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






2. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






3. Old/antique/bygone/stale






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






5. Submission to another's will; respect; courtesy






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






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






8. Flamboyant/verve/dash






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






10. Long harsh speech or verbal attack - diatribe - fulmination - harangue - vilification - obloquy






11. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






12. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






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






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






15. To add ornamental or fictitious details - adorn - bedeck - elaborate






16. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






17. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






18. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






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






20. To act confusedly or without a purpose - waver - falter - hesitate - vacillate






21. An investigation or inquiry






22. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






23. No variation; tediously the same in sound






24. Self-evident truth - adage - maxim - apothegm






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






26. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






27. Deep hole






28. Caution/thrift/widom






29. To judge a dispute - adjudge - adjudicate - intervene - referee - rule






30. Funeral bell/ omen of death






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






32. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






33. Sluggish/listless/apathetic






34. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






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






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






37. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






38. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






39. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






40. To polish






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






42. Book - usually large and academic






43. Peripheral - irrelevant - digressive - extraneous diverting - inconsequential






44. Not apparent/dormant/quiescent/inert like hidden energy






45. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






46. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






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






48. Brilliant/glowing






49. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






50. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable