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. Commonplace - everyday occurrence - banal






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






3. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






4. Make impure/debase






5. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






6. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






7. Set fire/excite






8. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






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






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






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






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






13. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






14. 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 ...






15. Expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language






16. To polish






17. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






18. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






19. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






20. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






21. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






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






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






24. Bucolic - rural






25. Flamboyant/verve/dash






26. Temporary; lasting a brief time






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






28. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






29. Wandering and unpredictable






30. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






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






32. Relaxation - tranquility






33. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






34. Commute/replace/superceded






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






36. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






37. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






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






39. Funeral bell/ omen of death






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






41. Nonsensical talk - specialized language - argot - cant - slang






42. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






43. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






44. Rebellion - mutiny






45. Extremely generous or extravagant - exuberant - opulent - prodigal - profuse - bombastic






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






47. Not controlled by conscience; unscrupulous






48. An expert in matters of culture - food - or wine






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






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