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. No variation; tediously the same in sound






2. Using or showing good judgment - wise - sensible






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






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






5. Flamboyant/verve/dash






6. Make impure/debase






7. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






8. Suggest - propose an explanation






9. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






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






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






12. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






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






14. Effective writing or speaking






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






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






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






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






19. To attack or assault - beset






20. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






21. An investigation or inquiry






22. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






23. Influence or domination over






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






25. Excess






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






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






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






29. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






30. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






31. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






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






33. A trace of something that once was present






34. Courageous; brave; valiant; valorous - audacious - intrepid






35. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






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






37. Growing in number quickly/spawn






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






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






40. 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 ...






41. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






42. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






43. Truthfulness






44. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






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






46. Easily aroused






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






48. Wandering and unpredictable






49. Easily deceived - credulous - naiive - ingenguous






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