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






2. Lacking energy or enthusiasm - lethargic - indolent - languid - like ready in spanish






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






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






5. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






6. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






7. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






8. Set fire/excite






9. Theft of property






10. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






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






12. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






13. Rebellion - mutiny






14. Absolute - certain - explicit - categorical






15. 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 ...






16. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






17. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






18. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






19. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






20. Growing in number quickly/spawn






21. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






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






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






24. Finely sensitive to feelings or in perception. Ex - ... of the danger posed by the approaching hurricane






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






26. Cooperation - mutual helpfulness - interdependence






27. Speech in praise of someone - laud - extol - commend






28. Not controlled by conscience; unscrupulous






29. Consistent/uniform in composition/ opposite of heterogeneous






30. The highest point (of something) - zenith - pinnacle






31. Bucolic - rural






32. Unsettled - swaying - fluctuate - vacillate - wandering from one place to another - waver






33. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






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






35. Tolerant - broad-minded






36. Truthfulness






37. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






38. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






39. An investigation or inquiry






40. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






41. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






42. An expert in matters of culture - food - or wine






43. Frolicsome/ playful






44. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






45. Extremely careful; particular about details - scrupulous - picky - finicky - similar to articulate






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






47. Effective writing or speaking






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






49. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






50. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious