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






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






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






4. Temporary; lasting a brief time






5. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






6. Turmoil/disorder






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






8. Mark of disgrace






9. Tolerant - broad-minded






10. Brilliant/glowing






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






12. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






13. Truthfulness






14. Frolicsome/ playful






15. No variation; tediously the same in sound






16. Uncompromising - refusing to reconcile - obstinate - stubborn - intractable






17. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






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






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






20. Determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason






21. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






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






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






24. Wandering and unpredictable






25. To expand like a woman in labor






26. Not apparent/dormant/quiescent/inert like hidden energy






27. Make impure/debase






28. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






29. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






30. To choose not to do something






31. Plastic/phony/pretentious






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






33. Deep hole






34. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






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






36. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






37. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






38. An investigation or inquiry






39. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






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






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






42. Book - usually large and academic






43. Assuage - relieve - to make more bearable - placate






44. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






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






46. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






47. To attack or assault - beset






48. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






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






50. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious