CRAM 1-15 HARD WORDS

adulterate

to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value

bereft

deprived of, made unhappy through a loss

dour

stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

fortitude

courage in facing difficulties

gibe

to utter taunting words; (noun) an expression of scorn

insidious

intended to deceive or entrap, sly, treacherous

intimation

a hint, indirect suggestion

opulent

wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose

pliable

easily bent, flexible, easily influenced

reiterate

to say again, repeat

stolid

not easily moved mentally or emotionally, dull, unresponsive

unkempt

not combed, untidy, not properly maintained, unpolished, rude

verbatim

(adjective, adverb) word for word, exactly as written or spoken

warily

cautiously, with great care

adroit

skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind

averse

having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

belligerent

given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; one at war, one engaged at war

cursory

hasty, not thorough

duplicity

treachery, deceitfulness

extol

to praise extravagantly

impervious

not affected or hurt by, admitting of no passage if entrance

impetus

a moving force, impulse, stimulus

quintessence

the purest essence of something, the most typical example

retrogress

to move backward, to return to an earlier condition

tepid

lukewarm, unenthusiastic, absence of interest

artifice

a skillful or clever device; a clever trick; trickery

craven

cowardly; (n.) a coward

fallow

plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; (n.) land left unseeded; (v.) to plow but not seed

inclement

stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action

punitive

inflicting or aiming at punishment

redress

to set right, remedy; (n.) relief from wrong or injury

sojourn

a temporary stay; a visit (v.) to stay for a time

urbane

refined in manner or style, suave; elegant

ascertain

to find out

bequeath

to give or pass on as an inheritance

cogent

forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point

expunge

to erase, obliterate, destroy

malevolent

spiteful, showing ill will

omniscient

knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding

panacea

a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems

scrupulous

exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled

skulk

to move about stealthily; to lie in hiding

supercilious

proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

venial

easily excused; pardonable

altruistic

adj. unselfish

assent

v. to express agreement

clemency

n. mercy; mildness, moderateness

dearth

n. a lack, scarcity

diffident

adj. shy, lacking self-confidence

facile

adj. easily done or attained; superficial

indomitable

adj. unconquerable, refusing to yield

remiss

adj. neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless

repose

v. to rest, lie

temerity

n. rashness, boldness

truculent

adj. fierce and cruel; aggressive

unfeigned

adj. sincere, real, without pretense

virulent

adj. extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

accede

to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

deft

skillful, nimble

extirpate

to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

inopportune

coming at a bad time; not appropriate

officious

meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

venal

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

abhor

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

commodious

roomy, spacious

corrosive

eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

extant

still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

inter

to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion

martinet

a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

obviate

to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of

reprehensible

deserving blame or punishment

squalid

filthy, wretched, debased

vociferous

loud and noisy; compelling attention

animosity

strong dislike; bitter hostility

consecrate

to make sacred, hallow; to set apart for a special purpose

deride

to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

ingenuous

innocent, simple; frank, sincere

multifarious

having great variety; numerous and diverse

parsimonious

stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small

quandary

a state of perplexity or doubt

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

reprisal

an injury done in return for injury

stultify

to make ineffective or useless, cripple; to have a dulling effect on

ardent

very enthusiastic, impassioned.

assiduous

persistent, attentive, diligent.

capricious

subject to whims or passing fancies.

copious

abundant; plentiful; wordy, verbose.

emaciated

(adj., part.) unnaturally thin.

exult

to rejoice greatly.

indemnity

a payment for damage or loss.

limpid

clear, transparent; readily understood.

rancor

bitter resentment or ill-will.

sophomoric

immature and overconfident; conceited.

acquiesce

to accept without protest; to agree or submit

blithe

cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned

contentious

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

crestfallen

discouraged, dejected, downcast

garrulous

given to much talking, tediously chatty

insuperable

incapable of being overcome

lamentable

to be regretted or pitied