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. Mark of disgrace






2. Plastic/phony/pretentious






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






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






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






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






7. Absolute - certain - explicit - categorical






8. An investigation or inquiry






9. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






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






11. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






12. Wandering and unpredictable






13. Social outcast






14. Make impure/debase






15. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






16. Tending to be thrifty or cheap - prudence - sparing - parsimony






17. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






18. Suggest - propose an explanation






19. Commute/replace/superceded






20. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






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






22. An orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience - false leader






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






24. Impossible to see through - preventing the passage of light - obscure






25. To attack or assault - beset






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






27. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






28. Book - usually large and academic






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






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






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






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






33. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






34. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






35. Bucolic - rural






36. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






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






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






39. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






40. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






41. Pertaining to beauty






42. Expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language






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






44. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






45. Easily aroused






46. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






47. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






48. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






49. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






50. Truthfulness