Test your basic knowledge |

Challenging Words

Subjects : english, vocabulary
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Turmoil/disorder






2. A ghost of a living person seen just before his or her death - apparition - bogeyman - phantasm






3. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






4. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






5. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






6. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






7. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






8. Bourgeois/ vulgarian/ boor/ materialistic not appreciating artistic or intellectual value






9. To overwhelm - to cover with water - to deluge - submerge..etc






10. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






11. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






12. Tending to be thrifty or cheap - prudence - sparing - parsimony






13. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






14. To polish






15. A woman making a debut in high society/lady






16. Suffused with light: luminous - clear to the understanding: intelligible - sane. Ex - His ... history of this grim subject is scrupulously accurate - so far as I am able to judge ...






17. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






18. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






19. Courageous; brave; valiant; valorous - audacious - intrepid






20. Uncompromising - refusing to reconcile - obstinate - stubborn - intractable






21. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






22. Suggest - propose an explanation






23. Truthfulness






24. Abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will.. opposite of euphemism possibly






25. Rebellion - mutiny






26. Beliefs or character of a group - ethics - philosophy






27. Brilliant/glowing






28. Bucolic - rural






29. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






30. An orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience - false leader






31. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






32. Funeral bell/ omen of death






33. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






34. Consistent/uniform in composition/ opposite of heterogeneous






35. Humble oneself in a demeaning way - cringe - fawn - toady - kowtow - bootlick






36. No variation; tediously the same in sound






37. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






38. Fearless - intrepid - venturesome - valiant - valorous - game - gallant - plucky






39. Elaborated to excess: overdone - extremely excited: agitated - hectic - frenzied - heated Ex - She became ... when she heard that her child was missing






40. Assuage - relieve - to make more bearable - placate






41. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






42. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






43. Earthbound - commonplace - down-to-earth - tellurian - quotidian






44. Credulous/ easily deceived/ simple minded/ingenuous/gullible






45. A compact or close knit body of people or animals or things - legion






46. Commute/replace/superceded






47. Fluctuate between choices - to dither - vacillate - oscillate






48. Tolerant - broad-minded






49. Influence or domination over






50. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet