GregMat (Vocab Mt.) - Group 17

impugn

[v.] to challenge or call into question (the truth or honesty of something)

{root word: pugn - to challenge/fight}

synm: dispute, contest

e.g. Are you impugning my competence as a professional designer?

inveterate

[adj.] deep-rooted or long-established

synm: ingrained, entrenched

e.g. He's an inveterate traveler, always exploring new places.

petulant

[adj.] easily irritated or annoyed, especially over minor issues

{mnemonic: pet-u-lent is irritating}

synm: peevish, irascible, cross

e.g. Her petulant behavior made her difficult to work with.

acclaim

1. [v.] to praise enthusiastically and publicly

synm: applaud, commend

e.g. The director was acclaimed for his innovative approach to the film.

2. [n.] enthusiastic approval

synm: approbation

e.g. The young author's debut novel received widespread acclaim.

ascertain

[v.] to find out for certain; make sure of

synm: determine, confirm

e.g. She wanted to ascertain the truth behind the rumor.

assertive

[adj.] confident and direct in expressing their opinions

synm: assured

e.g. An assertive demeanor can help in negotiations.

bogus

[adj.] not genuine (fake) or fradulent (false)

synm: spurious, sham

e.g. The scam involved selling bogus insurance policies.

cataclysmic

[adj.] causing great destruction or upheaval (change)

synm: disastrous, catastrophic, calamitous

e.g. The cataclysmic event reshaped the entire landscape.

circumscribe

[v.] to limit or restrict something

synm: confine, curtail, curb

e.g. The law was designed to circumscribe corporate power.

complementary

[adj.] completing or enhancing when combined with something else

synm: harmonious, compatible

e.g. Red wine and steak are considered complementary.

contentious

[adj.] likely to cause disagreement or argument

synm: controversial

e.g. Gun control is a highly contentious issue in the United States.

disingenuous

[adj.] pretending to be sincere or straightforward; not genuine

synm: deceitful, dishonest

e.g. Her excuse for missing the deadline sounded rather disingenuous.

divulge

[v.] to disclose or reveal information

e.g. The CEO refused to divulge how much she earned.

dogmatic

[adj.] insisting on one's ideas without being open to other's

[origin - pertaining to doctrine]

e.g. He had a dogmatic belief in his theory, despite evidence to the contrary.

fallacious

[adj.] not correct; wrong

synm: spurious, erroneous, flawed

e.g. His argument is based on fallacious reasoning.

foolhardy

[adj.] taking unnecessary risks; foolishly brave or reckless

synm: rash, imprudent, heedless

e.g. It was foolhardy to go swimming in the ocean during a storm.

hinder

[v.] to obstruct or delay progress

synm: hamper, impede, inhibit, thwart

e.g. Lack of funds can hinder the research project.

impair

[v.] to weaken, damage or affect negatively

synm: adulterate, diminish, undermine

e.g. Excessive drinking can impair judgment.

incessant

[adj.] (of something unpleasant) continuing without interruption; unending

synm: constant, perpetual

e.g. The incessant noise from the construction site was annoying.

inclined

[adj.] having a tendency or preference to do something

synm: disposed, tending

e.g. She was inclined to accept the offer.

miserly

[adj.] reluctant to spend or share; greedy

synm: stingy, parsimonious, avaricious

e.g. The miserly old man wouldn't even buy himself a new pair of shoes when the soles were falling off.

patent

[adj.] clear and obvious

synm: plain, self-evident, apparent, manifest

e.g. It's a patent fact that smoking is harmful.

pithy

[adj.] expressed in brief and meaningful manner

synm: concise, succinct, trenchant, terse

e.g. "a pithy remark/ a pithy comment/ a pithy quote"

"This too shall pass" is a pithy quote.

pliant

[adj.] flexible or easily influenced

synm: elastic, malleable

e.g. He was too pliant to the company's demands.

sanctimonious

[adj.] acting as if morally superior than others

[mnemonic: acting like sant-munis (sanctimonious)]

synm: self-righteous

e.g. “Look at me — I know something you don’t know,” people will see you as sanctimonious.

sound

[adj.] based on reason, sense, or judgment

e.g. His decision was sound given the circumstances.

tarnish

[v.] to compromise, damage, or sully

synm: taint, stain, spoil

e.g. The mayor's reputation was tarnished by the allegations of corruption.

tepid

[adj.] showing little enthusiasm; lukewarm

{Hint: tea+dip - dipping your fingers in lukewarm tea}

synm: apathy, halfhearted

e.g. The critic's tepid review of the new restaurant left the owner feeling discouraged.

upbraid

[v.] to criticize or scold severely

synm: reprimand, rebuke, admonish

e.g. The teacher upbraided the students for their disruptive behavior in class.

vexation

[n.] the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried

synm: exasperation, annoyance

e.g. The delays caused much vexation among the passengers.