Define:
burgeon
(burr-djun)
v. to grow
The burgeoning mass of bees was heading straight for the picnic.
Define:
exacting
(ig-zak-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
The exacting professor wanted a 15-page paper due the next day in class.
Define:
rebuke
(rih-byook)
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
The child was rebuked for stealing candy.
Define:
dulcet
(duhl-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
The dulcet tone of the musical parody contrasted sharply with its offensive lyrics.
Define:
toady
(toh-dee)
n. a flatterer, a yes man
The president was surrounded by toadies rather than people with honest criticisms.
Define:
gall
(gawl)
n. audacity, impudence
He had the gall to request a raise after it was discovered that he was calling in sick in order to play golf.
Define:
cloying
(kloi-ing)
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
Unfortunately, cloying romantic comedies are sure box-office hits, and so Hollywood continues to churn them out.
Define:
sully
(suhl-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
Joe’s reputation as an ethical CEO was sullied by his selfish actions during his company’s merger.
Define:
defile
(dih-fahyl)
v. to dirty, spoil, or dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
The holy site was unwittingly defiled when the invaders, for whom it held no special meaning, used it as a stable.
Define:
pithy
(pith-ee)
adj. concise and relevant
Satya’s pithy keynote speech was more enlightening than the endless lectures that had preceded it.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to grow
burgeon
(burr-djun)
synonyms: blossom, grow, expand
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
exacting
(ig-zak-ting)
synonyms: claim, command; difficult, formidable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
rebuke
(rih-byook)
synonyms: berate, blame, condemn
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
dulcet
(duhl-sit)
synonyms: melodious, pleasurable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a flatterer, a yes man
toady
(toh-dee)
synonyms: doter, brownnoser
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. audacity, impudence
gall
(gawl)
synonyms: nerve, brashness
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
cloying
(kloi-ing)
synonyms: cheesy, overly sentimental, sappy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
sully
(suhl-ee)
synonyms: stain, blot, smear
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to dirty, spoil, dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
defile
(dih-fahyl)
synonyms: befoul, besmirch
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. concise and relevant
pithy
(pith-ee)
synonyms: concise, cogent, precise
