List 28

Abeyance

  • Pronunciation: uh-BAY-uhns
  • Meaning: Suspension; a state of temporary suppression or temporary inactivity
  • Mnemonic: “A-BAY-ANCE” (holding something in a temporary bay)
  • Example: The legal case was held in abeyance pending further investigation

Abstract

  • Pronunciation: AB-strakt (noun/adjective), ab-STRAKT (verb)
  • Meanings:
    1. Present in thought or concept but lacking physical existence
    2. To remove or consider something separately
  • Mnemonic: “ABS-TRACT” (pulling away from concrete reality)
  • Example: Quantum physics deals with many abstract concepts that cannot be directly observed

Affront

  • Pronunciation: uh-FRUNT
  • Meaning: An open or intentional offense, slight, or insult that causes personal injury or disrespect
  • Mnemonic: “A-FRONT” (an insult thrown directly in front of someone)
  • Example: His public criticism was a deliberate affront to her professional reputation

Agitate

  • Pronunciation: AJ-uh-tayt
  • Meaning: To make someone disturbed or excited; to stir up or provoke strong feelings
  • Mnemonic: “AG-ITATE” (creating a state of emotional unrest)
  • Example: The controversial political speech began to agitate the already tense crowd

August

  • Pronunciation: AW-guhst
  • Meaning: Noble and respected; awe-inspiring; impressive
  • Mnemonic: “AWE-GUST” (inspiring great respect)
  • Example: The august professor had earned worldwide recognition for his groundbreaking research

Burnish

  • Pronunciation: BUR-nish
  • Meaning: To improve or enhance; to polish by rubbing
  • Mnemonic: “BURN-ISH” (making something shine like it’s been burned to a polish)
  • Example: She worked hard to burnish her reputation in the competitive industry

Coy

  • Pronunciation: koy
  • Meaning: Being bashful, shy, or retiring; reluctant to give details about something
  • Mnemonic: “COY” (keeping to oneself like a shy kitten)
  • Example: The coy teenager blushed and looked away when asked about her crush

Deprecate

  • Pronunciation: DEP-ruh-kayt
  • Meaning: To belittle or express disapproval of; to criticize as being of little value
  • Mnemonic: “DE-PREC-ATE” (pushing down the value of something)
  • Example: The critic was known to deprecate emerging artists without giving them a fair chance

Disdain

  • Pronunciation: dis-DAYN
  • Meaning: The state of being despised; a feeling of contempt or scorn
  • Mnemonic: “DIS-DAIN” (actively pushing something away with contempt)
  • Example: She viewed his proposal with complete disdain, finding it utterly ridiculous

Disperse

  • Pronunciation: dis-PURS
  • Meaning: To scatter in different directions; to spread out
  • Mnemonic: “DIS-PERSE” (breaking apart and spreading)
  • Example: The crowd began to disperse after the concert ended

Distend

  • Pronunciation: dis-TEND
  • Meaning: To extend or expand, as from internal pressure; to swell or bulge
  • Mnemonic: “DIS-TEND” (extending outward under pressure)
  • Example: The balloon began to distend as more air was pumped inside

Endemic

  • Pronunciation: en-DEM-ik
  • Meaning: Regularly found and restricted to a particular area or population
  • Mnemonic: “END-EMIC” (confined to a specific geographic area)
  • Example: Malaria is endemic in certain tropical regions of Africa

Enmity

  • Pronunciation: EN-muh-tee
  • Meaning: The quality of being an enemy; deep-seated hostility or hatred
  • Mnemonic: “EN-MIGHTY” (powerful feelings of opposition)
  • Example: The long-standing enmity between the two families prevented any reconciliation

Gauche

  • Pronunciation: gohsh
  • Meaning: Awkward or lacking in social graces; socially uncomfortable
  • Mnemonic: “GOASH” (feeling uncomfortable in social situations)
  • Example: His gauche attempt at small talk only made the dinner party more uncomfortable

Hysterical

  • Pronunciation: hi-STER-i-kuhl
  • Meaning: Wildly emotional or exaggerated in reaction; uncontrollably emotional
  • Mnemonic: “HYST-ERICAL” (completely losing emotional control)
  • Example: The crowd became hysterical when their team won the championship

