bizarre
dramatically unusual, as in manner or appearance; strange
conducive
tending to promote or bring about
falter
to act or speak with uncertainty; hesitate
flaunt
to show off (something)
frenzy
a wild outburst of excited feelings or actions
gist
the main point or essential part of a matter; central idea
hamper
to limit, interfere with, or restrict
paradox
a statement that seems contradictory yet may be true
repertoire
a range or collection of skills or accomplishments
viable
workable; capable of being successful or effective
bizarre (sentence)
Wally's outfits may seem __________, but if you see him with his even stranger-looking friends, his
clothing looks quite ordinary.
conducive (sentence)
A deliciously warm and sunny April day is __________ to a bad case of spring fever.
falter (sentence)
Vincent __________(ed) on the first few notes of his piano piece but then played the rest without pausing.
flaunt (sentence)
Instead of enjoying their wealth quietly, the Stewarts __________ every new thing they buy in front of their poor relatives.
frenzy (sentence)
When Grace couldn't find her little son in the department store, she went into a __________ and didn't calm down until she knew he was safe.
gist (sentence)
We asked Alex to skip the details and get right to the __________ of the argument.
hamper (sentence)
The breakdown of telephone lines __________(ed) business all along the West Coast today.
paradox (sentence)
When Deanna kept postponing her decision about whether or not to go back to school, I reminded her of the __________: "No decision is also a decision.
repertoire (sentence)
In order to be successful in school, it's important to have a __________ of study strategies from which to choose.
viable (sentence)
The little boy quickly learned that using plastic tape is not a __________ solution to mending a broken vase.
commemorate
to honor the memory of someone or something, as with a ceremony; celebrate; observe
complacent
self-satisfied; feeling too much satisfaction with oneself or one's accomplishments
consensus
an opinion held by everyone (or almost everyone) involved
deplete
to use up
diligent
steady, determined, and careful in work
empathy
the ability to share in someone else's feelings or thoughts
menial
not requiring special skills to higher intellectual abilities
niche
an activity or situation especially suited to a person
transcend
to rise above or go beyond the limits of; exceed
waive
to willingly give up (as a claim, privilege, or right); do without
commemorate (sentence)
Each year, my parents __________ their first date by having dinner at McDonalds, the place where they first met.
complacent (sentence)
Getting all A's hasn't made Ivy __________. She continues to work hard at school.
consensus (sentence)
The family __________ was that we should go camping again this summer. Ray was the only one who wanted to do something else for a change.
deplete (sentence)
In order to not __________ their small quantity of canned food, the shipwreck survivors searched the
island for plants they would eat.
diligent (sentence)
I wish I had been more __________ about practicing the piano when I was younger. It would be nice to be able to play well now.
empathy (sentence)
Ms. Allen is an excellent career counselor partly because of her great __________. She understands each student's feelings and point of view.
menial (sentence)
Victor seems to think my summer job delivering pizza is __________ work, but I've found that it requires some skills.
niche (sentence)
Although her degree was in accounting, Laura decided her __________ was really in business management, so she went back to school for more training.
transcend (sentence)
Yoga can help one __________ the cares of the world and reach a state of relaxation.
waive (sentence)
The defendant decided to __________ his right to an attorney and, instead, speak for himself in court.
credible
believable
cursory
done quickly and without attention to detail
designate
to name to an office or duty; appoint
deviate
to turn aside or stray, as from a path, direction, or standard
improvise
to compose, perform, or provide without preparation
interim
the period of time in between; meantime
latent
present but hidden or inactive
secular
not directly related to religion; not spiritual; worldly
shun
to keep away from; avoid consistently
simulate
to act or look like; imitate
credible (sentence)
Some jurors doubted the witness's testimony, but most of them found it __________.
cursory (sentence)
Most people do only a __________ job of brushing their teeth. To avoid cavities, however, you must take the time to brush carefully.
designate (sentence)
A coworker was __________(ed) to present Jackie with the "Employee of the Year" award at the company banquet.
deviate (sentence)
If you __________ even a little from the test's directions, you might hurt your grade.
improvise (sentence)
Nadia is such an accomplished pianist that she can __________ accompaniments on the piano to songs that she's never hard before.
interim (sentence)
After the secretary left, it took two weeks for her replacement to arrive at the real-estate office. In the __________, the agents had to do their own typing.
latent (sentence)
Certain viruses, such as the one for AIDS, can be __________ in the body for years before symptoms appear.
secular (sentence)
While our government is __________, some governments are directly tied to a religion.
shun (sentence)
I used to see a lot of Tracy, but since our argument, she __________(s) me whenever possible.
simulate (sentence)
Equipment that __________(es) a human heart can keep someone alive only temporarily, until an actual heart can be substituted.
averse
having a feeling of dislike or distaste for something
detract
to lessen what is admirable or worthwhile about something
disdain
an attitude or feeling of contempt; scorn
divulge
to reveal; to make known
elation
a feeling of great joy or pride
endow
to provide with a talent or quality
expulsion
the act or condition of being forced to leave
mortify
to humiliate or embarrass
nullify
to make legally ineffective; cancel
ominous
threatening harm or evil; menacing
averse (sentence)
That little boy was once so __________ to tomatoes that the very sight of them made him gag.
detract (sentence)
All of the litter in the park certainly __________(s) from the beauty of the trees and flowers.
disdain (sentence)
The snobby waiter in the French restaurant viewed Tanya with __________ because she couldn't pronounce anything on the menu.
divulge (sentence)
It's against the law to ask people to __________ their age at a job interview.
elation (sentence)
The coach shouted with __________ when the school team scored the winning touchdown.
endow (sentence)
Nature has __________(ed) hummingbirds with the ability to fly backwards.
expulsion (sentence)
The manager told us we risked __________ from the theatre if we continued to
talk during the movie.
mortify (sentence)
It would __________ me if my voice were to crack during my choir solo.
nullify (sentence)
A soft drink company decided to __________ its contract with a well-known athlete because he was
convicted of drunken driving.
ominous (sentence)
The sore's failure to heal was __________, a possible sign of cancer.
benign
kindly; gentle
blase
unexcited or bored about something already experienced repeatedly
comprise
to consist of
condescend
to do something one feels is beneath oneself
facade
the front of something
glib
characterized by a smooth, easy manner of speaking that often suggests insincerity or thoughtlessness
haughty
proud of one's appearance or accomplishments to the point of looking down on others; arrogant
libel
the publishing of false information that harms a person's reputation
pseudonym
a false name used by an author; a pen name
redundant
wordy or needlessly repetitive
benign (sentence)
Finding a stranger on our doorstep startled me, but the __________ expression on his face told me not to worry.
blase (sentence)
The new staff members were enthusiastic at the weekly meetings, but the old-timers were pretty __________.
comprise (sentence)
The United Kingdom __________(es) of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
condescend (sentence)
The snobby millionaire wouldn't __________ to associate with anyone who wasn't also rich.
facade (sentence)
The __________ of the hotel -facing Main Street�was marble, but the sides and back were made of plain brick.
glib (sentence)
The man thought his conversation would impress Sandra, but she found it __________ and insincere.
haughty (sentence)
The Smiths acted as though they were better than anybody else. Not surprisingly, their __________ manner made them unpopular with their neighbors.
libel (sentence)
Many magazine editors double-check the facts they publish about a person. Then, if they are accused of __________, they can prove that they stated the truth.
pseudonym (sentence)
The author Stephen King uses a __________ on some of his books so readers won't be aware that so many of the horror novels on the market are his.
redundant (sentence)
The teacher wrote "__________" in several spots in the essay where Eric had repeated a point or used extra, unneeded words.