Vocabulary Lessons 1-12
apprehensive
Anxious or fearful about the future; uneasy
Acronym for "Clean Energy Network Taskforce."
CENT
disparate
Containing many differences in kind
______ of color from light pink to deep purple made the sunset especially beautiful
Deviations
Completely ______, Michelle introduced herself to the celebrity
Sam showed ______ disgust at the thought of gutting a fish
The letter that appears at the beginning of a palindrome that ends with the letter a
a
witticism
a clever remark or saying
analogy
a comparison highlighting a similarity between otherwise dissimilar things
Metonymy
a figure of speech that substitutes a word with a different but closely associated word
recession
a general decline in business activity; the act of withdrawing or going back
pundit
a person of great learning about a particular topic; an expert; a source of opinion; a critic
depredation
a predatory attack; a raid; damage, destruction, or loss
affix
a prefix or suffix; to attach a part to the beginning or end of a word; to attach something
caricature
a representation in which distinctive traits are exaggerated or distorted for comic effect; to represent or imitate in an exaggerated or distorted manner
effect
a result; to bring about
qualm
a sense of doubt or uneasiness about a course of action
nuance
a subtle or slight degree of difference
diminutive
a suffix that indicates small size, youth, familiarity, affection, or contempt; a nickname indicating affection or familiarity; extremely small; tiny
palindrome
a word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of two different words
acronym
a word formed from the first letter of each word in a series
invective
abusive or strongly critical language
mores
accepted standards and customs of a social group
The students' disagreement over the theme of the dance became so _____ that the faculty adviser called an end to the meeting
acrimonious
their dispute was so ______ that why stopped talking to one another
acrimonious
During the final round of competition, the _______ between the rival debate teams intensified dramatically
acrimony
MADD is a _______ for MothersAgainst Drunk Driving
acronym
PAC is an _____ for political action committee
acronym
NAFTA is the _______ title for the North American Free Trade Agreement.
acronymic
assertive
acting with confidence and force; sure of one's self
Much medical research is conducted under the _______ of the federal government
aegis
Ruben attended college under the _____ of the Public Arts Foundation, which gave him a scholarship and money to cover his living expenses
aegis
I hope Jack realized that my comment about his presentation being "canceled due to lack of interest" was _______
afcetious
Sammy showed no _____, so we couldn't tell how she felt about the news
affect
Teachers can ____ their students' lives in many ways
affect
He ______ a British accent to impress the crowd at the party
affected
To help prevent birds from crashing into windows, ______ noticeable stickers to the glass.
affix
We often ______ -ed to a verb to form its past tense
affix
The __________ -less and -ful have opposite meanings.
affixes
The word reappearance has two _____, re- and -ance.
affixes
Fearing widespread panic, the public health official cautioned reporters not to ________ the minor outbreak of the disease
aggrandize
Roberta _______ her accomplishments by claiming that she was the top seller in the company
aggrandized
Sheldon ______ his business by acquiring another company.
aggrandized
Tall tales, such as those about the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan, developed as a result of the ________ of stories passed down over many generations
aggrandizement
congruence
agreement, harmony, or correspondence
To make ____ for missing her championship soccer game, Jayna;s uncle offered to take her to a theme park
amends
Vince made _____ with his neighbor by paying for the broken window
amends
droll
amusingly off
surfeit
an excessive amount; to feed or supply to excess or disgust to overindulge
oxymoron
an expression that contains contradictory terms
innuendo
an indirect or subtle expression of something, usually negative; a hint
spoonerism
an often comical switching of the first sounds of two or more words
The reporter thought that the World's Fair and the Super Bowl were _______ in their ability to excite wide interest
analogous
The flying instructor drew a _______ between playing a video game and operating a flight simulator
analogy
To explain how a camera works, the photography teacher made an ____ between the eye and a camera lens
analogy
An example of an _____ is Alexander Pope's famous quotation "To err is human; to forgive, divine"
antithesis
With his sloppy work habits and poor people skills, Norman was the _____ of a good office assistant
antithesis
With his style and charm, the actor was the _____ of the slob he played on TV
antithesis
Good and evil are ______ concepts
antithetical
Despite his _____, Evelyn's father gave her the keys to his brand-new car.
apprehension
Many students are _____ about the first day of school
apprehensive
The shy child was ________ about spending three weeks away from home while at camp
apprehensive
decorum
appropriateness of behavior; propriety
While babysitting for us, our oldest sister _______ her right to decide our bedtimes
asserted
The ________ student debated with her professor about the meaning of the poem
assertive
The _________ woman stood up at the town meeting and spoke for a full twenty minutes
assertive
Employees were careful not to offend the _____ bank manager
austere
Accustomed to restaurants and electricity, Harris was slow to adapt to at the _____ of the primitive conditions on the island
austerity
During World War II, wartime _______ included limits on the amount of gas and food people could buy
austerity
Monks live a life of _______
austerity
Their great-aunt's ______ frightened the young children
austerity
Talk show hosts often ______ with their guests
banter
We were amused by the clever _____ between the show's characters
banter
When a woman told Winston Churchill, who was famous for his _______, "If I were your wife, I'd put poison in your coffee," he replied, "If I were your husband, I'd drink it."
banter
At first, the ______ between the colleagues was good-natured, but after a few veiled insinuations, their comments soon became more _____ and biting
banter...flippant
Don't let the friendly saleswoman _____ you into believing that the table is a valuable antique.
beguile
In a Greek myth about vanity, Narcissus was completely ______ by his own reflection
beguiled
The twelve year old ________ his parents' guests with witty commentary about current events.
beguiled
The adorable puppy's begging was so ______ that we couldn't resist feeding him from the table.
beguiling
Mark's ________ shows in the many small deeds he does to help others.
benevolence
Breeding programs at many zoos have the ________ goal of saving endangered species from extinction
benevolent
In a ___________ act, Maggie gave all of her birthday money to a homeless shelter
benevolent
Our _______ neighbor volunteers for several charitable organizations
benevolent
acrimonious
bitter or sharp in language or tone
Her ______ behavior alienated many of her coworkers and family members
brazen
The rebel group was _______ enough to kidnap the respected leader in front of many of the villagers
brazen
We were horrified by the _________ of the men who dumped trash into the pond as people fished nearby
brazenness
A portmanteau word referring to a meal that is a combination of two other meals
brunch
Solvent
capable of meeting financial obligations; able to pay debts
Maria's role in the comedy was a _____ of a lovesick teenager
caricature
Luckily, Principal Weiss laughed when she saw herself being __________ on stage in the student talent show
caricatured
________ of the late Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev usually included ridiculously bushy eyebrows
caricatures
Becky is a great _______; in just a few seconds, she can make a funny, recognizable sketch of any celebrity
caricaturist
His _____ denial of guilt left no room for doubt as to the plea that he would enter in court.
categorical
Knowing how organized he is, I was not surprised that his stamp collection has a _______ arrangement by country of issue
categorical
We were surprised by our employer's ________ refusal to change any deadlines
categorical
The teacher ______ refused to listen to the student's reason for being late to class
categorically
The parents ________ their child for running across the street without looking both ways first
chastised
Marie filed a complaint against her manager in response to his public ___________
chastisement
Another recent _______ is the verb to google, as in "I googled the author of the article to find out his background and credentials."
coinage
More zinc than copper is now used in the ________ of US pennies
coinage
Shakespeare is credited with the ______ of more than a thousand English words
coinage
The spread of computer technology has resulted in the ________ of words such as blog and cyberbully.
coinage
The poet was always _______ new words, such as the _______ craugh, a combination of cry and laugh, meaning "to laugh so hard you cry."
coining.....portmanteau word
"Hi" and "What's up?" are ________ expressions for "Hello" and "How are you?"
colloquial
Although _______ expressions are commonly used in everyday speech, they are usually not appropriate in formal writing.
colloquial
A "close call" is a ___________ for a "narrow escape."
colloquialism
Her extensive qualifications were ________ with the requirements of the important job
commensurate
His large office was _____ with the power of his position as chief executive
commensurate
Known for his _____, Gerald constantly ran errands for others
complaisance
Chris is so ______ that he always agrees to his friend's crazy plans
complaisant
The _____ six year old played every game her friend suggested
complaisant
The sisters made a good team: Jamie was _____ and willing to go along with her _____ older sister, who insisted on taking the lead in everything they did
complaisant...assertive
The teacher tried to ______ the dispute between the two students
conciliate
Former president Jimmy Carter acted as a _______ between the government and rebels in Venezuela
conciliator
Realizing how angry she sounded, Ilana adopted a more ______ tone of voice
conciliatory
To end the argument, Maggie made a _______ gesture by offering to loan the CD to her little brother twice a week
conciliatory
The medical test results were ________: Sally's operation had been successful
conclusive
The results of the election were_____; Hiroshi won by a landslide
conclusive
Quiet places are _____ to studying
conducive
Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a varied diet are ______ to good health
conducive
The unanimous vote reflected the ______ of the committee members' opinions
congruence
There is often a lack of ________ between the amount of money a movie makes and the quality of the reviews it gets
congruence
The speaker's flippant jokes and colloquial style were not ______ with the solemnity of the ceremony
congruent
heterogeneous
consisting of many different elements or types; varied
commensurate
corresponding in size or degree; proportionate
wily
cunning; full of trickery or intentions to deceive
precarious
dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability; based on uncertain or questionable premises
The biographer wanted to ________ the myth surrounding the actor's illness
debunk
The corrupt CEO ______ employees who agreed to testify against him, claiming they were lying to cover up their own illegal conduct
debunked
The professor immediately ______ her colleague's new theory, pointing out the many false assumptions underlying his thesis
debunked
conclusive
decisive; putting an end to doubt, question, or uncertainty
The queen's _______ behavior contrasted sharply with the king;s gruff manner
decorous
Diplomats must act with ________ or they risk offending foreign officials and jeopardizing international relations
decorum
_______ dictates that those entering a mosque must remove their shoes
decorum
Eliana;s happy and carefree _______ lifts the spirits of everyone around her
demeanor
Her carefree ______ hid her deep anxiety about her mother's health
demeanor
The house ______ in value because the owners did not keep up with yearly maintenance
depreciated
the value of our stock ______ to the point that it was basically worthless
depreciated
__________ of a new car begins the moment you drive it off the lot
depreciation
A _______ by an army of ants spoiled our picnic
depredation
The _____ of the Amazon rain forest has harmed many species
depredation
Many homes were destroyed by the _____ of the soldiers
depredations
Some of the results of severe sleep _____ resemble depression
deprivation
The drought caused a _______ of food and clean water in the region
deprivation
By law, people accused of a crime in the United States cannot be _____ of due process, including their right to an attorney
deprived
Isabel reported her coworker's ________ comments about others to the manager
derogatory
not realizing that Dwayne was standing behind her, Ella made a ________ comment about his taste in clothes
derogatory
Although the school paper stated that it published ______ opinions, the editors' lack of tolerance for any ideas that decimated from their own was ____ to censorship
deviate...congruent
The pilot ______ from the flight path, hoping to avoid story activity
deviated
When the scientists _____ from previous approaches used to solve the problem, they made an important discovery
deviated
Evan's father would not allow the slightest _______ from the route he had planned for the family trip
deviation
Children's books of the 1800s were quite __________, often amounting to little more than lectures on behaviors
didactic
The moral of a fable is _____; it tries to teach a life lesson
didactic
We listened with some impatience to my aunt's ______ life stories
didactic
Did you know that Peggy is a __________ of Margaret?
diminutive
The ________ dachshund had the bark of a much larger dog
diminutive
The ________ dollhouse furniture enchanted the youngsters.
diminutive
Two common _______ are -ette and -let.
diminutives
We want a ______ judge when our case goes to court
disinterested
You might want to talk to an outside party to get a ______ point of view
disinterested
The architect ______ his competitors' designs, calling them "cluttered and meaningless"
disparaged
the novice golfer felt discouraged after the instructor _______ his first efforts to hit the ball
disparaged
The student made ______ remarks about the professor's requirement of rigid discipline in his classes.
disparaging
The poll claimed to represent the opinions of a ______ group of workers, from manual laborers to CEOs
disparate
The _____ between the wealth of the French nobility and the poverty of the masses eventually led to the French Revolution of 1789
disparity
The _____ in their ages did not prevent the sixty year old woman and her thirty year old neighbor from becoming close friends
disparity
In the 1800s, women were expected to be ______ and obedient to men
docile
We usually give the most ______ horse to the youngest rider
docile
dubious
doubtful; uncertain; questionable as to quality or validity
My _____ uncle showed up at the family barbecue wearing overalls and an upside-down hat full of ears of corn
droll
Some people call my sense of humor odd, but I prefer to call it _____
droll
The salesperson's claim---that the vacuum cleaner was so durable we would never need to buy another one--seemed _________.
dubious
At first, many of her colleagues were ______ about Sondra's hypothesis, but they changed their minds once they saw the _____ results of her experiments.
dubious...unequivocal
The most recent coinage
frugal
economical; thrifty; careful or strict in avoiding unnecessary spending
The professor assigned additional readings for the ______ of her students
edification
Studying literary classics _____ us about the ways human beings react to universal problems such as jealousy and grief
edifies
Hannah attends lectures on diverse topics to ______ herself
edify
_____ professors risk losing their students' interest
edifying
One ______ of raising a vehicle's height is a loss of stability or control when making turns
effect
We wondered how the forest fire would _______ the animals' habitat
effect
He ____ on overhaul of the registration system
effected
Suki's plan was a success; it was more ________ than anyone could have imagined
effective
This ointment provides ______ relief for itchy bug bites
effective
When the scholar tried to _____ the topic she was studying, her language was so _____ that none of her friends could understand her
elucidate...esoteric
The textbook's chapter on calculus wasn't helpful, but our teacher _____ the principles quite clearly
elucidated
These strange-looking graphs need some _______
elucidation
__________ often have to leave friends and family behind
emigrant
During the early 1900s, millions of people ________ from Europe to America
emigrated
During the potato famine, many families _______ from Ireland to settle in countries where food was more abundant
emigrated
High unemployment sparked a wave of ______
emigration
Many civil rights laws were written with the goal of ensuring ______ treatment for all people, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs
equitable
It can take years to build up _____ in one's house and property
equity
Most people think that it is important to treat others with _____
equity
The Watsons has accumulated enough _____ in their home that they were ab;e to refinance their mortgage at a better interest rate
equity
tantamount
equivalent in significance, effect, or value
The _____ language specialist could read Latin, ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic
erudite
The _____ scholar would quote any number of literary works at a moment's notice
erudite
Shannon could not have given her lecture on Irish culture without drawing on a high degree of ______
erudition
The antique collector had much ______ knowledge of rare lamps
esoteric
The difference between 32-bit and 64-bit hardware seems ______ to most people, but it dramatically affects computer games
esoteric
Antique cameras, lenses, filters, and other _______ of the photographer's trade littered the back room of the shop
esoterica
intemperate
excessive; lacking moderation
My dad was shocked by the _______ of the prices at the fancy French restaurant
exorbitance
I refuse to pay such a __________ price for a pair of shoes
exorbitant
The newspaper editorial criticized banks that charged farmers _______ interest rates to borrow money during the drought
exorbitant
exorbitance
extreme, unreasonable expense or price; being beyond reasonable or proper limits
brazen
extremely bold; shamelessly rude or defiant
indigent
extremely poor; impoverished; lacking basic necessities
Faye reached into the knotted seaweed and _____ a small starfish
extricated
Harvey _____ himself from the meeting to take an important phone call
extricated
The quick work of the rescue team resulted in the successful ____ of all twenty workers from the collapsed mine
extrication
I was being ______ when I said that, in the future, people who can spell will not be allowed to use the Internet
facetious
intrepid
fearless; having unwavering courage
Every night, we hear the howling of the _____ dogs in the woods
feral
The US National Park System was established to ensure that wilderness areas remain _______
feral
The two ______ cats in the shed scratched and hissed at the animal-shelter workers
feral
Theresa's ________ gives her a special flair for selling luxury items
flamboyance
Next to all of the dark business suits, Anna's bright green dress seemed _____
flamboyant
The _______ hip-hop star arrived wearing gobs of jewelry and a five thousand dollar outfit
flamboyant
Because of Peter's ________ answers during the interview, he did not get the job
flippant
While frantically asking neighbors if the had seen her lost dog, Lynn didn't appreciate the ______ question, "Is he the one with the tail?"
flippant
People who live through hard times usually learn to be _____
frugal
The motto "Waste not, want not" encourages _______ behavior
frugal
The couple's _______ enabled them to save enough money to send all their children to college
frugality
munificent
generous; liberal in giving
docile
gentle; easily manageable or teachable; tame
An example of a metonym for the planet Earth
globe
mirth
good spirits; happiness and merriment, especially as expressed by laughter
Mario's _______ talk of his high-powered connections in Hollywood couldn't hide the fact that he was a struggling actor
grandiose
Perry admired the ________ doorway of the mansion, with its huge, carved pillars and ornate stonework
grandiose
The billionaire built a __________ home so large that it overshadowed all the other houses in the neighborhood
grandiose
Coworkers got tired of the ________ of their manager, who boasted that the company president listened only to him
grandiosity
According the the critic, the film was filled with ________ violence that served no purpose in the plot
gratuitous
The long-winded professor threw some ________ personal anecdotes into her lecture
gratuitous
The press delighted in revealing the latest _______ expenditure of the ______ rock star in his endless efforts at self-aggrandizement
gratuitous...profligate
hilarity
great merriment; extreme amusement
The bullies who ________ the smaller children on the playground by ruining their games were finally caught and punished
harassed
The young puppies ______ the old dog by nipping at him and climbing on him
harassed
The landlord was charged with _______ for appearing at his tenants' places of employment to collect rent payments
harassment
multifarious
having great variety; diverse
pecuniary
having to do with money
The _______ of modern urban populations makes for a fascinating mix of dress, customs, food, and languages
heterogeneity
The wide variety of cultures represented at the block party revealed the _____ of the neighborhood
heterogeneity
The _____ range of music at the festival included classical, folk, and hip-hop
heterogeneous
The comedian's jokes were so _____ that we laughed until we were gasping for air
hilarious
I was embarrassed after tripping, but I could understand the _____ that followed
hilarity
The silly costumes and jokes added to the _______ of the gathering
hilarity
The businessmen were a ________ bunch; they all wore dark suits and ties
homogeneous
flippant
humorous in a disrespectful, casual way; rudely witty
Ancient laws forbade the prince from marrying a woman of _____ birth
ignoble
The ______ man was only kind to his elderly neighbor so that he could earn a place in her will
ignoble
The _______ rider constantly whipped his gentle horse
ignoble
His older sister's success in soccer _____ Pablo with a love for the game
imbue
Many parents try to ______ their children with ethics and values
imbue
The article's explanatory footnotes help _____ the author's argument
imbue
When washed with the navy sweater, the white clothes became ______ with blue
imbued
Many _______ from Vietnam live in Los Angeles
immigrants
My parents ______ to the United States twenty years ago
immigrated
After ______ to France, Josh immediately worked on improving his French-speaking skills
immigrating
_________ has helped build the economy and increase the diversity of the population in the United States
immigration
disinterested
impartial; free of bias or self-interest in an outcome
With their constant begin for gifts, ________ children can annoy even the most patient adult
importunate
Diane ______ her dad for weeks until he gave in and said she could go to the dance
importuned
Street vendors ____ passing tourists to buy souvenirs
importuned
By questioning the authenticity of the painting, Roberto ______ the reputation of the gallery owner
impugned
In an effort to win the race, the congressional candidate ______ his opponent's voting record, calling it favorable to special interests
impugned
It was obvious from Juan's____________ answer that he had not done his homework.
indeterminate
The antique amethyst necklace was of ______ age.
indeterminate
The neighbors were disturbed by the developer's _______ answer regarding his plans for the newly purchased farmland
indeterminate
_______ usually goes hand in hand with poor nutrition and the lack of medieval care
indigence
Shortly after Darlene was laid off from her job, her family fell into ________, and they were forced to live a completely _____ lifestyle.
indigence...austere
As the mill laid off more and more workers, the number of _______ families in the area increased rapidlt
indigent
Good art schools seek not to ______ their students with specific styles, but rather to inspire them to develop their own creative visions
indoctrinate
Was it a harmless public service announcement, or a subtly way to _____ viewers?
indoctrinate
The dictator decided that weekly sessions of political ______ should be a requirement for all schoolchildren
indoctrination
Many gossip columnists spread scandal by _____. hinting at celebrities' misconduct
innuendo
Through masterful ______, she managed to make everyone think that Mr. Mattheiu was the culprit, without ever accusing him directly
innuendo
When the scandalous _____ about the politician proved to be true, he was completely _______ by the press and forced to resign his position
innuendo....vilified
Charles Dicken's novels often feature characters who are _________
insolvent
derogatory
insulting; belittling
Steven's ________ as a sports fan was evidenced by the amount of his income that he spent on tickets and memorabilia
intemperance
Jamie has a _______ appetite for sushi; she can eat one plateful after another
intemperate
Mom tried to discourage Luz's _______ consumption of chocolate
intemperate
didactic
intended to teach; overly moralistic; preachy
The _____ explorer ventured alone into the depths of the jungle.
intrepid
The ______ reporter continued to disclose the misdeeds of very powerful people
intrepid
For weeks after their big fight, every exchange between the two sisters was filled with _______-
invective
We were shocked by the stream of ______ she let loose on the referee
invective
strident
loud, harsh, grating, or shrill
At a fundraiser, the soccer dads dressed up as honey bees and did a _______ dance, buzzing up and down the aisles and pretending to gather honey
ludicrous
Where did you get the ______ idea that I'd changed my name to "Bumbelina"?
ludicrous
Imagine the ______ of a sixty year old, overweight, bearded actor playing the lovely, young Juliet
ludicrousness
ignoble
mean, unethical, or dishonorable; not noble in character; not of the nobility; common
The chairman tried to _____ the disagreement between the two committees
mediate
The secretary of state was asked to ______ the dispute between the two neighboring nations
mediate
Both the union and the management realized that _____ was the best hope of reaching an acceptable agreement
mediation
Cary was a born _______; he knew instinctively how each side felt and what was most important to them
mediator
The ____ did everything in her power to set a ______ tone for the discussions so that the two parties would be more likely to compromise
mediator...conciliatory
Terrance hoped to find a job with a _____ work environment because he felt that he was more productive in a less stressful setting
mellow
The soft music put me in such a ______ mood that I stopped worrying about my test
mellow
Mrs. Herrera used to be tense all the time, but in the last few weeks, she seems to have _____ a bit
mellowed
The ________ expression "the hand that rocks the cradle" refers to a mother.
