Exam vocab 50
Attrition - A gradual reduction in size or numbers.
Example: "The department's size was reduced through natural attrition as employees retired."
Oblivious - Unaware or not noticing.
Example: "He was oblivious to the fact that the meeting had already started."
Circumvent - To avoid or find a way around.
Example: "She tried to circumvent the traffic by taking a different route."
Reticent - Reserved or not revealing one’s thoughts.
Example: "He was reticent about his personal life, keeping details private."
Cohesive - Forming a united whole.
Example: "The team's cohesive efforts led to a successful project."
Robust - Strong and healthy; vigorous.
Example: "The robust economy survived the financial crisis."
Grievous - Causing pain or sorrow; serious.
Example: "The accident caused grievous injuries to the passengers."
Sanction - To authorize or impose a penalty.
Example (authorization): "The council sanctioned the new park project."
Example (penalty): "The government imposed sanctions on trade with the country."
Inundate - To overwhelm or flood.
Example: "After the promotion, the store was inundated with orders."
Vociferous - Loud and forceful in expressing opinions.
Example: "The protesters were vociferous in their demands for reform."
Bolster - To support or strengthen.
Example: "Her encouragement bolstered his confidence before the interview."
Relegate - To assign to a lower rank or position.
Example: "The team was relegated to a lower division after the season."
Depreciate - To decrease in value.
Example: "Cars depreciate quickly once they are driven off the lot."
Replete - Filled or well-supplied.
Example: "The book is replete with illustrations and photos."
Indiscriminate - Random or lacking in selectivity.
Example: "The indiscriminate firing caused widespread fear."
Sedentary - Involving little physical activity.
Example: "His sedentary job led to health issues over time."
Inquisitive - Curious or eager to learn.
Example: "The inquisitive child asked questions about everything she saw."
Tenet - A principle or belief.
Example: "Equality is a core tenet of her philosophy."
Nebulous - Vague or unclear.
Example: "His future plans were still nebulous and undecided."
Terse - Brief and to the point, often to the point of rudeness.
Example: "She replied with a terse ‘Yes.’”
Clandestine - Done secretly or kept hidden.
Example: "They held a clandestine meeting to discuss the plan."
Indigenous - Native or originating in a specific place.
Example: "Corn is indigenous to the Americas."
Contingency - A possible event or emergency plan.
Example: "The company created a contingency plan for natural disasters."
Liability - A disadvantage or legal responsibility.
Example: "His lack of experience was a liability in the job market."
Egocentric - Self-centered or focused on oneself.
Example: "Her egocentric attitude made it hard to connect with others."
Prolific - Producing many or much; highly productive.
Example: "The prolific author published three novels in one year."
Exonerate - To clear from blame or guilt.
Example: "The DNA evidence exonerated the suspect."
Reinstate - To restore to a former position or condition.
Example: "The worker was reinstated after the investigation cleared his name."
Incongruous - Out of place; not fitting.
Example: "His casual outfit looked incongruous at the formal event."
Superfluous - Unnecessary or excessive.
Example: "The report contained superfluous details that could be removed."
Austere - Severe or strict; plain or simple.
Example: "The monk’s room was austere, with no decoration."
Metamorphosis - A transformation or dramatic change.
Example: "The caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly is fascinating."
Esoteric - Understood by a select few with specialized knowledge.
Example: "The lecture covered esoteric topics that confused many attendees."
Notorious - Famous for something negative.
Example: "The mob boss was notorious for his criminal activities."
Facsimile - An exact copy or reproduction.
Example: "The museum displayed a facsimile of the ancient manuscript."
Perfunctory - Done with minimal effort or interest.
Example: "She gave a perfunctory nod before leaving the room."
Grotesque - Distorted or unnatural in appearance.
Example: "The painting depicted a grotesque figure that startled viewers."
Provocative - Causing a strong reaction or thought.
Example: "The provocative article sparked debates."
Mesmerize - To captivate or hypnotize.
Example: "The magician’s performance mesmerized the audience."
Travesty - A distorted or false representation.
Example: "The unfair trial was a travesty of justice."
Connoisseur - An expert in matters of taste, especially in art or food.
Example: "She was a connoisseur of fine wines and knew all the varieties."
Lucid - Clear or easy to understand.
Example: "Her explanation of the concept was lucid and helped everyone."
Conspiracy - A secret plan by a group to do something harmful or unlawful.
Example: "The authorities uncovered a conspiracy to overthrow the government."
Plight - A difficult or unfortunate situation.
Example: "The plight of the refugees gained worldwide attention."
Contrite - Feeling or showing remorse.
Example: "He was contrite and apologized for his mistakes."
Superficially - On the surface or shallowly.
Example: "The article discussed the issue only superficially."
Distraught - Deeply upset or agitated.
Example: "She was distraught after receiving the terrible news."
Symmetrical - Balanced or having equal parts.
Example: "The design was perfectly symmetrical and pleasing to the eye."
Germane - Relevant or related to the topic.
Example: "Her comments were germane to the discussion."
Verbose - Using more words than necessary; wordy.
Example: "His writing was verbose and needed editing."