Impudent

  • Pronunciation: IM-pyuh-duhnt
  • Meaning: Not showing due respect; bold-faced, impertinent
  • Mnemonic: “IM-PUDENT” (refusing to be humble or respectful)
  • Example: The impudent teenager rolled his eyes when his teacher gave instructions

Inchoate

  • Pronunciation: in-KOH-eyt
  • Meaning: Recently started but not fully formed yet; rudimentary or undeveloped
  • Mnemonic: “IN-CHOA-TE” (in the early stages of development)
  • Example: The inchoate business plan needed significant refinement before presentation

Penchant

  • Pronunciation: PEN-chuhnt
  • Meaning: A taste, liking, or inclination toward something
  • Mnemonic: “PENCH-ANT” (leaning towards a particular preference)
  • Example: She had a penchant for collecting vintage photography equipment

Quandary

  • Pronunciation: KWAHN-duh-ree
  • Meaning: A dilemma; a difficult decision or situation with no clear solution
  • Mnemonic: “QUAN-DAIRY” (a problematic situation that’s hard to navigate)
  • Example: He was in a quandary about whether to accept the job offer or stay in his current position

Quarantine

  • Pronunciation: KWOR-uhn-teen
  • Meaning: To place into isolation to prevent the spread of any contagious disease
  • Mnemonic: “QUAR-ANTINE” (containing a potential health threat)
  • Example: Travelers returning from the infected region were required to quarantine for two weeks

Quash

  • Pronunciation: kwosh
  • Meaning: To void or suppress; to completely stop or put an end to something
  • Mnemonic: “QUASH-ed” (crushing an idea or action completely)
  • Example: The judge moved to quash the subpoena due to procedural errors

Quibble

  • Pronunciation: KWIB-uhl
  • Meaning: To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner; to nitpick
  • Mnemonic: “QUIB-ble” (making a big deal out of a small issue)
  • Example: The lawyer began to quibble about minor details instead of addressing the main argument

Ravage

  • Pronunciation: RAV-ij
  • Meaning: To devastate, destroy, or lay waste to something
  • Mnemonic: “RAGE-age” (complete destruction through violent force)
  • Example: The hurricane ravaged the coastal towns, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake

Recant

  • Pronunciation: ri-KANT
  • Meaning: To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly
  • Mnemonic: “RE-CANT” (taking back what was previously said)
  • Example: Under pressure, the scientist was forced to recant his controversial theory

Redoubtable

  • Pronunciation: ri-DOUT-uh-buhl
  • Meaning: Eliciting respect or fear; notably formidable
  • Mnemonic: “RE-DOUBT-ABLE” (causing others to doubt challenging you)
  • Example: The redoubtable lawyer was known for winning even the most difficult cases

Retiring

  • Pronunciation: ri-TAIR-ing
  • Meaning: Introverted and shy; liking privacy
  • Mnemonic: “RE-TIRE” (withdrawing from social interactions)
  • Example: The retiring researcher preferred working alone in her laboratory

Shrill

  • Pronunciation: shril
  • Meaning: High-pitched and piercing in sound quality
  • Mnemonic: “SHRI-LL” (a sound that makes you want to cover your ears)
  • Example: Her shrill voice cut through the noisy restaurant

Sophistry

  • Pronunciation: SOF-uh-stree
  • Meaning: Plausible yet fallacious argumentations or reasoning that appears clever but is actually false
  • Mnemonic: “SOPH-ISTRY” (seemingly smart but fundamentally flawed reasoning)
  • Example: The politician’s sophistry convinced many voters despite the logical holes in his argument

Substantiate

  • Pronunciation: suhb-STAN-shee-eyt
  • Meaning: To verify something by supplying evidence
  • Mnemonic: “SUB-STANCE-IATE” (providing the substance to prove something)
  • Example: The researcher worked to substantiate her hypothesis through careful experimentation

Wily

  • Pronunciation: WY-lee
  • Meaning: Sly, cunning, full of tricks
  • Mnemonic: “WILE-Y” (using clever and deceptive strategies)
  • Example: The wily businessman always found a way to outmaneuver his competitors