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. Self-evident truth - adage - maxim - apothegm






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






3. Brilliant/glowing






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






5. Submission to another's will; respect; courtesy






6. Turmoil/disorder






7. Truthfulness






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






9. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






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






11. 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 ...






12. Frolicsome/ playful






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






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






15. Appease/mollify/to soothe or pacify






16. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






17. Old/antique/bygone/stale






18. Expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language






19. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






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






21. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






22. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






23. Respected because of age






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






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






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






27. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






28. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






29. Tolerant - broad-minded






30. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






31. To inspire; to permeate; to fill with a mood or tone - to pervade






32. Theft of property






33. Caution/thrift/widom






34. Consistent/uniform in composition/ opposite of heterogeneous






35. Influence or domination over






36. Point of culmination/ pinnacle/ acme






37. Commonplace - everyday occurrence - banal






38. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






39. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






40. Speech in praise of someone - laud - extol - commend






41. Commute/replace/superceded






42. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






43. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






44. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






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






46. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






47. Using or showing good judgment - wise - sensible






48. Fluctuate between choices - to dither - vacillate - oscillate






49. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






50. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile