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






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






3. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






4. Suggest - propose an explanation






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






6. An investigation or inquiry






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






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






9. Book - usually large and academic






10. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






11. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






12. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






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






14. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






15. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






16. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






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






18. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






19. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






20. Make impure/debase






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






22. To attack or assault - beset






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






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






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






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






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






28. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






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






30. Mark of disgrace






31. To polish






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






33. Tolerant - broad-minded






34. 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 ...






35. Turmoil/disorder






36. Absolute - certain - explicit - categorical






37. Pertaining to beauty






38. Plastic/phony/pretentious






39. Brilliant/glowing






40. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






41. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






42. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






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






44. Bucolic - rural






45. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






46. Respected because of age






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






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






49. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






50. Effective writing or speaking