English Vocab Upgrade
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222 Terms
quixotic (adj.)
having or showing ideas that are different and unusual but not practical or likely to succeed.
Example of usage: That outcome would have a much better chance of securing Palestinian rights than a _________ effort to delegitimize Israel and force it to abandon its Zionist identity.
rankle (v.)
(of a comment or fact) cause continuing annoyance or resentment.
Example of usage: His fearless reporting on the war was widely respected and ______d military leaders.
dearth (n.)
a scarcity or lack of something.
"there is a ________ of evidence"
listicle (n.)
an article written in list format. Each list item will typically include a few sentences or multiple paragraphs to educate or delight readers.
esoteric (adj.)
intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
Example of usage: Metaphysics is such an ________ subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers
brogue (n.)
a style of low-heeled shoe or boot traditionally characterised by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations and serration along the pieces' visible edges
ad hominem (adj. & adv.)
type of argument or attack that appeals to prejudice or feelings or irrelevantly impugns another person’s character instead of addressing the facts or claims made by the latter.
Example of usage: "The debate no longer focused upon national issues once one candidate began to resort to __ _______ attacks of the other."
harangue (v.)
to speak to someone or a group of people, often for a long time, in a forceful and sometimes angry way, especially to persuade them:
Example of usage: A drunk in the station was ___________ passers-by.
sycophantic (adj.)
(of a person or of behaviour) praising people in authority in a way that is not sincere, usually in order to get some advantage from them
Example of usage: Striking the right balance here will be challenging — taking customization to the extreme would risk enabling malicious uses of our technology and ____________ AIs that mindlessly amplify people’s existing beliefs.
prescient (adj.)
knowing or suggesting correctly what will happen in the future.
Example of usage: His ridiculed forecasts for a return to growth this year have proved surprisingly ______________.
obduracy (n.)
the quality of refusing to change your mind, or of being difficult to deal with or change.
Example of usage: The __________ of the police in failing to take the complaint seriously is deeply troubling.
seething (adj.)
constant agitation, especially through anger. For example, "________ with anger" means someone is furious but keeping it a secret. They might explode into a rage if something sets them off.
disrepute (n.)
the state of being held in low esteem by the public.
Example of usage: The judge's behaviour, he said, had brought the law profession into ____________.
dereliction (n.)
a noun that means the act of abandoning something, or the state of being abandoned. For example, ____________ of personal property is when someone abandons their property, making it open to potential salvors. ____________ can also refer to intentional or conscious neglect, such as delinquency. In law, __________ is when someone intentionally or accidentally fails to fulfill an obligation without a valid reason, such as obligations related to their job. For example, "collectively, their national commitments constitute a ______________ of duty on a global scale".
mea culpa (n.)
used to acknowledge a mistake or accept responsibility for a situation.
Examples of usage: "The governor's _____ ______ in response to the financial aid scandal seemed insincere".
"The mayor's public _____ ____ for his involvement in the scandal didn't satisfy his critics".
Examples of usage: Looking closely, I could see a _____ of color in her red skirt.
He watched her face intently to catch every _______ of expression.
Her singing has both warmth of sound and delicacy of __________.
You need to be able to convey the subtle ______ of meaning of each word.
impetuous (adj.)
likely to act quickly and suddenly without thinking or being careful; rash; impulsive
Examples of usage: The governor may now be regretting her _________ promise to reduce unemployment by half.
I know that sometimes we all make ________ speeches when we are perhaps fired with enthusiasm.
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Example of usage: They committed the robbery with complete _________.
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Examples of usage: He received the news of his mother's death with remarkable __________.
Three years after the tragedy she has only just begun to regain her __________.
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Example of usage: “they ______________ under stress”
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Examples of usage: “she was extremely _______ about her personal affairs“
He was extremely _______ about his personal life.
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Examples of usage: The unexpected results of the test have created a ________ for researchers.
I'm in a ________ about whether I should try to repair my stereo or buy a new one, even though I don't have the money to do either.
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Example: "her mother's sudden gush of fury and _______"
Example of usage: "the porter left with a _____ expression"
Used in a sentence: "the verdict raised a ____ over the role of courtroom psychiatry"
Example of usage: "matters were held in _____ pending further enquiries"
Example of usage: As he arrived at the court, he was surrounded by ______ fans.
Example of usage: "he ____ the government for censorship"
In Medicine: damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).
Example of usage: "the discharge is acrid and ____ the skin of the nose"
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Example of usage: the _______ of the police in handling the situation
"he's an __________ liar"
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bonhomie (n.)
good-natured easy friendliness
Example of usage: an undying _________ radiated from her
Example of usage: The fog was yellow and ______ and bit at the back of the throat.
Examples: 1. Policy makers need to take into consideration behavioural responses to changes in the cost of disease, and implement strategies that are ______ and longsighted.
2. The _____ treatment prescribed by my doctor includes herbs and vitamins that will improve the overall functioning of my body.
although
Examples: 1. It was an interesting conversation, __________ one-way.
2. Once again, we abided by his wishes, ________ reluctantly.
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Example of usage: Too much caffeine can cause heart ______________.
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Examples of usage: When her mother died, she found ____________ in her religious beliefs.
When she lost her job, her only ___________ was that she had some savings in the bank.
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having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality.
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Examples of usage: Only a few ________ tables and chairs remained by the time we got to the auction.
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“_______ language can’t convey the experience”
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Example of usage:
* *She was __________ to his charms.*
Example of usage: He drinks like the _________ fish.
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\[not usually before noun\] well known and talked about by a lot of people.
Example of usage: Their hospitality is _________.
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Example of usage: Because Cory is the boss's son, he thinks he can stick his _________ nose into everybody's business without fear of consequences.
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Example of usage: They were now faced with seemingly __________ technical problems.
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Examples of usage: These claims are absolutely _____!
It’s ______ to suggest that everything was her fault!
The whole idea sounds quite _______!
*Example of usage: The arrival of the fresh medical supplies was a welcome sight for the __________ doctors working in the refugee camps.*
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**surrounded by an army:**
*Example of usage: The occupants of the _____ city had no means of escape.*
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Examples of usage: When such actions and policies *_____* the decisions of others and limit liberty without a sound evidentiary base, significant ethical boundaries are crossed.
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The size of his plantation increased from 200 to 3,000 acres, in particular by _______ the property of local people.
Example of usage: "_____ attacks on the politicians"
Example of usage: "_____ abuses of copyright"
epoch (n.)
a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics.
Example of usage: In doing so, Miguel is trying to build an identity for what is clearly a new _______ in his life.
modicum
a moderate or small amount
Example of usage: "Just five pretty expertly-styled boys with a ________ of talent."
ubiquitous (adj.)
present or existing everywhere
Example of usage: Sugar is ____________ in the diet.
idyllic (adj.)
pleasing or picturesque in natural simplicity.
Example of usage: an ___________ setting for a summer romance
harrowing (adj.)
extremely distressing; disturbing or frightening
Example of usage: "It will seem crazy and oftentimes ________ at first, but it slows down, and you find your head coach voice pretty quickly".
reprehensible
If you think that a type of behaviour or an idea is very bad and morally wrong, you can say that it is _______________.
Examples of usage: Mr Cramer said the violence by anti-government protestors was _____________.
arbitrary (adj.)
unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness
Example of usage: They disciplined and discharged employees as they saw fit, with employees enjoying few protections from _____ and capricious treatment.
dicker (n.)
to bargain; to argue over prices.
Example of usage: they ______ed over the price of the car for a few minutes
Note 
Flashcards (25)