Vocabulary
abstruse Adjective
/æbˈstruːs/
Difficult to understand; obscure
The abstruse mathematical theory was too complex for most students to grasp.
cantankerous Adjective
/kænˈtæŋ.kər.əs/
Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative
The cantankerous old man complained about everything his neighbors did.
grandiloquent Adjective
/ɡrænˈdɪl.ə.kwənt/
Using pompous or extravagant language to impress others
The professor's grandiloquent speech confused students with its complicated vocabulary.
ineffable Adjective
/ɪnˈef.ə.bəl/
Too great or extreme to be expressed in words
The beauty of the sunset was ineffable and left everyone speechless.
ineluctable Adjective
/ˌɪn.ɪˈlʌk.tə.bəl/
Unable to be resisted or avoided; inevitable
The ineluctable passage of time reminded him that he was getting older.
inveterate Adjective
/ɪnˈvet.ər.ət/
Having a particular habit or behavior for a long time and unlikely to change
He was an inveterate smoker who found it impossible to quit despite health warnings.
lugubrious Adjective
/ləˈɡuː.bri.əs/
Looking or sounding sad and dismal
The funeral director's lugubrious expression matched the somber occasion.
mellifluous Adjective
/məˈlɪf.lu.əs/
Having a smooth, sweet, and pleasant sound
The singer's mellifluous voice captivated the entire audience.
obfuscate Verb
/ˈɑːb.fə.skeɪt/
To deliberately make something confusing or unclear
The politician tried to obfuscate the issue instead of giving a direct answer.
obstreperous Adjective
/əbˈstrep.ər.əs/
Noisy and difficult to control; unruly
The obstreperous children refused to listen to their teacher and kept shouting.
perfunctory Adjective
/pərˈfʌŋk.tər.i/
Done without care or interest as a routine duty
He gave a perfunctory apology that seemed insincere and rushed.
pernicious Adjective
/pərˈnɪʃ.əs/
Having a harmful effect, especially gradually or subtly
The pernicious effects of pollution on children's health became evident over time.
perspicacious Adjective
/ˌpɜːr.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs/
Having a keen understanding and insight; able to see things clearly
The perspicacious detective quickly solved the mystery that puzzled everyone else.
pusillanimous Adjective
/ˌpjuː.sɪˈlæn.ɪ.məs/
Showing a lack of courage or determination; cowardly
His pusillanimous behavior disappointed his friends when he refused to stand up for what was right.
quotidian Adjective
/kwoʊˈtɪd.i.ən/
Belonging to ordinary daily life; commonplace
She found the quotidian tasks of cooking and cleaning boring and repetitive.
recalcitrant Adjective
/rɪˈkæl.sɪ.trənt/
Stubbornly refusing to obey authority or follow rules
The recalcitrant student continued to break school rules despite multiple warnings.
sanguine Adjective
/ˈsæŋ.ɡwɪn/
Optimistic and confident, especially in difficult situations
Despite losing his job, he remained sanguine about finding new employment.
sycophantic Adjective
/ˌsɪk.əˈfæn.tɪk/
Behaving in a way that excessively praises someone to gain favor
Her sycophantic comments to the boss made her colleagues uncomfortable.
truculent Adjective
/ˈtrʌk.jə.lənt/
Eager to fight or argue; aggressively hostile
The truculent customer shouted at the store manager about his complaint.
vituperative Adjective
/vaɪˈtuː.pər.ə.tɪv/
Bitter and abusive in speech or writing
The critic's vituperative review destroyed the young actor's confidence.
Flashcards Multiple Choice
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Fill in the Blank

Complete each sentence with the correct word from the word bank.