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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. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






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






3. Commute/replace/superceded






4. Brilliant/glowing






5. Effective writing or speaking






6. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






7. Suggest - propose an explanation






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






9. High secluded place - a nest built high in the air; an elevated - often secluded - dwelling






10. Sociable; fond of the company of others






11. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






12. Rebellion - mutiny






13. Plastic/phony/pretentious






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






15. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






16. Pertaining to beauty






17. To perceive or recognize






18. Respected because of age






19. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






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






21. 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 ...






22. Tolerant - broad-minded






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






24. Tending to be thrifty or cheap - prudence - sparing - parsimony






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






26. Perceptive/sharp






27. A trace of something that once was present






28. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






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






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






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






32. Expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language






33. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






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






35. Mark of disgrace






36. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






37. Deep hole






38. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






39. Wandering and unpredictable






40. Bucolic - rural






41. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






42. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






43. Having bad connotation - disparaging - belittling - insulting






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






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






46. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






47. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






48. Using or showing good judgment - wise - sensible






49. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






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