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Challenge Words
Mr. D's Challenge Words
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Arbitrary (Ar-Bit-Rare-E) | based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system. |
Aesthetic (Eh-Stetik) | concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty. |
Acuity (Uh-Kyoo-Itty) | sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing. |
Allusion (Uh-Loo-zhun) | an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect reference. |
Blasé (Blah-Zay) | indifference due to over-familiarity to something. |
Blatant (Blay-Tint) | very obvious; lacking in subtlety. |
Derogatory (Der-Ah-Gi-Tore-E) | showing a disrespectful attitude toward something. |
Discretion (Disk-Reshin) | behaving to avoid offense/revealing private information; the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation |
Eclectic (Eh-Klek-tik) | deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. |
Egregious (Egg-Reej-us) | outstandingly bad; shocking. |
Epitome (Eh-Pit-O-Me) | a thing that perfectly represents a particular quality or type. |
Esoteric (Eh-So-Tare-Ik) | intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge/interest. |
Euphemism (You-Fem-izm) | a milder/indirect word or phrase substituted for one considered to be too harsh when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. |
Excessive (Ek-Sess-Iv) | an overabundance of something; more than necessary. |
Fallacious (Fuh-Lay-Shiss) | based on a mistaken belief; pertaining to a fallacy. |
Facetious (Fuh-See-Shiss) | treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant. |
Lexicon (Lex-Ik-On) | the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge. |
Intangible (In-Tanj-Ible) | having no physical aspect; impossible to grasp/understand. |
Intuitive (In-Too-It-Iv) | understandable through common sense. |
Inundated (In-Un-Dated) (Verb/Adj.) | Overwhelm with things or people to be dealt with. |
Inquisitive (In-Quiz-It-Iv) | Curious or inquiring; seeking answers. |
Irreverent (Ih-Rev-Er-Int) | Showing a lack of seriousness/respect toward something. |
Meta (Meh-Tuh / Metal without the L) | (Of a creative work) referring to itself or to the conventions of its genre; self-referential. |
Nuance (Noo-Awns / almost sounds like New Aunts) | A subtle difference, advanced insight, or fresh take. |
Obligatory (Ob-Lig-Uh-Tore-E) | Required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory; expected. |
Sardonic (Sar-Don-Ick) | Grimly mocking or cynical; possessing a dark sense of humor. |
Pervasive (Pur-Vase-Iv) | Especially of an unwelcome influence; spreading widely throughout an area/group. |
Plausible (Plozz-Uh-Bull) | (Of an argument or statement) seemingly reasonable or probable. |
Proverbial (Pruh-Ver-Bee-Ull) (Adj.) | (Of a word or phrase) referred to in a proverb or idiom; well known especially so as to be stereotypical. |
Semantic (Seh-Man-Tik / almost like Cement) | Pertaining to the use of words; relating to the meaning of language or words. |
Suboptimal (Sub-Op-Tim-Ull) | Of less than the highest standards or quality. |
Sufficient (Suh-Fish-Int) (Adj.) | Good enough; adequate. |
Superfluous (Sup-Er-Floo-Us) | Profoundly unnecessary; profusely more than enough. |
Ubiquitous (Yoo-Bik-Wit-Iss) | Present, appearing, or found everywhere; known to all. |
Etymology (Eh-Tim-All-Uh-Gee) | The study of the origin and change in meaning of words throughout history. |
Epistemological (Eh-Pist-Em-O-Loj-Ikal) | the study/theory of knowledge and how it is validated. |
Archetypal (Ark-Uh-Tip-Ull) | see epitome: very typical of a certain kind of person or thing |
Profane (Pro-Fayn) | related to that which is not scared; not respectful toward a system of belief; of uncouth language. |
Plethora (Pleh-Thor-Uh) | a large or excessive amount of something; plenty. |
Myriad (Meer-E-Ad) | a countless or extremely great number: a unit of ten thousand in classical history. |
Pariah (Pur-I-Uh) | an outcast; one shunned from a group. |
Substantial (Sub-Stan-Shull) | see sufficient; enough or having provided enough substance, material, or evidence. |
Heretical (Hair-Uh-Tik-Ull) | holding an opinion that is at odds/opposed to what is generally accepted. |
Anomaly (Uh-Nom-Uh-Lee) | something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. |
Cacophony (Kuh-Koff-Uh-Nee / Think Cocoon Cough a Knee) | a tumult; a harsh discordant mixture of sounds. |
Capricious (Kuh-Prish-Us) | prone to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. |
Vehemently (Vee-Hem-Ent-Lee) | in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling. |
Hors d'oeuvre (Or-Derv / Tricky French words!!) | a small savory dish, typically one served as an appetizer at the beginning of a meal. |
Erroneously (Air-Own-E-Us-Lee) | done mistakenly; in error. |
Posthumously (Posst-Hyoom-Us-Lee) (Adj.) | after the death of the originator/author; relating to an award given after the life of a writer/actor/etc.. |
Litigious (Lit-Ij-Us) | unreasonably prone to go to law to settle disputes. Sue-happy. |
Magnanimous (Mag-Nam-Im-Us) | generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person; Latin-derived: great (magnus) soul (animus). |
