TOEFL Vocabulary Page 20

476. SOPORIFIC: Tending to induce sleep - a poorly written novel, soporific in effect.

477. SORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions.

Synonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble

478. SOVEREIGN: Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other government - possessing sovereign powers; a sovereign state.

Synonyms: autonomous, imperial, majestic, paramount

479. SPORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.

480. SPURN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly.

Synonyms: repel, snub

481. STOIC: Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practising remarkable self-control over emotions - maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials.

Synonyms: stolid, impassive

482. STRINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.

Synonyms: exacting, rigid

Antonym: lax

483. STUPENDOUS: Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptional degree - The circus is a stupendous spectacle.

Synonyms: astounding, prodigious, monstrous, marvelous, colossal, awful

484. SUCCULENT: juicy - a succulent steak.

Antonyms; desiccated, vapid

485. SULTRY: Close, hot, and moist - sultry tropical weather.

486. SUPINE:

(1) Lying flat on the back - resting in a supine position.

Antonym: erect

(2) Inert, inactive, averse to taking action - a supine, ineffective administrator.

Synonyms: listless, torpid

487. TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen. and counted.

Synonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial

488. TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.

489. TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act promptly.

Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride

(noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark - hurled taunts at his foes.

490. TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.

Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding

491. TEMERITY: Unwise or reckless boldness - leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity.

Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness;

(adj.) temerarious, foolhardy, venturesome

Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness

492. TEMPORAL: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only - a man preoccupied with temporal matters.

Synonyms: mundane, secular, civil

493. TEMPORIZE: To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time - temporized while his friends hurried to his aid.

Synonym: equivocate

494. TENET: A principle of belief held as true - a tenet of religion which be maintained loyally.

Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma

495. TENUOUS: Slender; not substantial; of slight importance - clung desperately to his tenuous hope.

496. TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night.

Synonyms: placid, serene

Antonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent

497. TRANSGRESS: To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moral bound or limit - transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law.

498. TREMULOUS: Trembling - tremulous with fright.

Synonym: quivering

499. TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense.

Synonym: paltry

Antonyms: gross, momentous

500. TRUCULENT (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely - a dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides.