English Vocab Quiz

Absurdity

something irrational or illogical

Alchemy

a transformative process, literal or symbolic

Ambiguity

uncertainty or multiple meanings

Ambivalence

mixed or conflicting feelings

Benevolence

kindness or goodwill

Catharsis

emotional release

Consciousness

awareness of self and world

Coup de grâce

decisive finishing blow

Defection

abandonment of a cause

Futility

pointlessness

Ingenuity

inventive skill

Irony

contrast between expectation and reality

Melee

confused fight

Misgivings

doubts or reservations

Nuance

subtle distinction

Palaver

prolonged discussion

Rhetoric

persuasive language

Tyranny

oppressive power

Yokel

unsophisticated person

Conduct

to lead or manage

Fathom

to understand deeply

Lave

to wash or bathe

Moil

to toil or churn

Negate

to nullify

Render

to cause or provide

Tamper

to interfere improperly

Trump

to surpass

Arrayed

Arranged or dressed in a deliberate or formal way.

Barren

unproductive

Baying

howling mockingly

Benign

gentle or harmless

Belligerent

hostile

Bilious

ill-tempered

Covert

Hidden, concealed, or disguised.

Democratic

relating to popular rule

Disillusioned

freed from false belief

Doleful

sorrowful

Fallacious

logically false

Fastidious

excessively exacting

Grave

serious

Helical

spiral-shaped

Impudent

boldly disrespectful

Inhibited

restrained

Languid

lacking energy

Limpid

clear

Malicious

intending harm

Overt

open or obvious

Sadistic

taking pleasure in pain

Serene

calm

Sonorous

deep-sounding

Stolid

unemotional

Torpid

sluggish

Wry

dryly ironic

Astray

off course

Decorously

politely

Gravely

seriously

Grievously

severely

Insolently

rudely

Irrevocably

permanently

Maliciously

with intent to harm