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. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






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






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






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






5. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






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






7. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






8. To choose not to do something






9. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






10. Frolicsome/ playful






11. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






12. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






13. To attack or assault - beset






14. Growth process from conception to birth - pregnancy - gravidity






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






16. To penetrate through spaces; to spread throughout - imbue - pervade






17. Commonplace - everyday occurrence - banal






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






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






20. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






21. Easily deceived - credulous - naiive - ingenguous






22. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






23. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






24. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






25. Commute/replace/superceded






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






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






28. Courageous; brave; valiant; valorous - audacious - intrepid






29. Excess






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






31. Sociable; fond of the company of others






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






33. Funeral bell/ omen of death






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






35. Caution/thrift/widom






36. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






37. Truthfulness






38. To perceive or recognize






39. Appease/mollify/to soothe or pacify






40. Old/antique/bygone/stale






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






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






43. Altruism/ charity






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






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






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






47. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






48. Not controlled by conscience; unscrupulous






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






50. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy