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






2. To perceive or recognize






3. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






4. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






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






6. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






7. Respected because of age






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






9. Consistent/uniform in composition/ opposite of heterogeneous






10. Characterized by severe suffering or sorrow - serious or grave






11. Frolicsome/ playful






12. 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 ...






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






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






15. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






16. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






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






18. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






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






20. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






21. Sociable; fond of the company of others






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






23. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






24. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






25. An amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge






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






27. Turmoil/disorder






28. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






29. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






30. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






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






32. Make impure/debase






33. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






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






35. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






36. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






37. Sluggish/listless/apathetic






38. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






39. To expand like a woman in labor






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






41. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






42. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






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






44. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






45. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






46. Truthfulness






47. Book - usually large and academic






48. Altruism/ charity






49. Using or showing good judgment - wise - sensible






50. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian