Vocab 12 Choosing the Right Word

she sang a ___ little ditty about a man

plaintive

Although fate has decreed that he make his living as a stockbroker, his main interests and talents are definitely ____

aesthetic

In the Poetics and Metaphysics, Aristotle discusses the purpose of art and identities important ____ principles

aesthetic

though few of us today stand on ceremony to quite the extent that our ancestors did, common courtesy is by no means ___

defunct

The sternness of my boss's expression so ____ me that at first I had difficulty responding to the question

discomfited

In our desire to improve the quality of life in America, we should not be too quick to ___ an idea simply because it is new

espouse

it is one thing to be concerned about discipline; it is quite another to make a ___ of it

fetish

prehistoric peoples banded together into tribes, not only for protection, but also to satisfy their _____ instincts

gregarious

One of the best known figures of American folklore is the lean, tough, ___ cowboy.

hapless

when the scandal broke, the man found himself the ___ victim of other people's misdeeds

hapless

Her sense of tact is so ____ and unerring that she can handle the most trying situation as if it were mere child's play

impeccable

IDK which is more painful--to have to ask someone for a favor or to have some unfortunate ___ one for help

importune

the whiny toddler ___ his mother for a snack

importuned

Many scholars believe that Beaumont or Fletcher ____ a scene or two into the present text of a play.

interpolated

a diplomat must always proceed on the assumption that no rupture between nations, no matter how serious is ___

irreparable

Though i left the house feeling "as fit as a fiddle" my spirits began to ____ after only five minutes in that withering heat.

languish

after the death of his wife, a grieving Mr. Johnson ___ in their quiet apartment

languished

"Despite taking an oath to tell the truth, Laurie offered clearly ___ testimony," complained the frustrated defense attorney

mendacious

fortunately, our lawyer was able to produce documents that disproved the ___ assertions of our former partner

mendacious

One of the comforting things about reaching the ___ of one's career is that only place to go from there is up

nadir

The _____ threat of nuclear holocaust that characterized the Cold war era

omnipresent

faced with a tight deadline, the exhausted editor gave the young reporter's article a hurried and ___ edit

perfunctory

perhaps we should be overjoyed that the great man condescended to give us a(n) _____ nod as we passed by

perfunctory

I hope to ___ my parents for all the care they have shown me.

requite

the legal adage "Silence implies consent" meant that not objecting to an action that concerns you is ___ to approving it

tantamount