List 17
1. Acclaim (uh-KLAYM)
Meaning:
- Praise with great approval.
- Enthusiastic approval.
Mnemonic:
Picture an a-clap claim—a crowd clapping so hard for a performer they start claiming their greatness!
Sentence:
The artist received acclaim for her groundbreaking performance.
2. Ascertain (as-er-TAYN)
Meaning: Find out or learn with certainty.
Mnemonic:
Imagine Sherlock Holmes saying, “Let’s ask certain questions to ascertain the truth.”
Sentence:
The detective worked tirelessly to ascertain the cause of the incident.
3. Assertive (uh-SUR-tiv)
Meaning: Confident and direct in claiming one’s rights or expressing ideas.
Mnemonic:
Think of someone assertively saying, “I’m a-sure-tive of what I want!”
Sentence:
Her assertive attitude helped her excel in negotiations.
4. Bogus (BOH-guhs)
Meaning: Fake or fraudulent.
Mnemonic:
Imagine buying a watch that says “Rolex,” but it’s spelled “Bolex”—so bogus!
Sentence:
The claim turned out to be completely bogus.
5. Cataclysmic (kat-uh-KLIZ-mik)
Meaning: Causing great disruption or upheaval.
Mnemonic:
Picture a cat in a closet causing a cataclysmic mess—clothes everywhere!
Sentence:
The earthquake had cataclysmic effects on the region.
6. Circumscribe (SUR-kum-skryb)
Meaning: Limit or restrict something narrowly.
Mnemonic:
Think of someone scribing a circle around you, keeping you circumscribed to a small space.
Sentence:
The contract circumscribes the company’s ability to expand.
7. Complementary (kom-pluh-MEN-tuh-ree)
Meaning: Enhancing or perfecting when combined with something else.
Mnemonic:
Imagine complimenting someone while holding two matching puzzle pieces—they’re complementary!
Sentence:
The flavors of the dish are complementary, creating a perfect balance.
8. Contentious (kun-TEN-shus)
Meaning: Causing or likely to provoke disagreement.
Mnemonic:
Think of a contest of shushes where everyone argues loudly to keep others quiet—so contentious!
Sentence:
The meeting became contentious when budget cuts were discussed.
9. Disingenuous (dis-in-JEN-yoo-uhs)
Meaning: Pretending to be sincere or straightforward.
Mnemonic:
Imagine a dishonest genius—brilliant but always disingenuous when complimenting others.
Sentence:
Her apology seemed disingenuous, as she repeated the same mistake later.
10. Divulge (dih-VULJ)
Meaning: Disclose or reveal information.
Mnemonic:
Think of a diver bulging out of the water to divulge a secret treasure map.
Sentence:
He refused to divulge details about the confidential project.
11. Dogmatic (dawg-MAT-ik)
Meaning: Insisting on one’s ideas without being open to others’.
Mnemonic:
Imagine a dog wearing a crown, barking orders in a dogmatic tone, not listening to anyone.
Sentence:
His dogmatic attitude made it hard to have a productive discussion.
12. Fallacious (fuh-LAY-shuhs)
Meaning: False or mistaken.
Mnemonic:
Picture someone falling for lies repeatedly—it’s clearly a fallacious belief!
Sentence:
The article was criticized for its fallacious arguments.
13. Foolhardy (FOOL-hahr-dee)
Meaning: Recklessly daring; careless.
Mnemonic:
Imagine someone hardly using their head when doing a stunt—clearly foolhardy!
Sentence:
It was foolhardy to climb the mountain without proper gear.
14. Hinder (HIN-der)
Meaning: Obstruct or delay progress.
Mnemonic: Imagine a hind leg tripping someone up while they run—it’s there to hinder their progress!
Sentence: The heavy traffic will hinder our ability to arrive on time.
15. Impair (im-PAIR)
Meaning: Weaken or affect negatively.
Mnemonic: Think of a car in need of repair because it’s impaired and can’t function properly.
Sentence: Alcohol can significantly impair your judgment.
16. Impugn (im-PYOON)
Meaning: Challenge the truth or honesty of something.
Mnemonic: Imagine someone saying, “I impugn your claims!” while throwing peanuts at you in a courtroom.
Sentence: The lawyer sought to impugn the credibility of the witness.
17. Incessant (in-SESS-uhnt)
Meaning: Constant or unending (of something bad or unpleasant).
Mnemonic: Imagine an insect incessantly buzzing in your ear—it’s relentless and never stops!
Sentence: The incessant noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
18. Inclined (in-KLYND)
Meaning: Feeling a tendency or preference towards something.
Mnemonic: Picture a person standing on an inclined plane, naturally leaning toward something.
Sentence: She felt inclined to accept the offer after hearing the details.
19. Inveterate (in-VET-er-it)
Meaning: Deep-rooted or long-established.