metonymic
Saying that the United States signed a treaty is a clear use of a ______
metonymy
The sentence "Washington's official response was negative" includes a _________; the word Washington is substituted for the US government
metonymy
The wedding guests were full of _____ and excitement
mirth
The winning team was so full of _____ that the three-hour bus ride seemed to fly by
mirth
The court jester's constant jokes and imitations made the king;s dinner a ______ occasion
mirthful
Salvatore's weekly allergy shots helped _____ his symptoms
mitigated
Grandpa _____ the sting of his critical words with a wink and a pat on the shoulder
mitigates
Sometimes the best thing that hospital patients with incurable diseases can hope for is pain ______
mitigation
Fascinated by ancient customs, the anthropologist explored the _____ of medieval societies by studying their writings and burial practices
mores
_______ of traditional southern society place great value on hospitality
mores
something that is most diminutive
mouse
A long and varied police report listed the convict's ______ criminal activities
multifarious
Alicia's __________ talents include acting, writing, playing the piano, and directing
multifarious
Her _____ was well known throughout the city, for she had given millions of dollars to local charities
munificence
Cheryl's _____ gift surprised and delighted me
munificent
The chaos and pain inflicted by the terrible earthquake inspired people around the world to make _____ donations to aid the victims
munificent
equity
new value; the value of a business or property minus debt owed; fairness; justice
indeterminate
not capable of being determined or established; not precisely known; lacking clarity of precision; vague
unabashed
not embarrassed; composed; not hidden or disguised; obvious
Her ______ performances conveyed the subtle changes in her character's attitudes as the play progressed
nuanced
Bethany's talent for capturing ____ of voice and gesture enabled her to do wonderful imitations of famous people
nuances
pacific
of a peaceful nature; calm
The _________ of the buffet was overwhelming; we didn't know where to begin
opulence
The antique furniture and fine rugs reflected the homeowners' ______
opulence
We were astonished by the ________ of King Louis XIV's palaces at Versailles
opulence
Andrew Lloyd Weber's _________ musical compositions are often filled with elaborate orchestration
opulent
pedantic
overly concerned with or narrowly focused on book learning or formal rules
A common _______ is "jumbo shrimp."
oxymoron
Taken literally, silent scream is a __________
oxymoron
Two examples of ________ expressions are "good grief" and "fresh frozen."
oxymoronic
One way to relieve stress is to imagine yourself in a beautiful, ______ place, such as a deserted beach or a hammock in a garden
pacific
The water was astonishingly ______ the day after the hurricane had blasted through the area
pacific
The principal tried to ________ the students after they learned that the school dance had been canceled
pacify
An easy ________ to remember is noon.
palindrome
The words rotor and civic are ______
palindromes
Thanks to the ______ of the private foundation, the after school program was able to continue its work
patronage
Jo does not ______ stores that sell goods made by child laborers
patronize
Some people think it is wrong for politicians to ______ the public by assuming people know nothing about science or history
patronize
During the Italian Renaissance, members of the powerful and wealthy Medici family ______ many artists
patronized
Through the years, the family ______ several Mexican artists, bringing their work into the United States for exhibition
patronized
________ of the store get mailings that offer special discounts
patrons
conciliatory
peacemaking; appeasing; intended to overcome distrust, animosity, or conflict
He said, "There is much more to life than ______ concerns, my friend; money isn't everything."
pecuniary
While social work may not bring large ______ rewards, it provides the satisfaction that comes from helping people
pecuniary
The English teacher's creative _____ methods made Shakespeare's sonnets fascinating to her students
pedagogical
There are many new ______ theories about how to teach literacy
pedagogical
The Swiss ________ Jean Piaget influenced educators all over the world with his insights into the development of logic in children
pedagogue
Mathematical _____ in the United States has benefited from adopting strategies that are used in Russia and Eastern Europe
pedagogy
_______ is an ancient and honorable profession
pedagogy
Lively debate and revenant experience often teach more about pouty than _____ lectures do
pedantic
Having students recite geometry proofs repeatedly could be considered counterproductive ________
pedantry
unequivocal
perfectly clear; leaving no room for doubt or misunderstanding
whimsical
playful or unpredictable
facetious
playfully joking; humorous; not meant to be taken seriously
Chunnel, a _______ _______ formed from channel and tunnel, is the name for the tunnel that runs underneath the English Channel.
portmanteau word
Language is a good example of a
portmanteau word
erudite
possessing great knowledge and scholarship
A rock climber who does not use the recommended safety gear could find herself in a _______ situation
precarious
That state has the _______ distinction of having the lowest voter turnout in the nation
precarious
To the average listener, his argument sounded reasonable, but knowledgeable listeners knew his conclusions were _____.
