Membean Level 2

Level 2 High School

abrasive

It disturbs the hearer because it's sharp and harsh. Someone who has an ____ manner is unkind and rude, wearing away at you in an irritating fashion.

abstinence

Denying oneself a practice or substance. ___ is the practice of keeping away from or avoiding something you enjoy, such as the physical pleasures of too much food and drink, usually for health or religious reasons.

accentuate

Draw attention to it by emphasizing a particular trait. To ___ something means to emphasize it or to make it more noticeable.

accolade

It is public esteem or honoring of another. When you give another an ____ you show her great praise because you highly approve of or respect something that she has done.

acme

The highest measurement of its existence or action. The ___ of something is its highest point of achievement or excellence.
Synonym: highest point

adage

An ancient proverb. An ___ is an inherited saying or phrase that has been historically used to express a common experience; a proverb.

adept

He is skilled and precise at it. When you are __ at something, you are very good, skillful, or talented at it.
Synonym: very able

adherent

A devoted follower of a cause. An ___ is a supporter or follower of a leader or a cause.
Synonym: supporter

adjunct

They are included within a larger whole. An __ is something or someone that is added to or joined to something that is larger or more important.

admonish

To voice a warning or caution. When you ___ someone you tell him gently but with seriousness that he has done something wrong, thereby cautioning him and advising him not to do it again.
Synonym: warn

adulterate

To combine it with lesser elements.If you ____ something you lessen its quality by adding inferior ingredients or elements to it.
Synonym: make impure

advocate

To speak on behalf of its occurrence. When you ___ a plan or action you publicly push for implementing it.
Synonym: support

affinity

It is an overall attraction to something or someone. When you have an ___ for something, you have a natural liking for or connection to it.

affluence

A lifestyle including great wealth. ___ is the state of having a lot of money and many possessions, granting one a high standard of living.
Synonym: wealth

aggregate

A final sum or total reached by combining different portions or amounts.An aggregate is the final or sum total after many different amounts or scores have been added together.
Synonym: collection

alleviate

To lessen its intensity.If you alleviate pain or suffering, you make it less intense or severe.
Synonym: relieve

aloof

That person acts in a reserved and uninterested fashion towards others.When you act in an aloof fashion towards others, you purposely do not participate in activities with them, but remain distant and detached.
Synonym: uninvolved

amass

It means to build them up or assemble them.When you amass things, you gather them together or accumulate them.
Synonym: gather

amenable

She accepts an event or task with calm.If you are amenable to doing something you willingly accept it without arguing.
Synonym: willing

amenity

Services and facilities that make a dwelling more liveable. Amenities are things that make a place comfortable or easy to live in, such as hot water, bathrooms, and sports facilities.
Synonym: pleasant items

amicable

It is peaceable with no anger or hard feelings. An ____ person is very friendly and agreeable towards others.
Synonym: friendly

amnesty

It entails a release from consequences for political criminal activity.The granting of an amnesty is forgiveness by a government for criminal political offenses.
Synonym: pardon

amorphous

Its shape is blurry, its edges hard to define.Something that is amorphous has no clear shape, boundaries, or structure.
Synonym: shapeless

anarchy

A state of __ occurs when there is no organization or order, especially when no effective government exists.

anoint

To place sacred oil upon him or her as part of a ceremony. If you anoint someone you put oil on a part of his body, usually as part of a religious ceremony.To anoint someone is to appoint that person to an important job.
Synonym: bless with oil

antagonist

One who is a rival or competitor against another.Your antagonist is an opponent in a competition or battle.
Synonym: opponent

antiquated

It is considered too old and less than useful.If you describe something as antiquated you are critical of it because it is old

apathy

A complete lack of interest.Apathy is the lack of interest or unenthusiastic involvement in an activity where one makes no effort to change or improve it at all.
Synonym: not caring

apex

The highest point of something.The apex of anything, such as an organization or system, is its highest part or most important position.
Synonym: top

appease

That person is offered terms of peace to soothe him.When you appease someone's needs, you either satisfy them or make peace with them.
Synonym: pacify

apportion

To decide how much is given out and to whom.When you apportion something such as blame or money you decide how it should be shared amongst various people.
Synonym: divide

appraisal

It is an estimation of the value of something. When someone offers an _____ of something or someone, one indicates either the value of it or the worth of what a person has accomplished.
Synonym: judgement

arbiter

She is able to act as a go

archaic

When it is no longer considered relevant and with the times. Something that is archaic is out of date or not currently used any more because it is no longer considered useful or efficient.Something archaic can also be something ancient, referring to a primitive or earlier period of time.
Synonym: old

articulate

TThe person speaks clearly and well.If you describe someone as articulate you mean that she is able to express her thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectively.
Synonym: speaking clearly

assimilate

To get used to a new place or group. When you assimilate an idea you completely understand it and can use it.When a group of people such as immigrants are assimilated into a country or group they become part of it and are accepted by the people in it.
Synonym: absorb

astute

They think that you understand situations quickly and are a sharp observer.When you describe someone as astute you think she quickly understands situations or behavior and uses it to her advantage.
Synonym: perceptive

atrocious

It is very bad or monstrous.An atrocious deed is outrageously bad, extremely evil, or shocking in its wrongness.
Synonym: evil

austere

It is simple and without luxury, possibly too severe. If you describe something as austere you might approve of its simple and plain style.If you describe someone as austere you might disapprove of him because he is strict and severe.
Synonym: strict

autonomous

It works in a self

avarice

The extreme desire to gather wealth and possessions.Avarice is the extremely strong desire to have a lot of money and possessions.
Synonym: extreme greed

aversion

It is an extreme dislike of it.. An aversion to something is a strong dislike for or forceful opposition to it.
Synonym: strong dislike

banter

A humorous exchange between friends.Banter is friendly conversation in which people make friendly jokes and laugh at each other.
Synonym: friendly teasing

barrage

It is a steady stream of something.A barrage of something, such as words or gunfire, is an attacking stream that bursts steadily upon you.
Synonym: assault

belittle

You make it seem of small importance.When you belittle something, such as an accomplishment, you make it seem little, of small importance, or insignificant.
Synonym: diminish

bequeath

One leaves it to another after one has left this life.When you bequeath something to someone, you hand it down to her in a will, or pass it on from one generation to the next.
Synonym: leave

bereaved

That person has recently lost a loved one.A bereaved person is someone whose close friend or relative has recently died.
Synonym: deprived

besiege

It means to bother her or come at her from all sides.When a city is besieged, it is surrounded by enemy forces.When a person is besieged, she is excessively bothered or overwhelmed by questions or the like.
Synonym: surround

bigotry

The voicing of immovable, negative opinions.Bigotry is the expression of strong and unreasonable opinions without accepting or tolerating opposing views.
Synonym: intolerance

blight

Something that ruins or destroys.Something is a blight if it spoils or damages things severely; blight is often used to describe something that ruins or kills crops.
Synonym: disease

bolster

To provide support.When you bolster something or someone you offer support in a moment of need.
Synonym: help

boon

It is an advantage or benefit granted to someone.When you are granted a boon, you are given a special gift or favor that acts as a great benefit to you.
Synonym: bonus

buttress

To reinforce and strengthen it.When you buttress an argument, idea, or even a building, you make it stronger by providing support.
Synonym: support

cadence

A sound pattern.A cadence is a repeated pattern of movement or sound, such as the way someone's voice rises and falls when reading something out loud.
Synonym: rhythm

caliber

The value or worthiness of someone's achievement.The caliber of a person is the level or quality of her ability, intelligence, and other talents.
Synonym: degree of worth

callous

That person speaks or acts in an insensitive and hardened way.A callous person or attitude is cruel, uncaring, and shows no concern for others whatsoever.
Synonym: uncaring

captivate

She has been charmed or gripped by it. When you are ___d by someone or something you are enchanted, fascinated, or delighted by him, her, or it.

caricature

AA comical drawing that exaggerates the subject's physical traits.A caricature of someone is an exaggerated drawing or description that is designed to make that person look silly; a caricature can also be an exaggerated description of a situation or event.
Synonym: comic distortion

catalyst

It is something that spurs on activity.A catalyst is an agent that enacts change, such as speeding up a chemical reaction or causing an event to occur.
Synonym: stimulus

centenary

It endures for one century.A centenary period has lasted one

chronic

When it causes ever

circumvent

To avoid or go around it.If you circumvent something, such as a rule or restriction, you try to get around it in a clever and perhaps dishonest way.
Synonym: avoid

clique

A group of people who stay together but exclude and often insult others.A clique is a group of people who spend a lot of time together and tend to be unfriendly towards people who are not part of their group.
Synonym: innner circle

cognitive

Those abilities having to do with the intellect or ability to think. ___ describes those things related to judgment, memory, and other mental processes of knowing.
Synonym: intellectual

cohesive

It is one that sticks together in a tight structure.. A cohesive argument is one that sticks together, working as a consistent, unified whole.
Synonym: unified

commendation

It is approval and credit from another for work well done.A commendation is a giving of praise to another who has won approval for excellent work.
Synonym: honor

complacent

To be self

complement

It finishes or rounds something off in order to make it the best it can be.. A complement to something else is that which finishes it or brings it into a fuller state.
Synonym: companion

compliant

She readily does what she is asked to do with no questions asked.A compliant person is readily willing to do that which is asked of him.
Synonym: obedient

compulsion

It is a pressure or urge to do something.If you feel a compulsion to do something, you feel like you must do it.
Synonym: force

condescend

To do something which shows your superiority.When people condescend they behave in ways that show that they are supposedly more important or intelligent than other people.
Synonym: stoop

condone

To allow despite some hesitation.If you condone someone's behavior you go along with it and provide silent support for it despite doubts about it.
Synonym: forgive

conducive

It contributes toward it in a useful way. A ___ agent is something that is favorable or helpful in getting something to happen.
Synonym: helpful

confidant

He is a person close to you with whom you can speak freely.A confidant is a close and trusted friend to whom you can tell secret matters of importance and rest assured that they will be kept safe.
Synonym: trusted person

confound

To be rattled, baffled, or dumbfoundedIf something confounds you, it makes you feel surprised and confused, often because it does not meet your predefined expectations.
Synonym: confuse

congenial

One that is enjoyable and compatible.A congenial person, place, or environment is pleasant, friendly, and enjoyable.
Synonym: friendly

conjure

You try to call upon it. When you try to ____ up images of the past you call upon them or summon them in your mind by imagining them.
Synonym: summon

connoisseur

One who is a talented authority and judge of the arts.A connoisseur is someone who is an appreciative, informed, and knowledgeable judge of the fine arts; he or she can also just have excellent or perceptive taste in the fine arts without being an expert.
Synonym: authority

contemptible

It is unworthy, wretched, and mean. A ____ act is shameful, disgraceful, and worthy of scorn.
Synonym: shameful

contentious

When that person is bad

contingent

When it cannot happen without it. If something is contingent upon something else, the first thing depends on the second in order to happen or exist.Contingent plans are possible and probably will occur, but not with absolute certainty.
Synonym: dependent

contrived

It is unnatural or false.When something is contrived it is obviously thought about or planned beforehand, although it tries to be passed off as not being so.
Synonym: unnatural

copious

When there is a great deal of it.A copious amount of something is a very large amount of it.
Synonym: abundant

correlate

It corresponds with it.When you correlate two things you compare, associate, or equate them together in some way.
Synonym: relate

corrugated

It is rough and filled with many parallel creases.Something that is corrugated has parallel ridges, troughs, or grooves in it.
Synonym: ribbed

cosmopolitan

It exhibits qualities and characteristics from around the globe.A cosmopolitan area represents large cultural diversity and people from around the globe; a cosmopolitan person is broad

covert

Something that is veiled and cloaked.Covert activities or situations are secret and hidden.
Synonym: hidden

crescendo

AAn increase in volume and/or intensity.If something is reaching a crescendo it means that it is getting louder and louder or increasing in intensity and is about to reach its peak strength.
Synonym: increasing

culinary

It is the ability to cook food well.One who has high culinary skills is able to cook food very well.
Synonym: of cooking

curtail

To trim or decrease it.If you curtail something you reduce or limit it.
Synonym: cut short

deadlock

It has reached a point where it can go no further.When a contest is in a deadlock, the contestants have come to a complete stop because the score of the game is completely tied.
Synonym: standstill

decadent

To cultivate pleasure in excess. A decadent person has low moral standards and is more interested in pleasure than serious matters.
Synonym: corrupt

decimate

To largely ruin and finish it off. If you decimate something you destroy a large part of it, reducing its size and effectiveness greatly.
Synonym: destroy

definitive

It is one that is of the highest authority and therefore cannot be questioned.A definitive opinion on an issue cannot be challenged, and therefore is the final word or the most authoritative pronouncement on that issue.
Synonym: final

defunct

It is no longer operable.Something that is defunct is no longer in existence, or does not function.
Synonym: gone

deluge

An enormous drenching downpour.A deluge is a sudden, heavy downfall of rain; a deluge can also be a large number of things such as papers or e

demarcation

It is a clear limit between one thing and another. ____ is the process of setting boundaries or limits; a ____ is a line that provides a distinct separation between two things.
Synonym: boundary

demented

He is unbalanced in his mind, like a lunatic.A demented person is not in his right mind, so he is crazy, insane, and highly irrational.
Synonym: crazy

demise

It is his death.A demise can be the death of someone or the slow end of something.
Synonym: downfall

demographic

It details a specific part of a human population. A _____ study describes the characteristics of part of a population which is usually used for purposes of marketing.
Synonym: statistic