Mnemonic (Neh-Maw-Nik) | a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something, for example Roy G. BIV for the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). |
Obscure (Ub-Skyer/Ub-Skyoor) (Verb/Adj.) | Not discovered or known about; uncertain. keep from being seen; conceal. See esoteric. |
Cognate (Cog-Nate) | a word in two languages that share a similar meaning, spelling, and pronunciation. |
Impetus (Im-Peh-Tis) | the cause of something; the force or energy with which something moves. |
Petulant (Petch-You-Lint) | (of a person or their behavior) childishly sulky or bad-tempered. |
Pedantic (Peh-Dan-Tick) | of or like a pedant (one who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning). |
Ennui (On-Wee) | a feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction caused by a lack of excitement or overfamiliarity. |
Platitude (Pl-attitude) | a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful. |
Idiosyncratic (Idio-Sink-Rat-Tick) | relating to/described as a peculiar trait or habit unique to an individual. |
Ostensible (Aw-Sten-Sa-Bull) | stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. |
Clandestine (Clan-Deh-Steen) | kept secret or done secretively. |
Microcosm (Micro-Cause-Um) | a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating/representing (in miniature) the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger. |
Rhetorical (Reh-Tore-Ick-Al) | (of a question) asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information/response. |
Comeuppance (Come-Up-Inss) | a punishment or fate that someone deserves. |
Precocious (Preh-Kosh-Iss) | (of a child) having developed certain abilities or knowledge at an earlier age than usual. |
Deceitful (Dee-Seat-Full) | guilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading others; hiding ones true motives often to hide negative behavior. |
Vapid (Vapp-Id) | offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging. |
Spontaneous (Spawn-Tayn-E-Us) | occurring without apparent cause; spur of the moment. |
Affinity (Uh-Fin-It-E) | A love, fondness, or affection for some thing; a proclivity towards. |
Rigmarole (Rig-Uh-Muh-Roll) | Any long complicated procedure; a set of incoherent or pointless statements; garbled nonsense. |
Lethargic (Leh-Thar-Jick) | Sluggish and apathetic; lacking energy. |
Apathy (App-Uh-Thee) | Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. |
Enticing (En-Tai-Sing) (Adj.) | Strongly attractive or alluring. |
Naïve (Nai-Eev) | (Of a person/action) displaying a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement; innocent to a fault. |
Compulsory (Com-Pulse-or-E) | Required or compelled by law : mandatory, obligatory. |
Faux pas (Fo-Paw / (Tricky French words!!)) | An embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation; posting cringe. |
Deficit (Deff-Uh-Sit) | The amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small. |
Imperative (Im-Pare-Uh-Tiv) | Of vital importance; crucial; essential. |
Erratic (E-Rat-Tick) | Moving or behaving in a way that is not regular, certain, or expected. |
Benign (Be-9) | Kind, gentle, or meek; (of a disease) not harmful in effect. |
De Facto (Dee-Fact-O) | In fact, or in effect, whether by right or not; effectively. |
Zeitgeist (Zite-Guy-St) | The defining spirit/mood of a period of history; predominant ideas and beliefs of the time. |
Concise (Cons-Ice) | Minimal words; maximal info. |
Delusional (Dee-Loo-Zhun-L) | Holding false beliefs or judgements despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary. |
Niche (Neesh) | A comfortable or suitable position in life or employment; a specialization of a person/animal. |
Self-Indulgent (Self-In-Dull-Jint) | Unrestrained gratification of one's desires/appetite. |
Ludicrous (Loo-Duh-Kris) (Not to be confused with rapper Ludacris) | So foolish/unreasonable or out of place, so as to be amusing; ridiculous. |
Unfathomable (Un-Fath-Um-Uh-Bull) | Incapable of fully being understood/comprehended. |
Ominous (Om-In-Us) | Having a menacing or threatening presence or aspect; unsettling. |
Malicious (Muh-Lish-Iss) (rhymes with Delicious) | Full of malice; intending to do harm. |
Colloquialism (Kuh-Low-Key-Uh-Lizm) | An informal word/phrase used regionally or by a specific group; slang. |
Eccentric (Ek-Sent-Rick) (Adj.) | (Of a person or their behavior) unconventional/unusual and slightly strange (not necessarily negative). |
Exploit (Eks-Ployt) (Noun/Verb) | Make use of a source, often maliciously or by breaking rules/taking advantage of a system. |
Gestalt (Gesh-Stalt) (German word) (Adj.) | An organized whole seen as more than the sum of its parts. |
Mischievous (Miss-Chi-Viss) (Adj.) | (Of a person, animal, or their behavior) causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way. |
Ambiguous (Am-Big-You-Us) (Noun) | Unclear or open to multiple interpretations. |
Livid (Lih-Vid) | Seething; furiously angry; outraged. |
Extrapolate (X-Trap-O-Late) (Verb) | Using prior knowledge to an unknown situation by assuming that similar methods or trends apply. |