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. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






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






3. Suggest - propose an explanation






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






5. To please someone so as to gain an advantage. Ex - ... themselves with the leaders.






6. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






7. Caution/thrift/widom






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






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






10. Theft of property






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






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






13. Altruism/ charity






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






15. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






16. A song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person






17. Brilliant/glowing






18. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






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






20. Self contradictory






21. Appease/mollify/to soothe or pacify






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






23. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






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






25. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






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






27. Pertaining to beauty






28. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






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






30. Effective writing or speaking






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






32. Consistent/uniform in composition/ opposite of heterogeneous






33. Frolicsome/ playful






34. Not controlled by conscience; unscrupulous






35. Turmoil/disorder






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






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






38. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






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






40. Plastic/phony/pretentious






41. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






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






43. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






44. Perceptive/sharp






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






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






47. Deep hole






48. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






49. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






50. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious