Building a Better Vocabulary

Target Word
and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

+REVRQ¶VFKRLFH

(noun phrase)

a choice between what is available and

nothing; the absence of a real alternative

26

hoi polloi (noun) the ordinary masses; the common people 10

KRPRJUDSK (noun) one of two or more words that

are spelled the same but have different

pronunciations and meanings

28

KRPRQ\P (noun) one of two or more words that

are spelled and pronounced the same

but carry different meanings

28

KRPRSKRQH (noun) one of two or more words that sound the

same but are spelled differently

and have different meanings

28

KRUQVZRJJOH (verb) to swindle, cheat, or dupe 3

hubris (noun) H[FHVVLYHSULGHRUVHOIFRQ¿GHQFHDUURJDQFH 12

LPEURJOLR (noun) 1. a state of great confusion

and entanglement; a complicated,

GLI¿FXOWRUHPEDUUDVVLQJVLWXDWLRQ

2. a complex misunderstanding,
   disagreement, or dispute—
   sometimes of a bitter nature

5

LPSRUWXQH (verb) to harass with repeated requests;

to demand of someone insistently

22

inchoate (adjective) 1. not completely formed or developed;

only partly in existence

2. not organized; lacking order

8

indolent (adjective) habitually lazy and slow;

tending to avoid exertion

19

induction (noun) process of inferring general principles

from individual facts or instances

18

ingénue (noun) 1. an innocent, naïve girl or young woman

2. a stock innocent character in a movie
   or play or the actress playing such
   a character

8

insidious (adjective) intended to entrap, ensnare, or beguile;

stealthily treacherous or deceitful

7

insipid (adjective) EODQGDQGODFNLQJLQÀDYRUODFNLQJLQ

interesting, exciting, or stimulating qualities

10