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. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






2. Appease/mollify/to soothe or pacify






3. Effective writing or speaking






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






5. Commonplace - everyday occurrence - banal






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






7. Easily aroused






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






9. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






10. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






11. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






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






13. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






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






15. Suggest - propose an explanation






16. Old/antique/bygone/stale






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






18. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






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






20. An investigation or inquiry






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






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






23. To expand like a woman in labor






24. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






25. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






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






27. Easily deceived - credulous - naiive - ingenguous






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






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






30. Altruism/ charity






31. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






32. Theft of property






33. Flamboyant/verve/dash






34. Respected because of age






35. Frolicsome/ playful






36. No variation; tediously the same in sound






37. A trace of something that once was present






38. Pertaining to beauty






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






40. To judge a dispute - adjudge - adjudicate - intervene - referee - rule






41. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






42. To choose not to do something






43. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






44. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






45. Not controlled by conscience; unscrupulous






46. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






47. Self contradictory






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






49. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






50. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish