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. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






2. High secluded place - a nest built high in the air; an elevated - often secluded - dwelling






3. Book - usually large and academic






4. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






5. Know or understood by only a few - abstruse - arcane






6. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






7. To anger - to provoke - incite - vex - or pester






8. To disavow/reject validity of/deny/disown






9. Nonsensical talk - specialized language - argot - cant - slang






10. Tolerant - broad-minded






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






12. A song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person






13. Fresh and clean; uncorrupted ex - A ... beach






14. Sluggish/listless/apathetic






15. Relaxation - tranquility






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






17. No variation; tediously the same in sound






18. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






19. To please someone so as to gain an advantage. Ex - ... themselves with the leaders.






20. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






21. To calm down or moderate - to temperate - quench - satisfy






22. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






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






24. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






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






26. Point of culmination/ pinnacle/ acme






27. Mark of disgrace






28. A gradual increase or the peak of a gradual increase. Ex - complaints about stifling smog conditions reached a ...






29. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






30. Clever - deceptive






31. Stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising - adamant - intransigent - intractable






32. Sharp and irritating to the senses - acrid - acrimonious - piquant - caustic - poignant






33. Something bringing change to something else indirectly - impetus - goad - stimulant






34. Temporary; lasting a brief time






35. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






36. Extremely generous or extravagant - exuberant - opulent - prodigal - profuse - bombastic






37. Perceptive/sharp






38. Sociable; fond of the company of others






39. Pertaining to beauty






40. To injure or destroy the surface or appearance of; to damage the value - influence - or effect of; to face down - outshine






41. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






42. Commute/replace/superceded






43. Growing in number quickly/spawn






44. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






45. Easily deceived - credulous - naiive - ingenguous






46. Flamboyant/verve/dash






47. To polish






48. Old/antique/bygone/stale






49. Innocent - simple - frank - sincere - naiive - credulous - gullible






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