TOEFL Vocabulary Page 21

501. TURGID:

(1) Swollen, inflated - turgid rivers overflowing their banks.

Synonyms: bloated, distended

(2) Using big or high-sounding words - a turgid prose style.

Synonyms: pompous, bombastic, prolix

502. UBIQUITOUS: Existing everywhere - The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint.

Synonyms: omnipresent, universal

503. UNTENABLE: Incapable of being defended or held - withdrew the argument as untenable.

504. UTILITARIAN (adj.): Materially or practically useful - beautiful, but not utilitarian.

505. VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses.

506. VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength.

Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim

507. VENEER: A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority - pierced beneath his thin veneer of elegance.

Synonym: gloss

508. VENERABLE: Deserving respect or reverence because of age - a venerable leader.

509. VERNAL: Pertaining to spring-an array of vernal flowers.

Antonym: hibernal (wintry)

510. VERSATILE: Able to do many things skillfully - versatile in all the arts.

511. VICARIOUS: Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another - took vicarious pleasure in his brother's victory.

512. VICISSITUDE: A change from one condition to another, often unexpected - suffered many vicissitudes of fortune.

513. VIRAGO: A scolding or ill-tempered woman - My neighbor's wife is a virago.

Synonyms: shrew, termagant, vixen

514. VITUPERATE (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, find fault with in abusive language - an angry man, vituperating the world.

Synonyms: berate, revile

515. WAIVE: To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without - waived his rights to the property.

Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake

516. WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of the moment.

Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet

517. WRITHE: To twist about (usually with pain) - writhed in agony on the floor.

Synonyms: contort, squirm

518. ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in his class.

Antonym: perfunctory

519. ZENITH: The highest point - the zenith of his career.

Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination, summit

Antonym: nadir