Word Power: Test Your Knowledge of These Evocative Adjectives
Whether we seek precision, beauty or both, much of the subtlety of language comes from its adjectives. Here are some 10-dollar examples to add polish to your proclamations.
Stygian
A:Â Stingy
B:Â Timeless
C:Â Dark and gloomy
Answer: C—Dark and gloomy
As in, “Ms. Mariner shuddered as she entered the stygian cave.”
Insidious
A: Indoors
B: Gradual but harmful
C: Strongly felt yet unexpressed
Answer: B—Gradual but harmful
As in, “The insidious effects of eating too much sugar began to show themselves in Arjun’s weight gain and lack of energy.”
Whimsical
A: Unpredictable
B: Elegant and inexpensive
C: Fragile
Answer: A—Unpredictable
As in, “Gina’s whimsical personality meant she couldn’t necessarily be counted upon to remain at a job for long.”
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Vulpine
A: Murderous
B: Cunning
C: Hungry
Answer: B—Cunning
As in, “Well aware of the suspected drug lord’s vulpine intelligence, the police kept a close eye on all of his activities.”
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Brumous
A: Foggy and wintry
B: Rough in texture
C: Obnoxiously loud
Answer: A—Foggy and wintry
As in, “Knowing night would bring even colder and darker conditions, Ezekiel set out immediately to cross the brumous valley.”
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Frugal
A: Silly
B: Cold
C: Thrifty
Answer: C—Thrifty
As in, “Having seen that Carita was organized and frugal, Hélène gave her budgeting responsibilities for the entire conference.”
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Inveterate
A: Habitual and unlikely to change
B: Soft and malleable
C: Untested
Answer: A—Habitual and unlikely to change
As in, “An inveterate worrier, Roone had learned how to get by on very little rest.”
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Threadbare
A: Self-evident
B: Shabby and barely adequate
C: Scantily clothed
Answer: B—Shabby and barely adequate
As in, “Despite their threadbare uniforms, the tiny school’s track team dominated the meet.”
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Salutary
A: Beneficial
B: Welcoming
C: Verbal
Answer: A—BeneÂficial
As in, “The difficult but salutary two-week training session turned Adam into a first-rate salesman.”
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Contumacious
A:Â Rounded
B:Â Stubbornly disobedient
C: Poisonous but not lethal
Answer: B—Stubbornly disobedient
As in, “Portia’s contumacious behaviour left her daycare workers little choice but to call her parents.”
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Feckless
A: Lacking poise
B: Ineffectual and irresponsible
C: Without skin blemishes
Answer: B—Ineffectual and irresponsible
As in, “Boonsri complained about her feckless brother who never seemed to get anything done.”
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Dilatory
A:Â Rundown
B:Â Chatty
C:Â Tending to cause delay
Answer: C—Tending to cause delay
As in, “It appeared to Henry that the airport’s customs had been set up in the most dilatory way possible.”
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Fastidious
A: Attentive to detail
B: Dietary
C: Recklessly rapid
Answer: A—Attentive to detail
As in, “Raoul’s fastidious reporting won high praise from his demanding editor.”
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Belligerent
A:Â Relating to the sea
B:Â Exhibiting hostility
C:Â In a state of disrepair
Answer: B—Exhibiting hostility
As in, “The school principal’s belligerent behaviour toward parents led to her removal.”
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Earnest
A: serious and sincere
B: wealthy
C: overly generous
Answer: A—Serious and sincere
As in, “Wei took an earnest approach to each and every issue raised by workers.”
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