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. Determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason






2. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






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






4. The trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally






5. Commute/replace/superceded






6. Make impure/debase






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






8. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






9. Respected because of age






10. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






11. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






12. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






13. Bell tower - room where bell is hung - steeple - spire






14. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






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






16. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






17. Theft of property






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






19. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






20. No variation; tediously the same in sound






21. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






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






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






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






25. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






26. Rebellion - mutiny






27. Turmoil/disorder






28. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






29. Frolicsome/ playful






30. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






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






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






33. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






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






35. Cooperation - mutual helpfulness - interdependence






36. Blocked path - dilemma with no solution - cul-de-sac - deadlock - stalemate






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






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






39. Set fire/excite






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






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






42. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






43. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






44. To attack or assault - beset






45. Old/antique/bygone/stale






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






47. Book - usually large and academic






48. Excess






49. 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 ...






50. Caution/thrift/widom