CAT Vocab (Part-I)

7/29/2019 CAT Vocab (Part-I)

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WORDS AND RELATIONSHIPS

(PART I)

ABSCOND:To leave secretly

Syn: Flee, Decamp, Escape

Ex: Before the police could arrive, the thief ABSCONDED from the site.

Roots: Ab means away; Sconc means hide

Related Words: Abstain, Abjure, Abstemious, Ensconce, Conceal

ABATE: To reduce in amount, degree, or severity.

Syn: Lapse, Let up, Moderate, Relent, Slacken, Subside, Wane

Ex: As the storm ABATED, the sea became calm.

ABSTAIN: to choose not to do something

Syn: Refrain, Withhold

Ex:The doctor advised him to ABSTAIN from alcohol.

ABYSS: an extremely deep hole

Syn: Chasm, Void

Ex:The mountain trail ran along the edge of an ABYSS (n).

Related words: Abyssal: pertaining to great depth; Abysmal: extremely bad

ADULTERATE: to make impure

Syn: Doctor.Ex:The milkman ADULTERATED the milk with water.

Roots: Ad means to; Alter means other

Related words: Adultery:an illicit relationship

ADVOCATE: to speak in favor of

Syn: Back, Champion, Support

Ex: A vegetarian will always ADVOCATE a diet without meat.

Roots: Ad means to; Voc means call or speak to speak for another

Related Words: Convocation, Revocation, Advocacy

AESTHETIC: concerning the appreciation of beauty.

Syn: Artistic, Tasteful

Ex: Followers of the AESTHETIC Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only purpose of art.

Roots: Aesth means sense or perception

Related Words: Anesthesia, Aesthete: someone unusually sensitive to beauty.


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ANALOGOUS: Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

Syn: Alike, Comparable, Corresponding, Equivalent, Parallel, Similar

Ex:The term depression is ANALOGOUS to sadness and dejection.

Roots: Log means speak

Related Words: Analogy: a similarity between things otherwise dissimilar; Analogue: something similar in

some way to something else; Dialogue

ANOMALY: deviation from what is normal

Syn: Aberration, Abnormality, Deviation, Irregularity, Preternaturalness

Ex: It is an ANOMALY to have six fingers, instead of five, among humans.

Related words -: Anomalous: deviating from what is normal

ANTAGONIZE: to annoy or provoke to anger

Syn: Clash, Conflict, Incite, Irritate, Oppose, Pester, Provoke, Vex

Ex:The union leader ANTAGONIZED the labour against the companys officials.Roots: Anti means opposed; Agony means suffering

Related words - Antagonistic: tending to provoke conflict.

ANTIPATHY: extreme dislike

Syn: Animosity, Animus, Antagonism, Aversion, Hostility, Repellence

Ex:The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English led to recurrent eruptions of violence.

Roots: Anti means against; Pathos means suffering

Related Words: Empathy, Sympathy, Apathy, Pathology

APATHY: lack of interest or emotion

Syn: Coolness, Disinterest, Disregard, Impassivity, Indifference, Insensibility, Unconcern, Unresponsiveness.

Ex:The APATHY among voters is so great that fewer than half the eligible ones actually bother to do so.

Roots: A means not; Pathos means suffering

ARBITRATE: to judge a dispute between two opposing parties.

Syn: Adjudge, Adjudicate, Decide, Determine, J udge, Moderate, Referee

Ex: Since the couple could not arrive at a mutual agreement, they sought assistance of law to ARBITRATE

their divorce proceedings.

Related words -: Arbitration:a process by which a conflict is resolved

ARCHAIC: ancient, old-fashioned

Syn: Ancient, Antique, Bygone, Dowdy, Fusty, Obsolete, Old-fashioned, Outdated, Outmoded, Pass,

Prehistoric, Stale, Superseded, Vintage.

Ex: Her ARCHAIC computer was not compatible with the latest software.

Roots: Archae means old

Related word: Archaism: an outdated word or phrase, Archaeology


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ARDOR: intense and passionate feeling.

Syn: Devotion, Enthusiasm, Fire, Passion, Zeal,

Ex: His ARDOR for beauty was evident in his passionate description of the Taj Mahal.

Related words: Ardent: expressing ardor; passionate.

ARTICULATE: able to speak clearly and expressively

Syn: Expressive, F luent, Lucid, Silver-Tongued, Smooth-Spoken

Ex: It is essential that you ARTICULATE your ideas well if you want the committee to consider them.

ASSUAGE: to lessen, to calm

Syn: Alleviate, Appease, Comfort, Conciliate, Mollify, Pacify, Relieve, Soothe.

Ex:The teacher ASSUAGED the students fears with her motivating words.

ATTENUATE: to lessen in severity; to weaken

Syn: Dilute, Rarefy, Sap, Undermine, Undo, Unnerve, Weaken.Ex:The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of the government to change laws at will.

Roots: Ten means stretch

Related Words: Tension, Tenacious

AUDACIOUS: fearless and daring

Syn: Adventuresome, Assertive, Bold, Brave, Courageous, Daring, Doughty, Fearless, Gallant

Ex: An AUDACIOUS person will always stand up against the evil practices of society.

AUSTERE: severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

Syn: Bleak, Dour, Grim, Hard, Harsh, Severe

Ex:The plain architecture of the Zen temples seems AUSTERE to the layman.

Related words: Austerity: severity, especially poverty

BANAL: dull or stale because of overuse, boring

Syn: Hackneyed, Insipid, Stereotypic, Worn-out

Ex:The repetitive exhortations of the septuagenarian leader have become BANAL indeed.

Related words: BANALITY: the quality of being banal

BOLSTER: to support; to prop up

Syn: Brace, Buttress, Sustain, Underpin, Uphold.

Ex:The presence of pugmarks BOLSTERED the argument that the beast was hiding nearby.

BOMBASTIC: pompous in speech and manner

Syn: Declamatory, Rhetorical, Self-important

Ex: His speeches were mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims seemed baseless.


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CACOPHONY: harsh, jarring noise

Syn: Discord, Chaos, Disharmony, Noise,

Ex: Members of the junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune

their instruments.

Roots: Caco means bad; Phone means sound

CANDID: impartial, free from prejudice or bias

Syn: Forthright, Frank, Honest, Open, Sincere, Straightforward, Undisguised,

Ex: Professional journalists are expected to be CANDID.

Roots: Cand means light or bright

Related Words: Candle, Incandescent

CAPRICIOUS: changing ones mind quickly and often

Syn: Arbitrary, Chance, Changeable, Erratic, Fickle, Inconstant, Random, Whimsical, Willful

Ex:The king was quite CAPRICIOUS; passing a law on one day, and replacing it with another, the next.Roots: Cap means head

Related words: Per capita; Capital; Decapitate

CASTIGATE: to punish or criticize harshly

Syn: Admonish, Chide, Rebuke, Reproach, Scold

Ex: Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what

would be considered minor crimes in the United States.

CATALYST: a person or a thing that acts as the stimulus in bringing about or hastening the result.

Ex: The J allianwala Bagh massacre served as a CATALYST for young minds to fight for the freedom of the

nation.

CAUSTIC: biting

Ex: Dorothy Parker gained reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insinuations.

Roots: Caus or Caut means burn

Related Words: Cauterize, Holocaust

CHAOS: great disorder or confusion

Syn: Confusion, Disarrangement, Disarray, Disorder, Disorganization, Mess, Muddle, Turmoil

Ex:The children created a CHAOS when they learned that their trip had been postponed indefinitely.

Related Words: Chasm

CHAUVINIST: someone prejudiced in favour of a group he or she belongs to

Syn: Partisan

Ex:The attitude that men are inherently superior to women is common among male CHAUVINISTS.


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CHICANERY: deception by means of craft or guile

Ex: Dishonest salesmen indulge in CHICANERY to sell beat-up old cars.

COGENT: convincing and well reasoned

Syn: Convincing, Persuasive, Sound, Valid

Ex: Swayed by the COGENT argumentation of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the

defendant.

Roots: Co means together; ag means act

Related Words: Agent, Cooperate, Common

CONDONE: to overlook, pardon, or disregard

Syn: Exculpate, Excuse, Remit.

Ex:The teacher CONDONED the unruly behaviour of the students.

Roots: Con means together; Don means give

Related Words: Convocation, Donation

CONVOLUTED: rolled up, intricate and complicated

Syn: complex, knotty, tangled, intricate

Ex: It is very difficult to interpret the CONVOLUTED theories propounded in this book.

Roots: Con means together; vol means roll

Related Words: Revolution, Involve

CORROBORATE. To confirm, bolster, support

Syn: Authenticate, Back, Bear out, Buttress, Confirm, Substantiate, Validate

Ex: The forensic evidence CORROBORATED the witnesss testimony that he had seen the accused in the

victims apartment.

Roots: Co means together; Rob means strengthen

Related Words: Robust

CREDULOUS: tending to believe too readily, gullible

Syn: Naive, Susceptible, Trusting,

Ex: Only the most CREDULOUS person could believe in the existence of fairies.

Roots: Cred means faith or trust

Related Words: Incredible, Discredit, Credence

CRESCENDO: steadily increasing volume or force

Ex: It became difficult for me to concentrate on my studies because of the CRESCENDO of voices emanating

from the neighbourhood festivities.

Roots: Cre means make; Scend means going towards

Related Words: Adolescent, Crescent


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DEBONAIR Affable, charming, urbane, well-bred

Ex:The DEBONAIR young man is always elegantly dressed and displays easy mannerism.

Roots: From French De, Bon, and Air Of good birth

Related Words: Bonjour, Bonanza

DECORUM: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

Syn: Correctness, Decency, Etiquette, Manners

Ex: Students are expected to maintain DECORUM in the classroom.

Roots: Decor means elegance

Related Words: Decorate

DEFERENCE: respect, courtesy

Syn: Honor, Homage, Respect, Reverence,

Ex:The young law clerk treated the well known juror with DEFERENCE.

DERIDE: to speak of or treat with contempt; to make

Syn: gibe, jeer, mock, scoff, sneer

Ex:The awkward child was often DERIDED by his peers.

Roots: De means down or out; Ride

Related Words: Derision, Decrease

DESICCATE: to dry out thoroughly

Syn: Dry, Parch, Dehydrate

Ex:You will have to DESICCATE these fruits in order to preserve them.

DIATRIBE: to scold, condemnatory speech

Ex:The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had overtaken him.

Roots: Dia means across; Trib means difficulty

Related Words: Diagram, Diagnose, Tribulations

DESULTORY: jumping from on thing to another; disconnected

Syn: Aimless, Erratic, Haphazard, Purposeless, Random, Stray

Ex:The discussion was dull and DESULTORY.

Roots: De means down or out; Sult means jump

Related Words: Result, Insult

DIFFIDENT: shy, timid

Syn: Backward, Bashful, Coy, Demure, Modest, Retiring Shy, Timid

Ex:You cannot afford to be DIFFIDENT in such a competitive workplace.

Roots: Fid means faith

Related Words: Confidence, Hi Fidelity, Infidel


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DILATE: to make larger; to expand

Syn: Amplify, Develop, Elaborate, Enlarge, Expand, Expatiate

Ex: When you enter a dark room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light.

Roots: Latus means side to stretch to sides

Related Words: Multilateral, Relate

DILATORY: intended to delay.

Syn: Dragging, Laggard, Lagging, Slow, Slow-Going, Slow-Paced, Tardy

Ex:The opposition used DILATORY measures to delay the passing of the bill.

DILETTANTE: someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic.

Syn: Amateur, Dabbler, Superficial, Tyro

Ex: I consider myself but a DILETTANTE in the exalted company of veterans.

DIRGE: a natural hymn or mournful speech.Syn: Elegy, Lament

Ex:The DIRGE at the funeral service was highly emotive.

DISABUSE: clarify

Syn: Correct, Undeceive,

Ex: Galileos observations DISABUSED the notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth.

Roots: Dis, Ab and Use

DISCERN: to perceive; to recognize

Syn: Catch, Detect, Differentiate, Discriminate, Distinguish,

Ex: It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and margarine.

DISPARATE: fundamentally different; entirely unlike

Syn: Different, Dissimilar, Divergent, Diverse, Variant, Various

Ex: Although the twins appear to be identical, they have DISPARATE personalities.

Roots: Dis means apart; Par means equal

Related Words: Apartheid, parity, Compare

DISSEMBLE: to present a false appearance; to disguise ones real intentions or character

Syn: Act, Counterfeit, Cover up, Disguise, Dissimulate, Fake, Feign, Mask, Pose, Pretend

Ex: Not being able to DISSEMBLE his naivety, he blurted out the truth.

Roots: Dis means apart; Sim means copy

Related Words: Simulate


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DISSONANCE: disharmony, conflict

Syn: Clash, Contention, Discord, Dissension, Dissent, Friction, and Variance

DISSONANCE occurs when long-standing beliefs are controverted by new evidence.

Roots: Dis means apart; Son means sound

Related Words: Consonance, Resonance, Sonorous

DOGMA: a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief

Syn: Creed, Doctrine, Teaching, Tenet

Ex: Religious DOGMA held Sati in high esteem in 16th and the 17th century India.

Roots: Dox means opinion

Related Words: Paradox, Orthodox, Dogmatic

DOGMATIC: dictatorial in ones opinions

Syn: Authoritarian, Bossy, Dictatorial, Domineering, Masterful, Overbearing,

Ex: DOGMATIC beliefs preclude logical argumentation.DUPE: to deceive

Ex:The thief was able to DUPE the police by disguising himself as a woman.

ECLECTIC: selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

Syn: Selective, Broad

Ex: He has an ECLECTIC taste in art, ranging from Picasso to M. F. Hussein.

Roots: Lect means choose

Related Words: Elect, Select

EFFICACY: effectiveness

Syn: Dynamism, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Proficiency

Ex: A drug, if overused, loses its EFFICACY.

Related words: EFFICACIOUS: effective; productive

ELEGY: a sorrowful poem or speech

Syn: Dirge, Lament

Ex: Upon conclusion of the ELEGY, the coffin was closed

ELOQUENT: persuasive and moving, especially in speech

Syn: Articulate, Expressive, Fluent, Meaningful, Significant, Smooth-Spoken.

Ex:The defense lawyer made an ELOQUENT plea for his clients acquittal.

Roots: Loq means speak

Related Words: Loquacious, Breviloquent


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ERUDITE: learned, scholarly, bookish

Syn: Scholastic, Learned, Wise

The symposium on philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ERUDITE individuals in the field.

ESOTERIC: known or understood by only a few

Syn: Abstruse, Arcane, Obscure

Ex:The ESOTERIC concept of existentialism is not easily understood.

Roots: Eso means within

Related Words: Exoteric

ESTIMABLE: something that can be estimated or evaluated, worthy of esteem

Syn: Admirable, Respected, Appreciable, Meritorious, Praiseworthy, Respectable, Venerable

Ex: Most people consider it ESTIMABLE that Mother Teresa spent her life serving the poor.

Related words: Esteem: regard

EULOGY: speech in praise of someone

Ex: Shakespeares EULOGY for his beloved is expressed in his sonnets.

Roots: Eu means good; Log means speak or learn

Related Words: Eugenics, Euphemism, Biology, Psychology

EUPHEMISM: a mild inoffensive word or phrase used instead of one thought to be harsh or embarrassing

(good word)

Syn: Circumlocution, Whitewash

Ex: Remains is a EUPHEMISM for corpse.

EXACERBATE: to make worse

Syn: Annoy, Aggravate, Intensify, Irritate, Provoke

Ex: It is unwise to take aspirin to relieve heartburn. Instead of providing relief, it may EXACERBATE the

problem.

Roots: Ex means out or beyond; Acer means bitter

Related Words: Acrimonious, Acrid

EXCULPATE: to clear from blame; prove innocent

Syn: Absolve, acquit, Clear, Exonerate, Vindicate

Ex: The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to EXCULPATE those who

are innocent.

Roots: Ex means out; Culp means fault

Related Words: Culprit, Inculpate, Culpable


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EXIGENT: calling for immediate action or attention

Syn: Critical, Imperative, Needed, Urgent.

Ex:The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of the bleeding.

Related Words: Urge, Urgent, Emergent, Exigency

EXONERATE: to clear of blame

Syn: Absolve, Acquit, Clear, Exculpate, Vindicate

The accused was EXONERATED when no charges could be proven against him.

Roots: Ex means out; Oner means burden

Related Words: Exculpate, Onerous, Onus

EXPLICIT: clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

Syn: Candid, Frank, Straightforward, Unequivocal

Ex: Linda left a list of EXPLICIT instructions for the baby-sitter.

Roots: Ex means out; Plic means fold free from foldsRelated Words: Implicit, Implicate, Complicity

EXTEMPORE: Offhand, spontaneously, unprepared

Ex: He appears to have perfected the art of EXTEMPORE speech.

Roots: Ex means out; Tempor means time

Related Words: Temporary, Temporaneous

FANATICA: filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion

Syn: Extremist, Fiery, Frenzied, Zealous

Ex:Your FANATICAL attitude could pose many problems to the resolution of this issue.

FAWN: to act servile, cringe and flatter

Syn: Bootlick, Grovel, Toady, Pander

Ex: Mohan was disliked by his staff as he always FAWNED upon the seniors to gain favours.

FERVID: intensely emotional; feverish

Syn: Burning, Impassioned, Passionate, Vehement, Zealous.

Ex: Lucy is a FERVID Michael J ackson fan.

Roots: Ferv means bubble

Related Words: Fervour, Effervescent

FLORID: excessively decorated or embellished, decorated with flowers

Syn: Elaborate, Ornate

Ex:The FLORID decorations were ruined by the rain.

Related Words: Flower


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FOMENT: to arouse or incite

Syn: Agitate, Impassion, Inflame, Instigate, Kindle

Ex: Politicians often FOMENT trouble for their own vested interests.

Related Words: Fomentation

FRUGALITY: a tendency to be thrifty, calculating

Syn: Economical, Parsimony, Prudence, Sparing

Ex: FRUGALITY is not a matter of choice, but a necessity for the poor.

GARRULOUS: tending to talk a lot

Syn: Effusive, Loquacious

The GARRULOUS parakeet bothered its owner with its continuous talking.

GREGARIOS: outgoing, sociable

Syn: Affable, Congenial, Communicative, SociableEx: She is GREGARIOUS by nature.

Roots: Greg means herd or group

Related Words: Segregate, Aggregate, Congregation

GUILE: deceit or trickery

Syn: Artifice, Chicanery, Conniver, Duplicity

Ex: A child does not possess any GUILE.

GULLIBLE: easily cheated or tricked.

Syn: Nave

Ex: He is GULLIBLE enough to be fooled by just about anybody.

HOMOGENOUS: of a similar kind

Syn: Consistent, Standardized, Uniform, Unvarying

Ex: Since all the students in the class were science graduates, the class was fairly HOMOGENOUS.

Roots: Homo means same; Gen means birth

Related Words: Genus, Heterogeneous

CAT Vocab (Part-I)

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