English Vocab (February 24) Quiz

Next 40 words from Censorship to Expeditious

Censorship

1. Act of banning/examining unacceptable parts of a book, film, etc.

2. Threat to Security

Charlatan

a person who falsely claims to have a particular skill (a fraud)

Circumlocution

A way of saying something which uses more words than are necessary

Circumspect

Unwilling to take risks (cautious/prudent)

Circumvent

Find a way of avoiding a problem, obstacle, etc. (prevent)

Clique

A small group of people who spend time together and do not allow others to join them (exclusive)

Coalition

A temporary alliance, especially one enabling political parties to form a government

Coercion

Persuading an unwilling person to do something by force or threat

Collusion

secret cooperation in order to deceive (secret agreement to do something illegal)

Complacency

To satisfy yourself of your achievements in a smug or uncritical way (don’t think you need to change anything)

Conciliatory

1. Make calm and together

2. Trying to bring the sides in a dispute together

Condescend

1. Behave as if you are better than others (attitude of superiority)

2. Do something that you regard as being below your dignity

Congenial

1. Pleasant because of qualities or interests similar to your own/Suited to your taste

2. Easy to get along with

   (Opposite of hostile)

Connoisseur

An expert in matters involving the judgement of beauty, quality, or skill. (typically art/food)

Consensus

General agreement

Contentious

1. Causing disagreement

2. Tending to cause arguments

   (Controversial)

Credible

Able to be believed; convincing

Credulous

Too ready to believe things (gullible)

Culmination

Act of reaching a climax or point of highest developments (achievements)

Cynic

1. A person who believes that people always act from selfish motives

2. A person who raises doubts about something

Degenerate

1. Become worse or weaker (to decline physically/mentally/morally)

2. Having very low moral standards

Delusion

A false belief or impression about yourself/external reality

Demagogue

A leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims/promises in order to gain power

Derision

1. The use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt (mockery)

2. The state of being laughed at or ridiculed

Derogatory

Expressive of a low opinion

Discreet

Careful and circumspect in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage

Dissension

Disagreement that leads to discord

Dissident

A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state

Dissuade

persuade someone not to take a particular course of action (advise a person against something)

Duplicity

Contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action (deceitful)

Eccentric

unconventional and slightly strange views (a person who behaves in odd or unusual ways)

Elucidate

make clear; explain

Embellish

Make more attractive by the addition of decorative details or feature

Emulate

Copy/match or surprass/do better, typically by imitation

Encumbrance

A burden or impediment (hindrance)

Enigma

A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling to understand

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant/embarrassing

Exonerate

to relieve of responsibility, obligation, or hardship, clear from accusation (to free someone from guilt)

Exorbitant

Unreasonably high (price/expensive)

Expeditious

done with speed and efficiency