PowerScore Repeat Offenders Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms from the PowerScore Repeat Offenders list.

abstract

to draw or take away

acquire

to come into possession of

adversary

an opponent or enemy

advocate

to argue in favor of

aesthetic

relating to beauty

allege

to declare without proof

alleviate

to provide relief; to make easier

allude

to make an indirect reference to

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

amiable

friendly

analogous

corresponding; similar

anecdote

a short account of an amusing incident

antagonize

to provoke or display hostility

anthropology

the study of the origins, behavior, and culture of human beings

archaeology

the study of prehistoric people and their cultures

arrogant

having feelings of excessive pride and self-worth

articulate

clearly pronounced; well-spoken

ascertain

to make certain

aspiration

a desire to succeed

assert

to state confidently

assume

to accept as true without proof

astute

intelligent and clever

augment

to enlarge or increase

autonomy

independence

avid

enthusiastic

belie

to misrepresent

benevolent

charitable; kind

bewilder

to puzzle

bolster

to support and strengthen

callous

insensitive; emotionally hardened

camaraderie

friendship

candid

open and straightforward

cantankerous

ill-tempered and unwilling to cooperate

capricious

apt to change suddenly

censure

strong disapproval

coherent

clear and logical

collaborate

to work together

commend

to praise

complacent

contented to a fault with oneself or one’s actions

conciliate

to win over; to make peace

concise

expressing much in few words

condemn

to express strong disapproval of

condescend

to behave as if lowering oneself to an inferior level

condone

to excuse, overlook, or make allowances for

constrain

to hold back

contempt

scorn or open disrespect

conventional

following accepted customs and behaviors

convoluted

complicated

corroborate

to confirm or support with evidence

cunning

deceptive and sly

cynical

distrusting and pessimistic

dearth

a lack in supply

debunk

to prove untrue

decry

to express strong disapproval of

deject

to lower someone’s spirits; make downhearted

denounce

to openly speak out against

depict

to represent or show

deride

to ridicule

differentiate

to mark as different

digress

to wander away from the main subject

diligent

detailed and persistent

diminish

to decrease in size, extent, or range

discern

to perceive or understand with sight or other senses

disclose

to reveal or uncover

disdain

a lack of respect accompanied by intense dislike

disillusion

to free from false beliefs

disingenuous

insincere

disparage

to belittle or criticize

disparate

different and distinct

dispute

to question the truth of

dogmatic

characterized by assertion of unproved principles

dubious

doubtful; questionable

eccentric

peculiar; odd

elicit

to call or bring out

elite

selected as the best

eloquent

expressing oneself powerfully and effectively

elucidate

to make clear by explanation

embellish

to make better by adding details

empathy

the understanding of another’s feelings

emphatic

expressed with emphasis

emulate

to imitate in order to match or excel

endure

to continue despite difficulty

epitome

a perfect example

equivocal

uncertain; open to multiple interpretations

eradicate

to destroy

erroneous

mistaken; containing error

evoke

to call forth emotions or responses

exacerbate

to increase the harshness or bitterness of

exasperate

to intensely irritate

exemplary

serving as a worthy example

explicit

clearly expressed or demonstrated

exploit

to use for one’s own advantage

extol

to praise highly

flagrant

shockingly obvious

foster

to encourage or care for

frugal

characterized by avoidance of excessive spending

fundamental

essential; basic

futile

useless; unproductive

generalization

an opinion formed from only a few facts