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Culture Documents
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
ASSUAGE
ERUDITE
OPAQUE
PRODIGAL
ADULTERATE
CAPRICIOUS
DESICCATE
GULLIBLE
LAUDABLE
PRAGMATIC
VOLATILE
ANTIPATHY
DERIDE
EULOGY
LETHARGIC
OBDURATE
PHILANTHROPIC
ENIGMA
FERVID
PLACATE
ZEAL
APATHY
CORROBORATE
ENGENDER
PEDANT
LOQUACIOUS
PROPRIETY
WAVER
BOLSTER
DISSONANCE
GARRULOUS
MALLEABLE
OSTENTATION
PREVARICATE
The metal brackets BOLSTERED the heavy bookshelves onto the wall.
29) BOMBASTIC: pompous in speech and manner
Jake's BOMBASTIC claims were too outrageous to be believed.
Related words
BOMBAST: pompous speech or writing
30) CACOPHONY: harsh, jarring noise
The chirping of the birds created a CACOPHONY in the normally silent backyard.
31) CANDID: impartial and honest in speech
Children's observations are usually CANDID and unpretentious.
32) CAPRICIOUS: changing one's mind quickly and often
Jill's CAPRICIOUS nature led her to change boyfriends quite often.
Related words
CAPRICE: whim, sudden fancy
33) CASTIGATE: to punish or criticize harshly
European countries CASTIGATE perpetrators harshly for crimes that are considered minor in the
United States.
34) CATALYST: something that brings about a change in something else
Jack's great job on the project was the CATALYST that led to his promotion.
Related Words
CATALYZE: to bring about a change in something else
35) CAUSTIC: biting in wit
Jim's insulting, yet clever remarks gave him a reputation for CAUSTIC wit.
36) CHAOS: great disorder or confusion
Without proper supervision, the children's behavior will descend into CHAOS.
Related Words
CHAOTIC: jumbled, confused
37) CHAUVINIST: someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
Related words
DEFER: to delay; to show someone deference
DEFERENT: courteous and respectful
47) DERIDE: to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
The awkward teenager was often DERIDED by his more popular peers.
Related words
DERISION: mockery and taunts
DERISIVE: in a mocking manner
48) DESICCATE: to dry out thoroughly
DESICCATED coconut has been dried and browned in a hot oven.
Related words
DESICCANT: something that removes water from another substance
49) DIATRIBE: an abusive, condemnatory speech
The angry husband bellowed a DIATRIBE at his unsuspecting wife.
50) DESULTORY: jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Jade had a DESULTORY education, dropping out at the drop of a hat.
51) DIFFIDENT: lacking self-confidence
Sara's DIFFIDENT manner during her date suggested she was not interested in Jake.
52) DILATE: to make larger; to expand
My pupils DILATE when I enter a dark room.
53) DILATORY: intended to delay
The attorney used DILATORY means to stall the trial.
54) DILETTANTE: someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
DILETTANTES have only a superficial interest in the hobby.
55) DIRGE: a funeral hymn or mournful speech
Mike wrote a DIRGE for the funeral of his cherished grandfather.
The witness EQUIVOCATED when questioned by the police, misleading them about the time of
the robbery.
Related Words
EQUIVOCAL: undecided; trying to deceive
EQUIVOCATION: the act or state of equivocating
79) EUPHEMISM: use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
The human resource director preferred to use the EUPHEMISM "outsourced" instead of "fired."
85) FANATICAL: acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
The moviegoers were FANATICAL in their devotion to Jim Carrey, praising even his worst
movies.
Having more money than taste, the lottery winner decorated her home in an excessively FLORID
style.
96) ICONOCLAST: one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
She LAVISHED the child with so much attention that it soon become selfish and spoiled.
OSTENSIBLE: apparent