Studied by 3 people
Adroit (Adjective)
skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind
Many rodeo performers are _______ at twirling a rope while on horseback.
Adulterate (verb)
To corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value
Hospitals take strict precautions to assure that nothing _______ the blood supply.
Adversary
an enemy, opponent
A best friend off the tennis court can also be a fierce adversary on it.
Alienate (Verb)
to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey
Gossiping and backstabbing are bad habits that are bound to _____ friends.
Ambidextrous (adjective)
able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful, hypocritical
Occasionally a teacher will come across a child who displays _____abilities when taught to write.
Amicable (Adjective)
peaceable, friendly
Sometimes mediation by a neutral individual can lead to an _______ settlement of a dispute.
Artifice (Noun)
a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery
Even the most renowned art experts were completely taken in by the forger's ______.
Augment (verb)
to make larger, increase
Many couples have to ______ their income in order to pay the mortgage on a new home.
Averse (Adjective)
having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling
You are not likely to become a marathon runner if you are ______to strenuous exercise.
Belligerent (Adjective)
Given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive
I did not expect such a _______ answer to my request for directions.
Benevolent (Adjective)
kindly, charitable
The newcomers had nothing but ________feelings towards all their neighbors.
Bereft (adjective)
deprived of; made unhappy through a loss
Individuals who live to be very old may eventually find themselves completely ______ of family and friends.
Coerce (Verb)
to compel, force
Dictators try to _____ their subjects into obedience by threatening them or their families with punishment.
Craven (Adjective)
cowardly; a coward
Those who urged Great Britain to make peace with Hitler were criticized for their ______ attitude.
Culinary (Adjective)
of or related to cooking or the kitchen
Cooking shows on television have helped many people to master the secrets of the _______arts.
Cursory (Adjective)
hasty, quick, not thorough
The mayor gave a final ______ glance at the text of her speech before mounting the podium.
Demise (Noun)
a death, especially of a person in a lofty position
Traditionally, the tolling of church bells has announced the ______ of a monarch.
Deploy (verb)
to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up
The government ______ troops to foreign countries for battle.
Dour (adjective)
stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored
Old Benjamin in Animal Farm is a character with a _____ disposition.
Duplicity (Noun)
treachery, deceitfulness
We found it difficult to believe that our good friend could be capable of such _______.
Exhilarate (Verb)
to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to
The first landing on the moon, in the summer of 1969, ______ the nation.
Extol (Verb)
to praise extravagantly
Many inspiring stories and plays have been written that ________the heroic deeds of Mythological Gods.
Fallow (Adjective)
plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; land left unseeded; to plow but not seed
After a month without a date, I decided that my social life was definitely in a _______ period. In the drought-stricken region, there were millions of acres of _______.
Feasible (Adjective)
possible, able to be done
Our city needs to develop a _______ plan of action for dealing with storms and other emergencies.
Fortitude (noun)
courage in facing difficulties
The residents of the Mississippi delta showed remarkable _______ during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and businesses.
Gape (verb)
to stare with open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide
First-time visitors to Niagara Falls can be expected to _______ at the spectacular sights nature has provided for them.
Gibe (verb) (noun)
to utter taunting words; an expression of scorn
The recruits rushed into battle so that no one could ______ at them for cowardice. Voters may reject a candidate who resorts to personal ______ instead of discussing the issues.
Grimace (Noun)
A wry face; facial distortion
The _____ of the refugee in the photograph reveals the pain of homelessness.
Guise (noun)
an external appearance, cover, mask
The thieves gained entry to the home by presenting themselves in the ______ of police officers.
Harass (Verb)
To disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks
The judge repeatedly cautioned the prosecuting attorney not to ______ the witness.
Holocaust (Noun)
a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering
Journalists at the time were eager to interview survivors of the Chicago ________.
Impervious (Adjective)
not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance
It is best to store flour in a container with a plastic cover that is ______ to moisture.
Impetus (Noun)
a moving force, impulse, stimulus
The coming of winter gave a new _____ to the appeals for food and clothing for needy families.
Inclement (Adjective)
stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action
During an ____________ New England winter, heavy snowfalls may bring highway traffic to a standstill.
Insidious (Adjective)
intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous
The investigators uncovered an ______ scheme to rob people of their life savings.
Intimation (noun)
a hint, indirect suggestion
They were too proud to give any _____of their financial difficulties.
Jeopardy (Noun)
danger
Experienced hikers know that a single misstep can put their life into serious ________.
Liquidate (Verb)
to pay a debt, settle an account; to eliminate
After a profitable year, the business was able to _______ its loan.
Meticulous (Adjective)
extremely careful; particular about details
If you have a full-time job outside of the home, you may find it difficult to be a _______ housekeeper.
Muse (Verb)
to think about in a dreamy way, ponder
Philosophers have always _______ on the meaning of life.
Negligible (Adjective)
so unimportant that it can be disregarded
After taxes are deducted, a small raise in salary may result in a ______ increase in take-home pay.
Nostalgia (Noun)
a longing for something past; homesickness
Looking at old scrapbooks and reading old letters can bring on a sense of _____ for days gone by and friends no longer near.
Opulent (adjective)
wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose
The tour guide showed us the ______ living quarters of the royal family.
Perpetuate (Verb)
to make permanent or long lasting
In most cultures, people try to _____ the customs of their ancestors.
Pliable (adjective)
easily bent, flexible; easily influenced
A piece of metal is not easily _______.
Precedent (Noun)
an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action
We hope that students at other schools in our city will follow our _______ in volunteer work and charitable contributions.
Punitive (Adjective)
inflicting or aiming at punishment
The general led a ________ expedition against the rebel forces.
Quintessence (Noun)
the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example
Risking one's own life to save the lives of others is considered the ______ of selfless bravery.
Redress (Verb)
to set right, remedy; relief from wrong or injury
An apology can go a long way to _______ the hurt feelings caused by an insensitive comment or a thoughtless act.
Reiterate (verb)
to say again, repeat
Effective speakers often ________ an important statement for emphasis
Retrogress (Verb)
to move backward; to return to an earlier condition
In the novel, the survivors of a nuclear explosion _______ into a state of barbarism and anarchy.
Scrutinize (Verb)
to examine closely
Lawyers are paid to ______ legal papers and explain the fine print to their clients.
Sojourn (Noun)
a temporary stay
No matter how short your _______ in Paris, you must take time to go to the Louvre.
Stolid (adjective)
not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive
___people can generally be expected to take most things in stride.
Tentative (adjective)
experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant
Negotiators have come up with a ______agreement that will keep both sides at the bargaining table past the strike deadline
Tepid (Adjective)
lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest
A cup of _______ tea will not warm you up on a chilly morning.
Unkempt (adjective)
not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude
According to my parents, the latest fashions make me and my friends look ________.
Urbane (Adjective)
refined in manner or style, suave
An _______ host puts guests at ease by appearing totally confident and unruffled no matter what happens.
Verbatim (adjective)
word for word
Newspapers often publish the _____ text of an important political speech.
Warily (adverb)
cautiously, with great care
The hikers made their way ________ up the steep and rocky trail.
Note 
Flashcard (20)