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. Temporary; lasting a brief time






3. To anger - to provoke - incite - vex - or pester






4. Blocked path - dilemma with no solution - cul-de-sac - deadlock - stalemate






5. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






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






7. Book - usually large and academic






8. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






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






10. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






11. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






12. Effective writing or speaking






13. Respected because of age






14. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






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






16. Tolerant - broad-minded






17. Rebellion - mutiny






18. To add ornamental or fictitious details - adorn - bedeck - elaborate






19. Long harsh speech or verbal attack - diatribe - fulmination - harangue - vilification - obloquy






20. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






21. Mark of disgrace






22. Sluggish/listless/apathetic






23. Theft of property






24. Old/antique/bygone/stale






25. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






26. Bell tower - room where bell is hung - steeple - spire






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






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






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






30. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






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






32. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






33. An investigation or inquiry






34. Pertaining to beauty






35. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






36. Growing in number quickly/spawn






37. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






38. Social outcast






39. To polish






40. Coalesce - fuse






41. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






42. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






43. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






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






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






46. Funeral bell/ omen of death






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






48. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






49. Growth process from conception to birth - pregnancy - gravidity






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