Coultas All Words Guide
All 275 vocabulary words across 11 units of Advanced English (Coultas). Word grids, flashcards, matching, practice quizzes mirroring the real test format, crosswords, plus a cumulative final.
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Advanced English
Coultas All Words Guide
Unit 1
Words
To lessen; to make less severe.
”After the storm passed, the wind began to abate.”
Deviance; not normal.
”The April snowstorm was an aberration from the usual spring weather.”
Insightfulness; sharp practical judgment.
”Her business acumen tripled the company’s profits.”
Not yielding; refusing to be persuaded.
”He was adamant about not changing his decision.”
Skillful; clever.
”The surgeon’s adroit hands moved quickly during the operation.”
To assign; to set aside for a purpose.
”The teacher allocated extra time for the exam.”
Eagerness; brisk willingness.
”She accepted the invitation with alacrity.”
Generous; selfless.
”His altruistic nature led him to volunteer every weekend.”
To hate; to detest.
”I abhor cruelty of any kind.”
Difficult to understand.
”The lecture on quantum mechanics was so abstruse few understood it.”
The study of human beings.
”She majored in anthropology to study ancient cultures.”
A deep-seated hatred or dislike.
”His antipathy toward loud crowds kept him from concerts.”
To confront; to approach aggressively.
”A stranger accosted me on the street.”
Showing no feeling, interest, or concern.
”The students were apathetic about the election.”
Bitterness; harsh animosity.
”The debate ended in acrimony with both sides shouting.”
Friendly; getting along well with others.
”Her amiable personality made her instantly popular.”
Known only to a few; specialized; mysterious.
”The professor specialized in arcane languages few could read.”
Very old; ancient; outdated.
”His antediluvian views on technology made him resist smartphones.”
Inclined to do something; suitable.
”She had an apt response ready for every question.”
Yielding; willing; open to suggestion.
”He was amenable to trying new foods abroad.”
A position of dominant power or influence.
”The company’s ascendancy in tech was fueled by innovation.”
Abstaining from worldly pleasures, often for religious reasons.
”The monk led an ascetic life, giving up all luxuries.”
Showing great care and perseverance.
”Her assiduous efforts paid off with a scholarship.”
To relieve; to ease; to soothe.
”The mother’s gentle voice helped assuage the child’s fears.”
To waste away; to wither; to shrivel.
”Without exercise, his muscles began to atrophy.”
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 1 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
After the medication kicked in, the patient's pain began to ____ and he could finally rest.
- 02
His ____ work ethic, with hours of careful study every night, earned him top of the class.
- 03
The judge's reasoning was so ____ that even the lawyers struggled to follow it.
- 04
Volunteering at the shelter every weekend revealed her ____ side.
- 05
Despite her parents' pleas, she remained ____ in her decision to drop out of medical school.
- 06
ABERRATION most nearly means strange or normal occurrence.
- 07
Someone who is APATHETIC cares deeply about everything around them.
- 08
ASSUAGE most nearly means to relieve or ease.
- 09
An ASCETIC person enjoys luxury and material wealth.
- 10
The CEO's business ____, sharpened by twenty years in finance, made her the natural choice for the new role.
- 11
The new student's ____ smile made everyone in the class feel welcome.
- 12
Without regular use, the muscles in her injured leg began to ____.
- 13
The witch's ____ knowledge of herbs and remedies was passed down through generations.
- 14
The ____ between the two political rivals turned every debate into a shouting match.
- 15
ALACRITY most nearly means reluctance.
- 16
She showed great ____ when she was offered the chance to travel abroad, jumping at the opportunity.
Crossword
Unit 2
Words
Dignified; majestic.
”The queen entered with an august presence.”
A feeling; a distinctive sense surrounding someone.
”She had an aura of calm.”
Favorable; promising success.
”It was an auspicious day for the wedding.”
A dictator; a ruler with absolute power.
”The autocrat ruled with an iron fist.”
A person who acts like a robot.
”He moved through his routine like an automaton.”
Greed; extreme desire for wealth.
”The tycoon’s avarice led him to exploit workers.”
Common; trite; lacking originality.
”The movie was filled with banal dialogue.”
A bombardment; a heavy concentrated outpouring.
”The speaker faced a barrage of tough questions.”
To give a false impression of.
”Her smile belied the sadness in her eyes.”
Aggressive; warlike.
”His belligerent tone meant he wanted an argument.”
Generous; kind; well-meaning.
”The benevolent woman donated to the orphanage.”
To hand down through a will.
”He plans to bequeath his books to the library.”
To scold harshly.
”The coach berated the team for their lack of effort.”
Cooperation between two opposing political groups.
”True bipartisanship led to passing the new bill.”
Destroyed; ruined.
”The neighborhood was blighted by neglect.”
A swamp or marsh.
”The hikers got stuck in a bog.”
To support; to strengthen.
”Her words helped bolster his confidence.”
Pompous; overstated; full of empty grandness.
”His bombastic speech promised much, delivered little.”
Crude; disrespectful.
”His boorish behavior embarrassed everyone.”
Floating; cheerful and resilient.
”She remained buoyant despite the challenges.”
To grow; to flourish rapidly.
”The town began to burgeon after the factory opened.”
To support; the projecting part of a building that supports a wall.
”The lawyer used evidence to buttress her argument.”
Convoluted or extremely complex.
”The bureaucracy was Byzantine, frustrating and complex.”
Producing discordant, harsh sounds.
”Cacophonous car horns filled the street.”
To coax or urge by gentle persistent persuasion.
”She cajoled her brother into lending the car.”
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 2 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
The senator's ____ speech was full of grand promises but empty of real policy.
- 02
Her cheerful expression seemed to ____ the deep sadness she actually felt inside.
- 03
The ____ ruler tolerated no criticism and crushed any sign of dissent.
- 04
After hours of being lost in the marsh, the hikers realized they were trapped in a ____.
- 05
The ____ noise of car horns and shouting voices filled the city street.
- 06
BENEVOLENT most nearly means cruel.
- 07
AUSPICIOUS most nearly means favorable.
- 08
Someone who is BELLIGERENT is gentle and peaceful.
- 09
AVARICE most nearly means generosity.
- 10
Despite her grandfather's ____ promises that he would leave her his collection, the will named someone else.
- 11
Their relationship was tested when she tried to ____ him into accepting a job he didn't want.
- 12
The town began to ____ once the new tech company brought in thousands of workers.
- 13
After three failed attempts, his ____ confidence finally cracked under the pressure.
- 14
The new evidence strongly ____ the prosecution's argument that the defendant was at the scene.
- 15
His ____ behavior at the dinner, talking with food in his mouth and interrupting constantly, mortified his date.
- 16
The tax code is so ____ that even seasoned accountants struggle to navigate it.
Crossword
Unit 3
Words
Insensitive; unfeeling.
”The judge criticized the company’s callous disregard for safety.”
Irritable; bad-tempered; complaining.
”The cantankerous old man complained about everything.”
Fickle; unpredictably changeable.
”The mountain’s capricious weather shifted in minutes.”
To belittle; to severely criticize.
”The teacher castigated the students for cheating.”
Bitter or sarcastic; corrosive.
”Her caustic remarks left him humiliated.”
Severely critical of others.
”The censorious critic found flaws in every play.”
To scold; condemn; formally rebuke.
”The council voted to censure the mayor.”
Intellectual; very smart.
”The lecture was so cerebral few students followed it.”
Great mortification; embarrassment.
”To his chagrin, he forgot his lines during the play.”
A swindler; a scam artist.
”The ‘healer’ was a charlatan who tricked people for money.”
To scold or punish to correct behavior.
”The teacher chastised the students for talking.”
Vulgar; rude; boorish.
”His churlish remark ruined the friendly mood.”
Indirect; roundabout.
”We took a circuitous route to avoid traffic.”
To restrict; to limit.
”The new laws will circumscribe press freedom.”
Secret; sneaky; kept out of public view.
”The spies held a clandestine meeting in a warehouse.”
To come together; to merge.
”The two groups decided to coalesce into one alliance.”
To the point; concise yet comprehensive.
”She gave a compendious summary covering every theme.”
Self-satisfaction; smugness.
”His complacency caused him to stop studying.”
Yielding; agreeable to orders or rules.
”The compliant child followed every instruction.”
To agree.
”I concur with your assessment.”
A large, destructive fire.
”The conflagration consumed the warehouse.”
A place where things flow together.
”The city was built at the confluence of two rivers.”
Pleasant and kind.
”Sarah found her new coworkers congenial.”
Careful; thorough; exact.
”The conscientious student double-checked her work.”
Dismay; worry; stress.
”To her consternation, the train left as she arrived.”
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 3 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
His ____ remarks about her appearance reduced her to tears.
- 02
The ____ neighbor complained about every minor noise on the block.
- 03
After being caught in a lie, she felt overwhelming ____.
- 04
The detective uncovered a ____ network of smugglers operating after dark.
- 05
I ____ with the committee's decision; the project should move forward.
- 06
CALLOUS most nearly means caring and tender.
- 07
A CHARLATAN is a trustworthy professional.
- 08
CIRCUITOUS most nearly means indirect.
- 09
Someone who is CONSCIENTIOUS is sloppy and careless.
- 10
After winning two championships in a row, the team's ____ led to a humiliating loss to the underdog.
- 11
The mayor was formally ____ by the city council for his unethical conduct.
- 12
Despite their differences, the small political groups decided to ____ around a single platform.
- 13
Her ____ summary captured the entire 400-page novel in two paragraphs.
- 14
The ____ destroyed three city blocks before firefighters could contain it.
- 15
The teacher had to ____ the unruly students for the third time that week.
- 16
The ____ professor's lectures challenged even the brightest students.
Crossword
Unit 4
Words
Selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas.
”Her music taste is eclectic, ranging from classical to metal.”
To remove by rubbing or erasing.
”The wind began to efface the ancient carvings.”
Skillful at evading capture; hard to grasp.
”The solution remained elusive despite hours of effort.”
Derived from experiment and observation rather than theory.
”She relied on empirical data to support her hypothesis.”
Something that baffles understanding; a mystery.
”The artifact’s origins remain an enigma.”
A sudden insight or revelation.
”In the night, she had an epiphany about the conflict.”
Steadiness of mind under stress.
”He handled the emergency with remarkable equanimity.”
Showing profound knowledge; learned.
”The professor’s erudite lecture inspired the students.”
To recover through digging.
”Archaeologists plan to excavate the site.”
To strongly encourage or urge.
”The coach exhorted his team to give their best.”
Greatly exceeding bounds of reason; excessive.
”The hotel charged an exorbitant fee for room service.”
Appropriate to a purpose; convenient.
”It was more expedient to email the report.”
To make visible or apparent.
”The investigation helped expose the company’s practices.”
To praise highly; to glorify.
”The coach extolled the team’s hard work.”
Lacking depth; superficial; arrived at without effort.
”Her facile explanation glossed over key details.”
Containing or based on incorrect reasoning.
”His argument was based on fallacious reasoning.”
Excessive intolerance of opposing views; obsession.
”Their fanaticism for the team bordered on obsession.”
Giving careful attention to detail.
”She was fastidious about cleanliness.”
To understand or grasp deeply.
”I can’t fathom how they climbed without gear.”
Agreeably appropriate or fitting; well-chosen.
”Her felicitous word choice made the speech memorable.”
Subtle skill in handling situations.
”She handled the awkward moment with finesse.”
Conspicuously and outrageously bad.
”His flagrant disregard for the rules got him suspended.”
Showing inappropriate lack of seriousness.
”His flippant comment offended several coworkers.”
Excessively ornate; flushed in complexion.
”His florid prose was filled with flowery language.”
To confuse or bewilder.
”The instructions completely flummoxed me.”
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 4 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
The criminal proved ____ to the police, slipping past every checkpoint.
- 02
Her ____ rage at the referee earned her a red card and an early shower.
- 03
Despite years of effort, the cure for the disease remains an ____.
- 04
The accountant was ____ about every penny in the spreadsheet.
- 05
His ____ lecture on Russian literature impressed even the senior professors.
- 06
EMPIRICAL most nearly means based on observation.
- 07
EXORBITANT most nearly means reasonably priced.
- 08
Someone with EQUANIMITY panics under pressure.
- 09
FLAGRANT most nearly means outrageously bad.
- 10
It would be more ____ to take the highway, even if it's a few miles longer.
- 11
Her ____ collection blends mid-century modern with Victorian antiques.
- 12
The reporter worked for years to ____ the corruption inside city hall.
- 13
His argument was ____ from start to finish, built on assumptions that were already disproven.
- 14
The complicated rules of the new game completely ____ the children.
- 15
Her ____ poetry is full of elaborate descriptions and ornate metaphors.
- 16
Even after he saw the bill, he still couldn't ____ how the meal had cost so much.
Crossword
Unit 5
Words
To stimulate to action.
”The coach’s words galvanized the team to victory.”
A complete range of something.
”The collection ran the gamut of emotions.”
Clothing; to dress in clothes.
”The performers entered in traditional garb.”
Tastelessly showy.
”The garish colors made the room hard to be in.”
Chatty; full of trivial conversation.
”Uncle Joe’s garrulous storytelling lasted into the night.”
A manner of walking.
”He approached with a confident gait.”
Friendly; pleasant.
”She greeted everyone with a genial smile.”
Someone who consumes too much.
”He was a glutton for adventure.”
Common; trite; overused.
”The plot was full of hackneyed clichés.”
Belief contrary to established beliefs.
”Modernizing the old festival was considered heresy.”
Excessive pride or arrogance.
”His hubris led him to ignore the warnings.”
A unique trait; a quirk.
”Organizing books by color was her quirky idiosyncrasy.”
Tranquil; delightful in every respect.
”They spent an afternoon in the idyllic countryside.”
Dishonor; humiliation.
”He faced the ignominy of losing his reputation.”
Arrogant; commanding; disdainful.
”With an imperious wave, she dismissed all suggestions.”
Disrespect; insolence.
”His impudence shocked the teacher.”
Senseless; stupid.
”She was tired of the inane gossip.”
Skeptical; refusing to believe.
”He gave her an incredulous look.”
A formal accusation of a crime.
”The evidence served as an indictment of corruption.”
Native to a region.
”The plants are indigenous to the region.”
Angered by injustice.
”She felt indignant when overlooked again.”
Random; unselective.
”The wildfire spread with indiscriminate fury.”
Lazy; slothful.
”His indolent attitude frustrated his colleagues.”
Lenient; soft.
”The grandmother was indulgent with the kids.”
Indescribable; impossible to express.
”At the canyon’s edge she felt ineffable wonder.”
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 5 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
His ____ refusal to listen to advice eventually cost him everything.
- 02
The detective gave the suspect an ____ stare when he claimed he had been at home all night.
- 03
Her ____ of constantly straightening picture frames everywhere she went amused her friends.
- 04
After the scandal, he faced the ____ of losing both his job and his reputation.
- 05
The ____ destruction of the storm did not spare a single building in town.
- 06
GARRULOUS most nearly means quiet and reserved.
- 07
GENIAL most nearly means friendly.
- 08
Something IDYLLIC is unpleasant and stressful.
- 09
An INDOLENT person is hardworking.
- 10
The senator's speech was meant to ____ voters into showing up at the polls.
- 11
The mountaintop view filled her with an ____ peace she could not put into words.
- 12
These wildflowers are ____ to the prairie and are not found anywhere else.
- 13
His ____ tone, ordering everyone around like servants, alienated the rest of the team.
- 14
The customer was ____ when she discovered her credit card had been charged twice for the same item.
- 15
His ____ to the principal earned him three days of detention.
- 16
The grand jury returned an ____ against the senator on three counts of fraud.
Crossword
Unit 6
Words
Unskillfulness from lack of training.
”His ineptitude held the team back.”
Unable to move or resist motion.
”The old car sat inert in the driveway.”
Naive; childlike; lacking sophistication.
”Her ingenuous smile made her impossible to distrust.”
An essential characteristic; built-in.
”The inherent risks of skydiving are part of the thrill.”
Present from birth; natural.
”She had an innate talent for music.”
Harmless; not injurious.
”The comment seemed innocuous at first.”
An indirect, often malicious implication.
”Her statement was laced with innuendo.”
Difficult to understand or interpret.
”Her inscrutable expression hid all emotion.”
Lacking interest or flavor; bland.
”The soup was insipid and disappointing.”
Rudeness; impertinence.
”His insolence earned him a sharp reprimand.”
Closed-minded; isolated.
”Her insular attitude rejected new ideas.”
Bold; fearless.
”The intrepid explorer ventured into the jungle.”
To overwhelm; to flood.
”The store was inundated with eager customers.”
Showing extreme anger.
”The irate customer demanded the manager.”
Showing lack of due respect.
”The comedian’s irreverent jokes shocked some.”
Joking; humorous.
”His jocular remarks lightened the mood.”
Showing good judgment; wise.
”She made a judicious decision to wait.”
Idle; lacking enthusiasm.
”His lackadaisical attitude showed in his work.”
Brief; using few words.
”His laconic reply silenced the courtroom.”
Someone who falls behind.
”One laggard slowed down the entire group.”
Lacking spirit; sluggish.
”The hot afternoon left her languid.”
To praise highly.
”Critics lauded the actor’s performance.”
Lacking energy or enthusiasm.
”After the journey he felt listless.”
Moving and bending with ease; supple.
”The dancer moved with lithe grace.”
Transparently clear; easily understandable.
”She gave a lucid explanation.”
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Practice quiz
Unit 6 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
After the long hike, the children were too ____ to even play their favorite game.
- 02
Her ____ explanation cleared up every misconception in the room.
- 03
The ____ customer demanded a refund and threatened to sue the company.
- 04
His ____ approach to the project showed he didn't really care about the outcome.
- 05
The ____ explorer climbed the mountain that had defeated everyone before her.
- 06
INNATE most nearly means present at birth.
- 07
INNOCUOUS most nearly means dangerous.
- 08
Someone who is INGENUOUS is sneaky and manipulative.
- 09
JUDICIOUS most nearly means wise and careful.
- 10
Her ____ talent for languages allowed her to learn Mandarin in just a year.
- 11
After the announcement, the help desk was ____ with phone calls.
- 12
His comment seemed ____ at first, but it turned out to start a major argument.
- 13
Her ____ reply, just three words long, ended the negotiation.
- 14
Critics began to ____ the new restaurant for its inventive menu.
- 15
The judge's expression was ____, giving no hint of how she was leaning.
- 16
His ____ comments about the boss earned him a sharp warning from HR.
Crossword
Unit 7
Words
To make calm or still.
”The waves began to lull her into sleep.”
Vivid in a shocking, unpleasant way.
”The newspaper was filled with lurid headlines.”
Rich and lush in growth.
”The garden was filled with luxuriant greenery.”
Generosity of spirit.
”He showed great magnanimity by responding kindly.”
Pliable; capable of being shaped.
”The metal was malleable enough to shape.”
Blemished by injury or wear.
”The painting was marred by a large scratch.”
Overly weepy; sentimental.
”After a glass of wine she became maudlin.”
Gloomy; depressed.
”A sense of melancholy filled the room.”
Someone hired to fight, often motivated by money.
”The mercenary cared more about profit than people.”
Subject to sudden, unpredictable change.
”His mercurial moods made him hard to read.”
To make less severe.
”The new policies mitigate the data risks.”
A small or moderate amount.
”He showed a modicum of respect.”
Sullen and gloomy.
”She sat in the corner with a morose expression.”
A varied, mismatched assortment.
”The crowd was a motley assortment of people.”
Having many aspects.
