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. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






2. Perceptive/sharp






3. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






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






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






6. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






7. Book - usually large and academic






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






9. Using or showing good judgment - wise - sensible






10. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






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






12. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






13. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






14. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






15. Self contradictory






16. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






17. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






18. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






19. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






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






21. Cooperation - mutual helpfulness - interdependence






22. Bucolic - rural






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






24. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






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






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






27. An investigation or inquiry






28. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






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






30. 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 ...






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






32. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






33. Caution/thrift/widom






34. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






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






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






37. Social outcast






38. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






39. A ghost of a living person seen just before his or her death - apparition - bogeyman - phantasm






40. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






41. Clever - deceptive






42. Sociable; fond of the company of others






43. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






44. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






45. Commute/replace/superceded






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






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






48. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






49. To choose not to do something






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