Mnemonic: Think of an old vet, who has an inveterate habit of telling war stories.
Sentence: His inveterate gambling habit was hard to break.
20. Miserly (MY-zer-lee)
Meaning: Reluctant to spend or share; greedy.
Mnemonic: Think of a miser who counts pennies and refuses to buy miserly amounts of candy for children.
Sentence: The miserly man refused to donate even a dollar to charity.
21. Patent (PAY-tent)
Meaning: Clear or obvious.
Mnemonic: Imagine a patent document with a giant neon sign reading, “OBVIOUS!”
Sentence: Her excitement was patent as she opened the gift.
22. Petulant (PEH-chuh-lunt)
Meaning: Irritable or impatient, especially over minor issues.
Mnemonic: Picture a pet throwing a tantrum because it wasn’t given its favorite treat—so petulant!
Sentence: His petulant behavior annoyed everyone at the meeting.
23. Pithy (PITH-ee)
Meaning: Expressing ideas in a concise, meaningful manner.
Mnemonic: Think of a pithy orange, where all the juice (meaning) is packed into a small peel (words).
Sentence: The speech was short and pithy, delivering a powerful message.
24. Pliant (PLY-uhnt)
Meaning: Flexible or easily influenced.
Mnemonic: Imagine a plywood ant that can bend into any shape—it’s super pliant!
Sentence: The young tree’s pliant branches swayed with the wind.
25. Sanctimonious (sangk-tuh-MOH-nee-uhs)
Meaning: Giving the impression that one is morally superior.
Mnemonic: Imagine someone saying, “I’m saintly-monious because I recycle every day!”
Sentence: His sanctimonious attitude made others feel judged and uncomfortable.
26. Sound (SOWND)
Meaning: Based on reason, sense, or judgment.
Mnemonic: Think of a sound bridge—it’s sturdy because it’s built with sound engineering principles.
Sentence: Her argument was sound and well-supported by evidence.
27. Tarnish (TAR-nish)
Meaning: Compromise, damage, or sully.
Mnemonic: Imagine a shiny silver vase covered in tar—its beauty is tarnished.
Sentence: His reputation was tarnished after the scandal.
28. Tepid (TEP-id)
Meaning: Exhibiting little passion or eagerness; lukewarm.
Mnemonic: Think of a tea pot with lukewarm water—so tepid it doesn’t steam anymore.
Sentence: The audience’s response was tepid, with only a few claps.
29. Upbraid (up-BRAYD)
Meaning: Criticize or scold severely.
Mnemonic: Imagine someone pulling up a braid and yelling, “What were you thinking?!”
Sentence: The teacher upbraided the student for being late again.
30. Vexation (vek-SAY-shun)
Meaning: The state of being irritated or incensed.
Mnemonic: Think of being stuck in a vexing situation, like losing your keys when you’re late.
Sentence: She could not hide her vexation after missing the bus.
Story Mode
Albert Einstein: A Life of Genius and Controversy
Albert Einstein, the iconic physicist, was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. His groundbreaking work in physics, particularly the theory of relativity, has earned him global acclaim. Yet, his journey was not without challenges or contentious debates in both his personal and professional life. From a young age, Einstein showed an inveterate curiosity about the world. His interest in unraveling the mysteries of the universe drove him to ascertain truths that others could only dream of. However, Einstein’s early academic life was marked by fallacious assumptions from his teachers, who believed he lacked potential—a belief that would later be proven emphatically bogus.
Einstein’s assertive pursuit of knowledge eventually led him to challenge the dogmatic principles of classical mechanics. His theories were so profound that they were often met with tepid responses from skeptics, though the scientific community eventually recognized their sound foundation. His equations, including ( E = mc^2 ), remain pithy yet powerful representations of the universe’s workings. Despite his achievements, Einstein’s personal life was a source of vexation. His relationships were often strained, and he was criticized for being emotionally distant—some even describing him as petulant. Yet, those close to him admired his pliant mind and his ability to adapt to new challenges. Einstein was no stranger to cataclysmic events, living through two world wars and witnessing the tarnish of humanity’s moral compass with the rise of nuclear weapons, a development ironically rooted in his discoveries. This led him to become an outspoken advocate for peace, a role that some considered sanctimonious, though he remained steadfast in his convictions.
In the face of adversity, Einstein refused to let his critics hinder his progress. He faced upbraid from peers who misunderstood his ideas but maintained his humility, refusing to act in a disingenuous manner. Instead, he consistently worked to divulge his insights to the world, believing that knowledge was humanity’s greatest treasure. By the end of his life, Einstein’s legacy was clear: a complementary blend of intellect and humanity. Though his contributions were often met with contentious debates, his genius is now celebrated universally. Einstein remains a shining example of how one person can overcome foolhardy doubts and create an impact so profound that it resonates through time.