”The library had a multifarious collection.”
Lacking definite form; vague.
”The explanation was nebulous and confusing.”
Extremely wicked.
”The detective uncovered a nefarious plot.”
A beginner; a new participant.
”As a neophyte he burned the simple pasta.”
Fame for something bad.
”She gained notoriety for outrageous behavior.”
Harmful; poisonous.
”The factory emitted noxious fumes.”
A subtle difference in meaning.
”The painting captured every subtle nuance.”
Stubbornly persistent.
”He remained obdurate in his refusal to admit fault.”
Intrusively meddling.
”The officious clerk kept interrupting.”
Burdensome; difficult to endure.
”The paperwork was an onerous task.”
A prophet or wise advisor.
”The villagers sought the oracle’s wisdom.”
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Practice quiz
Unit 7 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
The factory's ____ smoke was making the entire neighborhood sick.
- 02
His ____ moods could swing from joy to anger in seconds.
- 03
After winning the lottery she showed great ____, donating most of her winnings.
- 04
Even his closest friend could only show him a ____ of sympathy after the betrayal.
- 05
The detective uncovered a ____ scheme to defraud retirees of their savings.
- 06
MITIGATE most nearly means to make less severe.
- 07
ONEROUS most nearly means easy and pleasant.
- 08
An OBDURATE person changes their mind easily.
- 09
MALLEABLE most nearly means pliable.
- 10
After the surgery she felt ____ and unable to lift her head from the pillow.
- 11
As a ____ in the kitchen, she burned even the simplest dish.
- 12
The artist captured every ____ of light reflecting on the water.
- 13
The mountain held ____ on it for ages, and even the most experienced climbers feared its slopes.
- 14
She buried her face in her hands, looking ____ after losing the championship.
- 15
The accountant's job included ____ duties from filing taxes to advising on investments.
- 16
A ____ crew of misfits and rejects formed the strangest ship's company we'd ever seen.
Crossword
Unit 8
Words
Conservative; traditional; conforming to established beliefs.
”The family followed orthodox religious practices.”
Apparent; seeming, but not necessarily true.
”His ostensible reason was a phone call.”
One who opposes violence and war.
”As a pacifist she refused to participate in war.”
To relieve pain without curing.
”The medication palliated his chronic pain.”
A clear example or model.
”The discovery shifted the scientific paradigm.”
To make extremely dry.
”The desert sun parched his throat.”
A humorous imitation; mockery.
”The act was a parody of the mayor’s speeches.”
A strong, often biased supporter.
”The partisan supporters refused to admit flaws.”
To talk down to; to be condescending.
”I disliked the teacher’s patronizing tone.”
Scarcity; smallness in number.
”The paucity of ingredients forced improvisation.”
A person who shows off knowledge.
”The pedant corrected every minor error.”
Irritable; cross.
”The peevish child whined the whole ride.”
A strong preference or liking.
”She had a penchant for antique dolls.”
Stingy; extremely poor.
”The penurious old man hoarded every penny.”
Done routinely with little care.
”He gave the report a perfunctory glance.”
Outermost; secondary.
”Funding was peripheral to the main discussion.”
Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
”He threw a petulant tantrum about the candy.”
Someone who gives generously to charity.
”The businessman was a renowned philanthropist.”
Devoutly religious.
”The pious nun dedicated her life to prayer.”
To soothe; to calm someone down.
”They tried to placate the crying baby.”
Believable; likely to be true.
”His explanation seemed plausible.”
An excess; an overabundance.
”The market offered a plethora of choices.”
Bendy; flexible; easily shaped.
”The young tree was still pliable.”
Controversial; argumentative.
”The article presented a polemical argument.”
Dangerously unstable.
”The ladder sat at a precarious angle.”
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Practice quiz
Unit 8 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
She built a hospital wing as part of her work as a ____.
- 02
His ____ excuse for missing the meeting fooled no one.
- 03
There was a ____ of evidence at the crime scene, far more than detectives could process.
- 04
The boulder was perched on a ____ ledge that could give way at any moment.
- 05
His ____ for spicy food meant every meal needed extra hot sauce.
- 06
PALLIATE most nearly means to relieve.
- 07
PAUCITY most nearly means abundance.
- 08
A PIOUS person disregards religious teachings.
- 09
PLAUSIBLE most nearly means believable.
- 10
I will not ____ you by explaining what you already know.
- 11
The toddler had a ____ outburst when his mother said no to ice cream.
- 12
Her ____ examination of the report missed several important errors.
- 13
The negotiator tried to ____ both sides with small concessions.
- 14
The young apprentice's mind was still ____, easy to mold by an experienced teacher.
- 15
The senator's ____ speech inflamed both sides of the debate.
- 16
The drought ____ every field in the county, leaving farmers in despair.
Crossword
Unit 10
Words
To reject; to refuse to accept.
”She chose to repudiate the false accusations.”
Offensive; disgusting.
”Cheating on the exam was repugnant to him.”
To annul; to retract.
”The company decided to rescind the job offer.”
Reserved; not revealing thoughts readily.
”She remained reticent during the meeting.”
Respectful; pious.
”The audience kept a reverent silence.”
Relating to persuasive speech or writing.
”The politician used rhetorical flourishes.”
To provoke; to wake or excite.
”The noise caused the baby to rouse.”
Wise.
”The sage old man shared his wisdom.”
Pretending to be morally superior; hypocritical.
”His sanctimonious tone was unbearable.”
A penalty for breaking a rule.
”The government imposed a sanction on the company.”
Cheerfully optimistic.
”Her sanguine personality lifted everyone.”
To satisfy fully.
”A hearty meal satiated his hunger.”
Sarcastic imitation often used to provoke change.
”The novel was a satire of bureaucracy.”
Harshly critical.
”The critic’s scathing review devastated the film.”
Sparkling; brilliantly clever.
”Her scintillating wit captivated everyone.”
The extent or range of something.
”The project’s scope expanded over time.”
Very careful and precise.
”The editor was scrupulous in proofreading.”
Happy chance; lucky discovery.
”By serendipity, she found exactly the book.”
Submissive; subservient.
”The assistant displayed a servile attitude.”
To hide or obscure.
”Fog began to shroud the mountaintop.”
Careless; sloppy.
”The slipshod work caused major problems.”
Comfort in distress.
”She found solace in nature.”
Deceptive reasoning.
”The argument relied on clever sophistry.”
Simple; self-disciplined; austere.
”They lived a spartan existence with few comforts.”
False; fake.
”The dealer identified it as a spurious copy.”
Flashcards
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 10 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
She publicly chose to ____ the racist comments her former friend had made.
- 02
After the bank lost trust in him, they decided to ____ the loan they had originally approved.
- 03
The grieving widow found ____ in the company of her oldest friends.
- 04
His ____ tone, lecturing everyone about morals he himself violated, was unbearable.
- 05
The reviewer's ____ critique noted not a single positive moment in the film.
- 06
REPUGNANT most nearly means appealing.
- 07
RETICENT most nearly means reserved.
- 08
Someone who is SANGUINE is gloomy and pessimistic.
- 09
SCRUPULOUS most nearly means very careful.
- 10
After hearing the politician's argument, she dismissed it as mere ____.
- 11
By pure ____ she ran into her childhood friend on the other side of the world.
- 12
The painting turned out to be ____, made just last year by an art forger.
- 13
Their ____ apartment had only a mattress on the floor and a single chair.
- 14
The ____ workmanship of the contractor caused leaks within weeks.
- 15
She offered ____ advice that helped me get through the toughest year of my life.
- 16
The thick fog began to ____ the entire valley in mystery.
Crossword
Unit 11
Words
To reject with contempt.
Synonyms: reject, rebuff, dismiss.
To waste foolishly.
Synonyms: waste, dissipate, fritter.
Not moving; sluggish.
Synonyms: motionless, inactive, still.
Strong and loyal.
Synonyms: loyal, devoted, steadfast.
Loud and harsh; grating.
Synonyms: harsh, shrill, grating.
To confuse or bewilder.
Synonyms: bewilder, daze, astound.
Delicious; juicy.
Synonyms: luscious, juicy, delectable.
Arrogant; haughty.
Synonyms: haughty, condescending, disdainful.
More than necessary.
Synonyms: excessive, redundant, unnecessary.
To take the place of.
Synonyms: replace, displace, supersede.
A surplus.
Synonyms: excess, surplus, overabundance.
A flatterer; a suck-up.
Synonyms: flatterer, fawner, bootlicker.
Off-topic; digressive.
Synonyms: irrelevant, peripheral, digressive.
To delay; to evade.
Synonyms: stall, procrastinate, delay.
Stubborn; determined.
Synonyms: persistent, resolute, determined.
Flimsy; insignificant.
Synonyms: flimsy, weak, insubstantial.
A flatterer; suck-up.
Synonyms: sycophant, flatterer, yes-man.
Drowsiness; inactivity.
Synonyms: lethargy, sluggishness, apathy.
To promote aggressively.
Synonyms: promote, advertise, peddle.
Easily managed.
Synonyms: obedient, compliant, manageable.
Lasting a short time.
Synonyms: temporary, fleeting, ephemeral.
Apprehension; fear.
Synonyms: anxiety, dread, apprehension.
Great trouble; suffering.
Synonyms: hardship, adversity, ordeal.
Frivolous; unimportant.
Synonyms: trivial, insignificant, petty.
Overused; unoriginal.
Synonyms: clichéd, hackneyed, banal.
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 11 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
Don't ____ the only chance you have to pursue your dream career.
- 02
Her ____ refusal to accept defeat carried her through the championship.
- 03
His ____ tone made every casual conversation feel like a sales pitch.
- 04
Newer technology will eventually ____ the older systems entirely.
- 05
Her remarks on the weather were ____ to the policy debate at hand.
- 06
TENUOUS most nearly means flimsy.
- 07
Something TRANSIENT lasts forever.
- 08
TRITE most nearly means original and creative.
- 09
TENACIOUS most nearly means determined.
- 10
Approaching the dark forest, the children felt visible ____.
- 11
After the heavy meal, a deep ____ settled over everyone in the room.
- 12
The CEO's ____ laughed at every joke, no matter how unfunny.
- 13
He always ____ when asked a tough question, hoping someone else would answer.
- 14
The ____ stream of complaints from the customer made the manager's job miserable.
- 15
After years of ____, she finally found peace and stability.
- 16
His ____ smirk and dismissive tone alienated everyone in the meeting.
Crossword
Unit 12
Words
Aggressive; bad-tempered.
”The truculent dog growled at everyone.”
Ever-present; everywhere.
”Smartphones are ubiquitous in modern life.”
Not embarrassed; bold.
”She was unabashed in her enthusiasm.”
Strange or mysterious.
”His resemblance to the actor was uncanny.”
Crude; lacking manners.
”His uncouth behavior at dinner shocked the hosts.”
Incomprehensible; unbelievable.
”The depth of the ocean remains unfathomable.”
Clumsy; awkward.
”The ungainly ostrich stumbled across the field.”
Unintentional; without awareness.
”His unwitting mistake caused a misunderstanding.”
Elegant; sophisticated.
”His urbane charm impressed everyone.”
To seize power without authority.
”The general plotted to usurp the throne.”
Empty; lacking thought or intelligence.
”Her vacuous expression suggested she was lost.”
Dull; uninteresting; lacking substance.
”Her social media posts were vapid and shallow.”
Willing to accept bribes; corrupt.
”The venal official sold his vote.”
Commanding respect because of age or dignity.
”The venerable old oak stood for centuries.”
Long-winded; using too many words.
”His verbose presentation lost the audience.”
Felt indirectly through someone else’s experiences.
”She lived vicariously through her daughter’s adventures.”
To clear of blame.
”New evidence served to vindicate him.”
Seeking revenge.
”Her vindictive nature made her unforgiving.”
A master, especially in music.
”The pianist was a true virtuoso.”
Poisonous; severely harmful.
”The virulent flu spread rapidly.”
Thick and sticky.
”The viscous honey poured slowly.”
To confirm or guarantee from personal experience.
”Several colleagues can vouch for her work.”
Cleverly or grimly humorous.
”He delivered the news with a wry smile.”
A person who fears or hates foreigners.
”The xenophobe rejected anyone unfamiliar.”
A fanatic.
”The religious zealot tolerated no other view.”
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Matching, Set 1
Matching, Set 2
Matching, Set 3
Practice quiz
Unit 12 practice
0 of 16 answered
- 01
The ____ quality of the gravy made everyone gag.
- 02
Watching her daughter ride the rollercoaster gave her a ____ thrill.
- 03
The young girl had a ____ stare suggesting she was not following the lesson.
- 04
His ____ temper showed when he hurled chairs across the room.
- 05
Wifi has become so ____ that travelers expect it everywhere.
- 06
UNCANNY most nearly means ordinary.
- 07
UNFATHOMABLE most nearly means easily understood.
- 08
VERBOSE most nearly means long-winded.
- 09
A XENOPHOBE welcomes foreigners warmly.
- 10
At the diplomatic reception he impressed everyone with his ____ demeanor.
- 11
The general attempted to ____ the legitimate king and seize the throne.
- 12
Despite her constant chatter, her remarks were ____ and added nothing to the discussion.
- 13
The film critic dismissed the movie as ____, full of style but lacking real depth.
- 14
I thought it rather ____ of her to eat the soup with her bare hands.
- 15
The ____ politician took bribes from any lobbyist with cash to spare.
- 16
I can ____ for her honesty; we've worked together for ten years.
Crossword
Cumulative review
Confusing word pairs
These are the trickiest pairs you’ll see across all 11 units. Each pair sounds or looks similar but means very different things.
Pair 1
Venal vs. Venerable
Venal = corrupt, willing to take bribes.
Venerable = commanding respect because of age or dignity.
Pair 2
Vindicate vs. Vindictive
Vindicate = to clear of blame.
Vindictive = wanting revenge.
Pair 3
Ingenuous vs. Ingenious
Ingenuous = naive, innocent.
Ingenious = clever, inventive (NOT in this guide, but easy to confuse).
Pair 4
Banal / Trite / Hackneyed
All three mean “common, overused, unoriginal.” If a question lists multiple of them as choices, the answer is probably none of those (look for a synonym instead).
Pair 5
Callous vs. Caustic
Callous = emotionally insensitive (toward people).
Caustic = bitter or sarcastic (toward speech/comments).
Pair 6
Chastise vs. Castigate vs. Censure
All three mean “to scold or condemn.” Castigate is harshest, censure is the most formal/official, chastise is general-purpose.
Pair 7
Sycophant vs. Toady
Both = a flatterer or suck-up. They’re true synonyms.
Pair 8
Apt vs. Adamant
Apt = inclined or suitable.
Adamant = stubborn, refusing to change.
Greek and Latin roots cheat sheet
Recognizing these roots will let you guess at words you’ve never seen before.
| Root | Meaning | Examples in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| anti- / ant- | against | antipathy, antediluvian |
| bene- / bon- | good | benevolent |
| mal- / male- | bad, evil | malleable (here meaning pliable, related to “to hammer”) |
| eu- | good, well | (eulogy, euphoria) |
| a- / an- | not, without | apathetic (without feeling), atrophy (without growth) |
| dys- / dis- | bad, apart | (dysfunction, distasteful) |
| in- / im- | not | inane, inept, ineffable, incredulous, indolent |
| re- | again, back | repudiate, rescind, repugnant |
| sub- | under, below | supplant (“to take the place under”), subservient |
| super- | over, above | supercilious, superfluous, supplant |
| trans- | across, through | transient |
| phil- / phile- | love | philanthropist (lover of mankind) |
| phobe / phobia | fear, hatred | xenophobe (fear of foreigners) |
| anthrop- | human | anthropology, philanthropist, misanthrope |
| log- / -ology | study of | anthropology |
| ven- / vin- | to come / win | vindicate (clear), venerable (worthy) |
| circum- | around | circuitous, circumscribe |
| co- / con- / com- | together | coalesce, concur, confluence, congenial |
| ben- / mal- (judge) | opposites | benevolent vs. malicious |
| audi- / sono- | sound | cacophonous (bad-sound) |
| caco- | bad | cacophonous |
| phon- | sound | cacophonous, sycophant |
| poly- / multi- | many | multifarious |
| mono- / uni- | one | (monotone, unify) |
Mnemonics for the trickiest words
Master mock final
Click New quiz to swap to the next bank when you finish.
Coultas cumulative final
0 of 25 answered · quiz 1 / 3
- 01
ABATE most nearly means:
- 02
ABERRATION most nearly means:
- 03
Which means 'to ease pain'?
- 04
An AUTOCRAT is best described as:
- 05
AUSPICIOUS most nearly means:
- 06
BANAL most nearly means:
- 07
Which means 'biased supporter'?
- 08
CASTIGATE most nearly means:
- 09
CIRCUITOUS most nearly means:
- 10
ECLECTIC most nearly means:
- 11
EQUANIMITY most nearly means:
- 12
Which means 'a sudden insight'?
- 13
FACILE most nearly means:
- 14
FLAGRANT most nearly means:
- 15
GARRULOUS most nearly means:
- 16
HACKNEYED most nearly means:
- 17
INNOCUOUS most nearly means:
- 18
INTREPID most nearly means:
- 19
Which means 'to flood/overwhelm'?
- 20
LACONIC most nearly means:
- 21
MAGNANIMITY most nearly means:
- 22
MERCURIAL most nearly means:
- 23
NEFARIOUS most nearly means:
- 24
OBDURATE most nearly means:
- 25
PAUCITY most nearly means:
Master flashcard deck
A bonus alphabetical pull of the highest-frequency words across all units.
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Common pitfalls
They don’t. Vindicate = to clear someone of blame. Vindictive = wanting revenge. Opposite vibes.
The Latin root means blood, but the word itself means cheerfully optimistic. Don’t be tricked.
The opposite. Belie means to give a false impression of something. “Her smile belied her sadness” = her smile hid her sadness.
That’s ingenious (with an “i” in the middle). Ingenuous means naive or innocent.
Cheat sheet
| Unit | Theme | Highest-yield words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-words | abate, acumen, adamant, altruistic, abstruse, antipathy, arcane, assuage, atrophy |
| 2 | A-C words | auspicious, avarice, banal, belie, bombastic, burgeon, Byzantine, cacophonous, cajole |
| 3 | C-words | callous, capricious, castigate, caustic, censure, chagrin, charlatan, clandestine, coalesce, conflagration |
| 4 | E-F words | eclectic, elusive, empirical, enigma, epiphany, erudite, exorbitant, fastidious, flagrant, fathom |
| 5 | G-I words | galvanize, garrulous, hackneyed, hubris, idyllic, imperious, incredulous, indigenous, indolent, ineffable |
| 6 | I-L words | innate, innocuous, inscrutable, insipid, intrepid, inundate, judicious, laconic, laud, lucid |
| 7 | L-O words | malleable, mercurial, mitigate, modicum, nefarious, neophyte, noxious, obdurate, onerous |
| 8 | O-P words | ostensible, paradigm, paucity, penchant, perfunctory, petulant, placate, plausible, plethora, precarious |
| 10 | R-S words | repudiate, reticent, sage, sanguine, satiate, scathing, scrupulous, serendipity, sophistry, spurious |
| 11 | S-T words | spurn, squander, succulent, supercilious, superfluous, sycophant, tenacious, tenuous, transient, trepidation |
| 12 | T-Z words | truculent, ubiquitous, uncanny, uncouth, urbane, usurp, vacuous, venal, verbose, vindicate, virulent, wry, xenophobe, zealot |
Study session
Which unit feels hardest right now?
”The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein