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. To choose not to do something






2. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






3. An orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience - false leader






4. Social outcast






5. Fresh and clean; uncorrupted ex - A ... beach






6. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






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






8. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






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






10. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






11. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






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






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






14. Sociable; fond of the company of others






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






16. Sluggish/listless/apathetic






17. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






18. A subtle expression of meaning or quality - gradation - tone






19. Growing in number quickly/spawn






20. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






21. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






22. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






23. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






24. Commute/replace/superceded






25. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






26. Self contradictory






27. Innocent - simple - frank - sincere - naiive - credulous - gullible






28. Relaxation - tranquility






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






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






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






32. 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 ...






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






34. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






35. Set fire/excite






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






37. Cooperation - mutual helpfulness - interdependence






38. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






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






40. Altruism/ charity






41. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






42. Tolerant - broad-minded






43. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






44. Influence or domination over






45. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






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






47. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






48. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






49. A compact or close knit body of people or animals or things - legion






50. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous