Get Cracking on these Challenging Words
Multiple-choice exercise
Choose the correct answer for each question.
Dilettante
- a superficial follower of art
- the ability to remain calm
- one's demeanour or manner
- steal something of little value
Inexorable
- relentless. unalterable
- a scornful, bitterly mocking attitude
- mistrust of women
- brazenly obvious
Notoriety
- inhabitant
- infamy, dishonour
- effective
- temporary outdoor camp
Nomad
- a splendid show, superb
- moving tribe without permanent place
- children
- a heavy upright shaft to support the roof
Offspring
- children
- moving tribe without permanent place
- a heavy upright shaft to support the roof
- a splendid show, superb
Madrigal
- a short love poem
- fickle and likely to change
- a bad mannered person
- proper or appropriate for
Hefty
- bright and shining
- continually changing pattern of shapes and colours
- unable to conquer
- big and strong
Boorish
- proper or appropriate for
- a short love poem
- a bad mannered person
- fickle and likely to change
Magnificent
- moving tribe without permanent place
- children
- a heavy upright shaft to support the roof
- a splendid show, superb
Lurid
- melodious and soothing
- educate morally or spiritually
- neat and trim
- horrible and revolting
Instigate
- provoke
- laughter
- unit of the Roman army, a large number
- immeasurable, unfathomable
Dividend
- a musical instrument
- the number being divided
- big and strong
- in a haphazard manner
Incumbent
- official who holds an office
- appeasable or capable of being pacified
- with a natural curve
- leaning or lying down
Prolong
- a device with curved blades that whirl around
- cyclone with heavy rains and winds
- a coat of feathers
- lengthen or extend in duration
Prairie
- a treeless grassy plain
- write letters to one another
- hold tightly
- polite, kind and thoughtful
Parable
- not clearly distinguishable
- sick or ill
- secretly made or obtained
- a moral story
Microphone
- inherent feeling and talent
- an instrument to transform sound waves into electrical current
- a handle to turn or a little lump
- dreamy thoughts
Pluvial
- recklessly daring
- lacking basic necessities of life
- abstain
- pertaining to rain
Germane
- cunning and deceitful
- relevant to the context
- chat informally
- wet or lacking in expression
Beneath
- a drink
- below, less important, inferior
- a large smooth wave
- sudden downward fall of large amount of snow
Insidious
- cunning and deceitful
- chat informally
- wet or lacking in expression
- relevant to the context
Dapper
- neat and trim
- horrible and revolting
- melodious and soothing
- educate morally or spiritually
Filch
- a superficial follower of art
- the ability to remain calm
- steal something of little value
- one's demeanour or manner
Propeller
- a device with curved blades that whirl around
- lengthen or extend in duration
- a coat of feathers
- cyclone with heavy rains and winds
Jurisprudence
- the philosophy of law
- a proofreading symbol
- unit of measurement for gold and precious stones
- the territorial range of authority
Expiation
- to grind the teeth together in anger
- dashing elegance of manner
- making amends for a sin
- natural tendency, propensity
Edify
- horrible and revolting
- neat and trim
- educate morally or spiritually
- melodious and soothing
Nursery
- a place for small children
- an ornament for the wrist
- land with fruit trees
- a place in the desert with water and plants
Fraternal
- not alike, different
- brotherly
- giddy
- hinder
Numismatist
- inclined to instruct others
- excessively talkative
- foolish and childish
- collector of coins
Instinct
- dreamy thoughts
- a handle to turn or a little lump
- an instrument to transform sound waves into electrical current
- inherent feeling and talent
Complacent
- undetermined
- sooty and smoky
- edible
- self-satisfied
Capricious
- a bad mannered person
- fickle and likely to change
- proper or appropriate for
- a short love poem
Miniature
- gloomy state of mind
- tiny
- wretchedly unhappy
- hard reddish brown wood
Ruminate
- to chew the cud
- nestle or cuddle and lie closely
- jelly made from animal bones
- lacking grace
Gelatine
- to chew the cud
- jelly made from animal bones
- lacking grace
- nestle or cuddle and lie closely
Melancholy
- wretchedly unhappy
- tiny
- hard reddish brown wood
- gloomy state of mind
Parsimonious
- destiny
- stinginess
- shrewd
- petty in giving or spending
Gawky
- to chew the cud
- lacking grace
- jelly made from animal bones
- nestle or cuddle and lie closely
Equanimity
- steal something of little value
- the ability to remain calm
- a superficial follower of art
- one's demeanour or manner
Pseudonym
- having a dark complexion
- bad tempered
- a pen name
- to clear of accusation with proof
Hindrance
- line at which sky and earth meet, range of perceptions
- to spend the winter in close quarters
- modest, simple and poor, lower in self esteem
- an obstruction
Denizen
- infamy, dishonour
- temporary outdoor camp
- inhabitant
- effective
Humble
- line at which sky and earth meet, range of perceptions
- an obstruction
- to spend the winter in close quarters
- modest, simple and poor, lower in self esteem
Harangue
- submissive respect
- deliver a long, pompous speech
- block completely
- foolishly sentimental
Plush
- make dirty
- a heavy, soft cloth
- huge and unwieldy
- after one's death
Colloquial
- conversational
- shrill and harsh sounding
- critical analysis of a literary passage
- an idea associated with a word
Abysmal
- laughter
- unit of the Roman army, a large number
- immeasurable, unfathomable
- provoke
Sacrosanct
- extremely sacred
- filled with a specified element
- severe
- unrestrained
Servile
- tangible
- irritable
- slavishly submissive
- cheerful
Jurisdiction
- unit of measurement for gold and precious stones
- the territorial range of authority
- a proofreading symbol
- the philosophy of law
Knob
- inherent feeling and talent
- dreamy thoughts
- a handle to turn or a little lump
- an instrument to transform sound waves into electrical current
Avalanche
- sudden downward fall of large amount of snow
- below, less important, inferior
- a large smooth wave
- a drink
Redundant
- extra, not necessary
- old fashioned
- gloomy
- pretense, deceptive action to mislead
Headway
- illegal and harmful plot
- the highest point
- one who suffers death for the sake of one's ideals
- forward movement
Dulcet
- neat and trim
- horrible and revolting
- educate morally or spiritually
- melodious and soothing
Inveterate
- mild or temperate
- loud and coarse laughter
- habitual
- use gestures
Laboratory
- the meeting place of railway lines and highways
- protected against disease
- room to try out experiments
- memento
Maudlin
- foolishly sentimental
- deliver a long, pompous speech
- block completely
- submissive respect
Kowtow
- foolishly sentimental
- submissive respect
- deliver a long, pompous speech
- block completely
Mortgage
- sustain with food
- place under advance obligation
- modern but unworthy ideas
- something erected in memory of a person
Plumage
- a device with curved blades that whirl around
- a coat of feathers
- lengthen or extend in duration
- cyclone with heavy rains and winds
Hibernate
- line at which sky and earth meet, range of perceptions
- an obstruction
- modest, simple and poor, lower in self esteem
- to spend the winter in close quarters
Cabal
- one who suffers death for the sake of one's ideals
- forward movement
- illegal and harmful plot
- the highest point
Harmonica
- big and strong
- the number being divided
- a musical instrument
- in a haphazard manner
Reverie
- dreamy thoughts
- a handle to turn or a little lump
- an instrument to transform sound waves into electrical current
- inherent feeling and talent
Cynicism
- mistrust of women
- brazenly obvious
- a scornful, bitterly mocking attitude
- relentless. unalterable
Indigent
- lacking basic necessities of life
- recklessly daring
- pertaining to rain
- abstain
Gnash
- natural tendency, propensity
- to grind the teeth together in anger
- making amends for a sin
- dashing elegance of manner
Helter-skelter
- big and strong
- a musical instrument
- the number being divided
- in a haphazard manner
Accolade
- a lawyer
- praise or recognition
- a trip for exploration
- signature
Nourish
- modern but unworthy ideas
- place under advance obligation
- something erected in memory of a person
- sustain with food
Surreptitious
- sick or ill
- not clearly distinguishable
- secretly made or obtained
- a moral story
Fuliginous
- undetermined
- sooty and smoky
- edible
- self-satisfied
Expostulate
- bend the knees in reverence
- remonstrate in a friendly way
- entire scale or range
- collector of postage stamps
Pinnacle
- the highest point
- one who suffers death for the sake of one's ideals
- forward movement
- illegal and harmful plot
Guffaw
- mild or temperate
- loud and coarse laughter
- use gestures
- habitual
Monument
- modern but unworthy ideas
- place under advance obligation
- sustain with food
- something erected in memory of a person
Horizon
- line at which sky and earth meet, range of perceptions
- an obstruction
- modest, simple and poor, lower in self esteem
- to spend the winter in close quarters
Efficacious
- inhabitant
- temporary outdoor camp
- effective
- infamy, dishonour
Clement
- loud and coarse laughter
- mild or temperate
- habitual
- use gestures
Caret
- unit of measurement for gold and precious stones
- a proofreading symbol
- the philosophy of law
- the territorial range of authority
Didactic
- collector of coins
- inclined to instruct others
- foolish and childish
- excessively talkative
Heinous
- ugly and unnatural in shape
- a hard grey rock
- uneasily impatient
- reprehensible
Feint
- extra, not necessary
- gloomy
- old fashioned
- pretense, deceptive action to mislead
Pinnacle
- check or square patterns
- the highest, culminating point
- great delight
- to break or burst
Genuflect
- remonstrate in a friendly way
- bend the knees in reverence
- collector of postage stamps
- entire scale or range
Philatelist
- collector of postage stamps
- bend the knees in reverence
- remonstrate in a friendly way
- entire scale or range
Distinct
- brotherly
- giddy
- not alike, different
- hinder
Cradle
- a small bed to rock the baby
- cause confusion and shame
- full of jealousy
- inclined to find fault
Stymie
- deliver a long, pompous speech
- submissive respect
- block completely
- foolishly sentimental
Expedition
- a trip for exploration
- praise or recognition
- signature
- a lawyer
Legion
- provoke
- immeasurable, unfathomable
- laughter
- unit of the Roman army, a large number
Indisposed
- sick or ill
- secretly made or obtained
- not clearly distinguishable
- a moral story
Attorney
- a trip for exploration
- signature
- a lawyer
- praise or recognition
Placable
- official who holds an office
- leaning or lying down
- with a natural curve
- appeasable or capable of being pacified
Rapture
- to break or burst
- check or square patterns
- the highest, culminating point
- great delight
Autograph
- a trip for exploration
- a lawyer
- signature
- praise or recognition
Beverage
- a large smooth wave
- below, less important, inferior
- a drink
- sudden downward fall of large amount of snow
Posthumous
- a heavy, soft cloth
- huge and unwieldy
- after one's death
- make dirty
Blizzard
- cover the eyes, impair clear thinking
- snowstorm
- a bunch of flowers
- a reel upon which thread is wound
Mattress
- exclusive right given to an inventor
- great mental depression
- high protecting wall
- a large thick pad to sleep on
Grotesque
- a hard grey rock
- uneasily impatient
- reprehensible
- ugly and unnatural in shape
Karma
- shrewd
- stinginess
- destiny
- petty in giving or spending
Keepsake
- room to try out experiments
- the meeting place of railway lines and highways
- protected against disease
- memento
Embarrass
- inclined to find fault
- cause confusion and shame
- a small bed to rock the baby
- full of jealousy
Bobbin
- snowstorm
- cover the eyes, impair clear thinking
- a reel upon which thread is wound
- a bunch of flowers
Bracelet
- a place for small children
- a place in the desert with water and plants
- an ornament for the wrist
- land with fruit trees
Orchard
- an ornament for the wrist
- a place in the desert with water and plants
- land with fruit trees
- a place for small children
Outbreak
- an opening
- marks to denote brackets
- unable to move the limbs
- beginning a riot or war
Sodden
- relevant to the context
- cunning and deceitful
- wet or lacking in expression
- chat informally
New-fangled
- sustain with food
- place under advance obligation
- modern but unworthy ideas
- something erected in memory of a person
Granite
- a hard grey rock
- reprehensible
- ugly and unnatural in shape
- uneasily impatient
Behove
- a bad mannered person
- a short love poem
- fickle and likely to change
- proper or appropriate for
Fawn
- breathe out air
- tired or wear out, use up
- a young deer
- persistent in doing anything
Prickly
- important and noticeable
- thorny
- overstate and enlarge abnormally
- a very small amount
Envious
- inclined to find fault
- a small bed to rock the baby
- full of jealousy
- cause confusion and shame
Parenthesis
- an opening
- unable to move the limbs
- marks to denote brackets
- beginning a riot or war
Morose
- gloomy
- pretense, deceptive action to mislead
- extra, not necessary
- old fashioned
Pollute
- make dirty
- after one's death
- a heavy, soft cloth
- huge and unwieldy
Martyr
- forward movement
- the highest point
- one who suffers death for the sake of one's ideals
- illegal and harmful plot
Puerile
- collector of coins
- inclined to instruct others
- foolish and childish
- excessively talkative
Luminous
- big and strong
- continually changing pattern of shapes and colours
- bright and shining
- unable to conquer
Billow
- a drink
- a large smooth wave
- sudden downward fall of large amount of snow
- below, less important, inferior
Oasis
- a place in the desert with water and plants
- a place for small children
- an ornament for the wrist
- land with fruit trees
Hurricane
- a device with curved blades that whirl around
- cyclone with heavy rains and winds
- a coat of feathers
- lengthen or extend in duration
Prominent
- important and noticeable
- overstate and enlarge abnormally
- a very small amount
- thorny
Modicum
- important and noticeable
- thorny
- a very small amount
- overstate and enlarge abnormally
Esculent
- sooty and smoky
- self-satisfied
- edible
- undetermined
Carat
- the territorial range of authority
- the philosophy of law
- unit of measurement for gold and precious stones
- a proofreading symbol
Grumpy
- bad tempered
- to clear of accusation with proof
- having a dark complexion
- a pen name
Clutch
- write letters to one another
- polite, kind and thoughtful
- a treeless grassy plain
- hold tightly
Wany also waney
- with a natural curve
- leaning or lying down
- official who holds an office
- appeasable or capable of being pacified
Palpable
- cheerful
- irritable
- tangible
- slavishly submissive
Swathe
- a place in a river where water flows fast
- recklessness
- fear of lightning and thunder
- wrap in bandages
Hamper
- giddy
- brotherly
- hinder
- not alike, different
Misogyny
- a scornful, bitterly mocking attitude
- mistrust of women
- relentless. unalterable
- brazenly obvious
Exaggerate
- important and noticeable
- overstate and enlarge abnormally
- thorny
- a very small amount
Bouquet
- snowstorm
- a reel upon which thread is wound
- cover the eyes, impair clear thinking
- a bunch of flowers
Courteous
- write letters to one another
- polite, kind and thoughtful
- a treeless grassy plain
- hold tightly
Critical
- cause confusion and shame
- a small bed to rock the baby
- inclined to find fault
- full of jealousy
Blindfold
- cover the eyes, impair clear thinking
- a bunch of flowers
- snowstorm
- a reel upon which thread is wound
Mahogany
- wretchedly unhappy
- tiny
- gloomy state of mind
- hard reddish brown wood
Snuggle
- to chew the cud
- jelly made from animal bones
- nestle or cuddle and lie closely
- lacking grace
Algorithm
- a set of rules for solving a problem
- gruesome, suggesting the horror of death
- beginning to appear
- great expense of size and splendour
Exhaust
- breathe out air
- a young deer
- persistent in doing anything
- tired or wear out, use up
Correspond
- a treeless grassy plain
- write letters to one another
- hold tightly
- polite, kind and thoughtful
Exhale
- breathe out air
- tired or wear out, use up
- persistent in doing anything
- a young deer
Diligent
- persistent in doing anything
- a young deer
- tired or wear out, use up
- breathe out air
Dizzy
- giddy
- hinder
- not alike, different
- brotherly
Pillar
- a splendid show, superb
- a heavy upright shaft to support the roof
- moving tribe without permanent place
- children
Garrulous
- excessively talkative
- foolish and childish
- collector of coins
- inclined to instruct others
Confabulate
- cunning and deceitful
- relevant to the context
- wet or lacking in expression
- chat informally
Gesticulate
- use gestures
- loud and coarse laughter
- mild or temperate
- habitual
Invincible
- unable to conquer
- continually changing pattern of shapes and colours
- bright and shining
- big and strong
Kaleidoscope
- bright and shining
- continually changing pattern of shapes and colours
- unable to conquer
- big and strong
Melancholia
- a large thick pad to sleep on
- great mental depression
- high protecting wall
- exclusive right given to an inventor
Rampart
- a large thick pad to sleep on
- great mental depression
- high protecting wall
- exclusive right given to an inventor
Fraught
- severe
- extremely sacred
- unrestrained
- filled with a specified element
Junction
- room to try out experiments
- memento
- protected against disease
- the meeting place of railway lines and highways
Rapids
- recklessness
- a place in a river where water flows fast
- wrap in bandages
- fear of lightning and thunder
Astraphobia
- a place in a river where water flows fast
- recklessness
- fear of lightning and thunder
- wrap in bandages
Vindicate
- a pen name
- to clear of accusation with proof
- bad tempered
- having a dark complexion
Stringent
- unrestrained
- filled with a specified element
- severe
- extremely sacred
Patent
- high protecting wall
- a large thick pad to sleep on
- exclusive right given to an inventor
- great mental depression
Swarthy
- to clear of accusation with proof
- bad tempered
- having a dark complexion
- a pen name
Macabre
- gruesome, suggesting the horror of death
- great expense of size and splendour
- a set of rules for solving a problem
- beginning to appear
Sumptuous
- great expense of size and splendour
- gruesome, suggesting the horror of death
- beginning to appear
- a set of rules for solving a problem
Rupture
- to break or burst
- great delight
- the highest, culminating point
- check or square patterns
Panache
- making amends for a sin
- dashing elegance of manner
- natural tendency, propensity
- to grind the teeth together in anger
Bivouac
- inhabitant
- infamy, dishonour
- effective
- temporary outdoor camp
Temerity
- recklessness
- wrap in bandages
- fear of lightning and thunder
- a place in a river where water flows fast
Proclivity
- natural tendency, propensity
- to grind the teeth together in anger
- making amends for a sin
- dashing elegance of manner
Blatant
- mistrust of women
- a scornful, bitterly mocking attitude
- relentless. unalterable
- brazenly obvious
Irascible
- tangible
- slavishly submissive
- irritable
- cheerful
Blithe
- irritable
- tangible
- cheerful
- slavishly submissive
Paralyse
- marks to denote brackets
- unable to move the limbs
- beginning a riot or war
- an opening
Recumbent
- official who holds an office
- with a natural curve
- appeasable or capable of being pacified
- leaning or lying down
Niggardly
- destiny
- shrewd
- stinginess
- petty in giving or spending
Indistinct
- sick or ill
- not clearly distinguishable
- secretly made or obtained
- a moral story
Immune
- the meeting place of railway lines and highways
- memento
- protected against disease
- room to try out experiments
Plaid
- the highest, culminating point
- to break or burst
- check or square patterns
- great delight
Astute
- stinginess
- petty in giving or spending
- destiny
- shrewd
Restive
- ugly and unnatural in shape
- uneasily impatient
- reprehensible
- a hard grey rock
Dowdy
- gloomy
- old fashioned
- pretense, deceptive action to mislead
- extra, not necessary
Connotation
- shrill and harsh sounding
- an idea associated with a word
- critical analysis of a literary passage
- conversational
Orifice
- unable to move the limbs
- an opening
- beginning a riot or war
- marks to denote brackets
Husky
- in a haphazard manner
- big and strong
- the number being divided
- a musical instrument
Ponderous
- huge and unwieldy
- a heavy, soft cloth
- make dirty
- after one's death
Miserable
- gloomy state of mind
- tiny
- wretchedly unhappy
- hard reddish brown wood
Rampant
- extremely sacred
- unrestrained
- severe
- filled with a specified element
Gamut
- bend the knees in reverence
- remonstrate in a friendly way
- collector of postage stamps
- entire scale or range
Mirth
- laughter
- immeasurable, unfathomable
- unit of the Roman army, a large number
- provoke
Strident
- conversational
- an idea associated with a word
- critical analysis of a literary passage
- shrill and harsh sounding
Dubious
- undetermined
- self-satisfied
- edible
- sooty and smoky
Mien
- the ability to remain calm
- a superficial follower of art
- steal something of little value
- one's demeanour or manner
Incipient
- gruesome, suggesting the horror of death
- a set of rules for solving a problem
- beginning to appear
- great expense of size and splendour
Temerarious
- pertaining to rain
- recklessly daring
- lacking basic necessities of life
- abstain
Exegesis
- conversational
- an idea associated with a word
- critical analysis of a literary passage
- shrill and harsh sounding
Eschew
- abstain
- lacking basic necessities of life
- pertaining to rain
- recklessly daring