Readers Digest UK - December 2021

DECEMBER 2021 • 133

FUN AND GAMES

Wo r d Powe r

IT PAYS TO INCREASE YOUR

BY GEORGE MURRAY

The goose chase for the perfect gift, the crush of crowds, the overbearing

family—the Christmas holidays can drive us to extremes. Do any of these

words match how you sometimes feel?

1. compunction—
   A: inability to
   concentrate.
   B: guilt.
   C: low energy.


2. boggled—
   A: loss of sex drive.
   B: distrustful.
   C: bewildered.


3. roisterous—
   A: noisy in a high-
   spirited way.
   B: sweaty and
   dishevelled.
   C: erratic.


4. jaundiced—
   A: ill-tempered.
   B: cynical.
   C: paranoid.


5. solicitous—
   A: combative.
   B: strong feelings
   of distaste.
   C: concerned.
   6. harried—
   A: vindictive.
   B: stressed from
   too little time.
   C: displaying
   reluctance.
   7. enervated—
   A: frenzied.
   B: drained of energy.
   C: spiteful.
   8. glutted—
   A: filled to excess.
   B: boastful.
   C: apathetic.
   9. uxorious—
   A: emotionally
   unstable.
   B: believing all
   is for naught.
   C: doting on wife.
   10. bellicose—
   A: combative.
   B: exhausted.
   C: depressed.
   11. treacly—
   A: overly sentimental.
   B: emotionless.
   C: regarding some-
   thing as worthless.
   12. mercurial—
   A: imprudent.
   B: volatile.
   C: fearful.
   13. daunted—
   A: worn in appearance.
   B: the state of
   being deluded.
   C: intimidated.
   14. agape—
   A: strong dislike
   of yourself.
   B: state of wonder.
   C: undergoing
   drastic change.
   15. implacable—
   A: sleepy.
   B: dismayed.
   C: impossible
   to appease.