precarious
realizing their situation was _____, most people tried to stay in their homes during the political rebellion
precarious
A sudden drop in atmospheric pressure ______ the storm
preceded
Arriving late, we missed the orchestral performance that ________ the musical
preceded
In an emergency room, a patient suffering from a heart attack takes _______ over someone with a minor burn
precedence
Turn right on Main Street and then _____ to the next intersection
proceed
When the path ended, we were unsure how to ______
proceed
She _______ with her plan to graduate from college early by taking the maximum number of classes each quarter, but she was unhappy about the ____ that this had on her social life
proceeded...affect
The _________ of limousines moved ever so slowly
procession
Reporters criticized the movie star's _________ when she bought a new gown for a hundred thousand dollars
profligacy
Chantal's _______ spending habits got her deep into debt
profligate
Shareholders were shocked to learn that the _________ executive had spent three million dollars on his wife's birthday party
profligate
aegis
protection; sponsorship; guidance
The slow pace of life in the _________ provided respite from the stress of the city
province
The _______ tourists were amazed by the hairstyles and clothing they saw in San Francisco
provincial
The bus runs from the city center through several _____ towns.
provincial
The ________ dinner guest, knowing little about the ______ of high society, was embarrassed to discover that using the wrong fork was considered unseemly
provincial...mores
Mike was painfully aware of his ________ whenever he spent time with the sophisticated European students
provincialism
The music _____ Worte an article about the new album
pundit
The sports _____ was asked to comment on the tennis match
pundit
The president asked a small group of distinguished ______ to review his foreign policy
pundits
Since Janice rarely turned in assignments or paid attention in class, her teacher had no ____ about giving her a failing grade.
qualms
The critic didn't have any ________ about giving the horrible play a bad review
qualms
In 2005, when water _____ from the canals in Venice, Italy, some gondolas ran aground
receded
During the _____, the unemployment rate increased while salary rates decreased
recession
During the ______, my uncle lost his job and went into debt
recession
In a tsunami, the sudden _______ of the sea is followed by large, destructive waves
recession
The organist played the ______ as the choir filed out of the church
recessional
profligate
recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant
provincial
relating to areas that are far from large cities or capitals; not sophisticated, fashionable, or informed; culturally limited
mellow
relaxed and unhurried; easygoing; to become more relaxed or pleasant
Are professional athletes excessively ______ for what they do?
remunerated
Gustav was upset that he was not _____ for his work
remunerated
The insurance company provided ______ to the landlord for the extensive fire damage
remuneration
When we _______ our house, we removed the title from the kitchen floor and refinished the original wood flooring
renovated
Sheila's business is ______ old houses
renovating
The subway station is closed temporarily due to long-needed ________
renovations
ludicrous
ridiculously, laughably absurd
After guzzling the entire quart of juice, my thirst was finally _______
satiated
The enormous picnic lunch left me completely _______.
satiated
austerity
severe and rigid restrictions, especially those brought about by difficult economic times; the quality of lacking luxury or ornamentation; bareness; simplicity; the quality of being severe or stern in appearance or manner
flamboyant
showy, flashy, vivid, or dramatic
An oxymoron
small fortune
To maintain ______, the small theater needed to sell fifty additional season tickets
solvency
Because the store is no longer ________, it will be having a going-out-of-business sale next week
solvent
Cost cutting is one way to keep a company _______
solvent
amends
something done to make up for a wrong, an injury, or a mistake; compensation
"Lack of pies" is a _________ for "pack of lies."
spoonerism
The substitution of "sons of toil" for "tons of soil" is a ___________
spoonerism
The _____ of the children's voices gave Grandma a headache
stridency
As the speaker grew angry, a ______ tone crept into his voice
strident
When she sang, Malika's high notes sounded sharp and ______ rather than smooth
strident
one kind of affix
suffix
My Internet search provided such a _____ of information that I had to spend hours combing through it all
surfeit
Parents who _______ their children with food run the risk of encouraging bad eating habits
surfeit
There was such a _______ of grain that it didn't all fit in the farmer's grain silos
surfeit
The attack on the territory was _____ to a declaration of war
tantamount
The way he left out important details about what happened was _____ to lying
tantamount
Spoonerism of "ease my tears"
tease my ears
conducive
tending to cause or bring about; favorable to
the two women could make only ______ plans to meet for dinner because they both had unpredictable work schedules.
tentative
Unsure about whether I would have visitors from out of town, I _______ agreed to go to Jessica's dinner party
tentatively
pedagogy
the art or profession of teaching; the body of knowledge related to education and teaching
disparity
the condition or fact of being unequal or different; inequality
antithesis
the direct or exact opposite; a figure of speech in which contrasting ideas are placed side by side in parallel phrases
coinage
the invention of new words; an invented word or phrase; the making of metal coins; metal currency
deprivation
the state of lacking or doing without something; loss
demeanor
the way one behaves or presents oneself; one's manner
importune
to annoy with repeated and insistent requests; to ask for urgently or repeatedly
impugn
to attack or challenge as false or questionable
beguile
to charm; to delight; to deceive skillfully
precede
to come before
banter
to converse in a playful or teasing way; an exchange of good-humored, playful remarks
depreciate
to decrease or cause to decrease in value or price
deviate
to depart or turn aside from a path, direction, or course of action
elucidate
to explain or make clear
debunk
to expose or make fun of a false claim or an exaggeration
extricate
to free from difficulty or entanglement
satiate
to fully satisfy an appetite or a desire
proceed
to go forward or onward
mediate
to help opposing sides reach an agreement; to intervene in a conflict in order to improve the situation
affect
to influence; to change; to put on a false show or display of; feeling or emotion, especially as shown in facial expressions or by language
imbue
to inspire or influence thoroughly; to stain or dye thoroughly
edify
to instruct for intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement
indoctrinate
to instruct in or impart certain principles or ideology
harass
to irritate or torment repeatedly
emigrate
to leave one country or region and settle in another
aggrandize
to make greater in power, stature, or reputation; to exaggerate, or make something greater than it is
mitigate
to make less severe; to soften, lessen, or moderate
vilify
to make vicious insulting comments about; to slander
remunerate
to pay for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred; to compensate for
chastise
to punish or criticize severely
renovate
to restore something to an earlier condition, by repairing or remodeling
immigrate
to settle in a country or region where one is not a native
disparage
to speak of in a disrespectful or slighting way; to belittle
patronize
to support or sponsor; to go as a customer; to shop at regularly; to treat as inferior
vacillate
to swing indecisively from one opinion or action to another; to sway or hesitate in choice of actions or opinions
grandiose
trying to seem important; characterized by pretended grandeur; grand; magnificent in size, beauty or scope; impressive
colloquial
typical of informal language usage; conversational
How can you be so ______ about your unethical behavior?
unabashed
insolvent
unable to pay debts
tentative
uncertain; not fully worked out or agreed upon; provisional
esoteric
understood only by elite, scholarly, or exclusive group; obscure
Martin answered the question with an _______ "Yes!"
unequivocal
The fans showed their _______ support for the revered baseball team
unequivocal
unseemly
unfitting and inappropriate; grossly improper
By the time that ridiculous movie ended, I was completely ______ in what happened to the characters
uninterested
_________ in professional sports, Jo decided to read rather than watch the game
uninterested
gratuitous
unnecessary; unjustified
Because of his _____ table manners, Jay was rarely invited to dinner parties.
unseemly
It amazes me that some talk-show guests are willing to discuss their ______ behavior on national television
unseemly
I _______ between choosing a career in medicine and pursuing my interest in music.
vacillate
At the ice-cream shop, Seth ______ between ordering chocolate or vanilla
vacillated
When the quarterback ______ on the field, the coach lost confidence in his ability to lead the offense.
vacillated
What the politician's opponents saw as ____, his supporters saw as a reasonable revision of policy, based on new evidence.
vacillation
The athlete was upset by the journalist's ________ of his behavior, claiming she hadn't explained the whole story
vilification
Mrs. Garner _________ her son for tracking mud all over the new carpet
vilified
While some hailed the rebels as saviors, others ______ them as violent and brutal
vilified
complaisant
wanting to please; willing to do what pleases others; cheerfully obliging
opulence
wealth; affluence; great abundance, often to excess; lavishness
Every chapter of the _____ book contained some delightful new twist.
whimsical
My ______ aunt Harriet regularly traveled to exotic places on the spur of the moment
whimsical
In an act of pure ________, the teacher did a back-flip before starting the lecture
whimsy
feral
wild and untamed; savage; having returned to an untamed state from domestication
Known for their _______, the door-to-door salesmen of the past often deceived their customers
wiliness
The _______ character Tom Sawyer not only tricked his friends into doing his work, but he also got them to pay for that "privilege"
wily
Through clever arguments and shrewd bargaining, the _______ politician managed to gain the support of her colleagues.
wily
benevolent
wishing to do good; kindly; characterized by helping intentions; concerned with, or for the benefit of charity
categorical
without exception or qualification; absolute; done according to types; arranged by categories
uninterested
without interest; having no interest or concern in a matter
One of Mark Twain's many great ________ is, "The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
witticisms
Oscar Wilde is famous for his _____ witticisms; my favorite is "I can resist anything but temptation"
witticisms
We enjoyed the speaker's ______ remarks
witty
A colloquial expression
Im outta here
