formal speaking or writing; inflated discourse RUDIMENTARY (roo duh MEN tuh ree) adj
basic; crude; unformed or undeveloped SAGACIOUS (suh GAY shus) adj discerning; shrewd;
keen in judgment; wise SECT (sekt) n a small religious subgroup or religion; any group with a
uniting theme or purpose SECULAR (SEK yuh lur) adj having nothing to do with religion or
spiritual concerns SOPHOMORIC (sahf uh MOHR ik) adj juvenile; childishly goofy
SPECIOUS (SPEE shus) adj deceptively plausible or attractive SQUANDER (SKWAHN dur)
v to waste
STAGNATION (stag NAY shun) n motionlessness; inactivity SUBSTANTIATE (sub STAN
shee ayt) v to prove; to verify; to confirm SUPERFICIAL (soo pur FISH ul) adj on the
surface only; shallow; not thorough TANGENTIAL (tan JEN shul) adj only superficially related
to the matter at hand; not especially relevant; peripheral TEMPORAL (TEM pur ul) adj
pertaining to time; pertaining to life or earthly existence; non-eternal; short-lived TEMPORIZE
(TEM puh ryze) v to stall; to cause delay through indecision TENTATIVE (TEN tuh tiv) adj
experimental; temporary; uncertain TENUOUS (TEN yoo us) adj flimsy; extremely thin
THWART (thwort) v to prevent from being accomplished; to frustrate; to hinder UNDERMINE
(UN dur myne) v to impair; to subvert; to weaken by excavating underneath UNDERSCORE
(un dur SKOHR) v to underline; to emphasize VERACITY (vuh RAS uh tee) n truthfulness
VERISIMILITUDE (ver uh si MIL uh tood) n similarity to reality; the appearance of truth;
looking like the real thing VERITY (VER uh tee) n the quality of being true; something true
VESTIGE (VES tij) n a remaining bit of something; a last trace VEX (veks) v to annoy; to
pester; to confuse
VIE (vye) v to compete; to contest; to struggle
VIGILANT (VIJ uh lunt) adj constantly alert; watchful; wary VOCATION (voh KAY shun) n
an occupation; a job
VOCIFEROUS (voh SIF ur us) adj loud; noisy; expressed in a forceful or loud way VOLITION
(voh LISH un) n will; conscious choice
Cram List
ACUTE sharp; shrewd; discerning
- His hearing was unusually acute.
ADVOCATE v to argue in favor of a position or cause; n one who argues in favor of a
position or cause
- Mr. Smith is a major advocate for various environmental causes.
ALLEVIATE to relieve, usually temporarily or incompletely; to make bearable; to lessen
- Aspirin alleviates the pain of a headache.
AMBIVALENT undecided; having opposing feelings simultaneously