puts me into a warm, soothing sleep. a. soporific b. languid c. torpid d. listless e. stagnant

soporific

A _____ lifestyle is on that is going nowhere fast; no new employment, no new love interest, no volunteer work, and no new life-changing commitments. a. soporific b. lethargic c. lassitude d. indolent e. stagnant

stagnant

Ms. Bula would no longer put up with her supervisor's ____ attitude toward her, for she would not let herself get knocked down another peg a. presumptuous b. haughtiness c. aloof d. swaggering e. supercilious

supercilious

Ever since Mitchell made the runway at Bryant Park, he struts around with a broad-shouldered ____ that says "check me out, im all that!" a. ostentatious b. egotistical c. swagger d. complacency e. braggart

swagger

far from a blabbermouth, Tina is as _____ a young lady as one can find. a. succinct b. pithy c. taciturn d. concisely e. acquiescent

taciturn

After being repeatedly asked to go to a movie date, Julian _______ responded, "Not interested," to the girl on the other end of the phone. a. quiescently b. reservedly c. concise d. brevity e. tersely

tersely

Using the newspaper comics as wrapping paper and returning soda cans to the grocery store are two ways that a family can practice ________. a. penury b. avarice c. mercenary d. miserly e. thrift

thrift

Even though Justin was simply feeling ____, those who observed him interpreted his languor as an indication of his unrespectable ________. a. languid; sedentary b. torpid; indolence c. stagnating; lethargy d. lethargic; torpidity e. indolent; lassitude

torpid; indolence

Despite the ___ of her busy afternoons-homework, carpooling, dinner preparation--Annabelle strives to maintain an inner sense of order and calm. a. labyrinth b. turbulence c. enigma d. cryptic e. precariousness

turbulence

Lance is an enigma; at times, I don't know whether to extol him for his helpfulness and flexibility or to ________________ him for his cynical and self-serving nature. a. carp b. derision c. upbraid d. impugn e. chastisement

upbraid

Even though Olivia, who tends to exaggerate, buys organic meat and produce, she still worries about hormone injected meats pesticide-sprayed fruits that are labeled organic even though they are not; as a result, Olivia obsesses about these items being ______ threats to their health. a. virulent b. ominous c. malicious d. devious e. foreboding

virulent