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. Lacking energy or enthusiasm - lethargic - indolent - languid - like ready in spanish






3. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






4. Altruism/ charity






5. A woman making a debut in high society/lady






6. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






7. To polish






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






9. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






10. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






11. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






12. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






13. Set fire/excite






14. Respected because of age






15. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






16. Self contradictory






17. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






18. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






19. Stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising - adamant - intransigent - intractable






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






21. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






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






23. To please someone so as to gain an advantage. Ex - ... themselves with the leaders.






24. Book - usually large and academic






25. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






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






27. A trace of something that once was present






28. Make impure/debase






29. A song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person






30. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






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






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






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






34. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






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






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






37. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






38. Point of culmination/ pinnacle/ acme






39. Easily deceived - credulous - naiive - ingenguous






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






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






42. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






43. Peripheral - irrelevant - digressive - extraneous diverting - inconsequential






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






45. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






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






47. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






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






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






50. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit