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. Deep hole






2. Altruism/ charity






3. Sluggish/listless/apathetic






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






5. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






6. 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 ...






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






8. No variation; tediously the same in sound






9. Book - usually large and academic






10. Social outcast






11. To grow together and form a single whole - amalgamate - fuse - condense






12. Brilliant/glowing






13. An investigation or inquiry






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






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






16. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






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






18. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






19. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






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






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






22. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






23. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






24. To choose not to do something






25. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






26. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






27. A gradual increase or the peak of a gradual increase. Ex - complaints about stifling smog conditions reached a ...






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






29. Caution/thrift/widom






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






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






32. Truthfulness






33. To judge a dispute - adjudge - adjudicate - intervene - referee - rule






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






35. High secluded place - a nest built high in the air; an elevated - often secluded - dwelling






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






37. Frolicsome/ playful






38. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






39. Suggest - propose an explanation






40. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






41. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






42. To perceive or recognize






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






44. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






45. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






46. Absolute - certain - explicit - categorical






47. Theft of property






48. Self contradictory






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






50. Turmoil/disorder