TOEFL Vocabulary Page 8

176. DIFFIDENT: Lacking in self-confidence- too diffident to lead a group.

Synonyms: shy, timid, reserved, reticent, retiring

Antonyms: forward, aggressive

177. DILEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, a difficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution.

Synonyms:predicament, quandary, plight

178. DILETTANTE: One who dabbles in the fine arts for amusement only and without concentrated study - a doctor by profession, a dilettante in art.

Synonyms:amateur, connoisseur

179. DISCONCERT: To confuse; to embarrass - disconcerted by his suspicious stare.

Synonyms:perturb, discomfit, discompose, abash, disquiet, fluster

180. DISCONSOLATE: Depressed; without hope or possibility of consolation - made disconsolate by abject poverty.

Synonyms:inconsolable, dejected

Antonyms:blithesome, carefree

181. DISCOURSE: To converse or talk; to discuss - discoursed at length on the rise of political parties.

182. DISCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated.

183. DISCURSIVE: Rambling from one subject to another - a discursive letter, covering many topics.

Synonyms:desultory, digressive

184. DISPARITY (adj.: DISPARATE): Inequality; difference in image, quantity, character, or rank - great disparity between promise and performance.

185. DISPASSIONATE: Free from feeling or partiality - coldly dispassionate as the chairman of the meeting

Synonyms:palm, impartial

Antonym:partial

186. DISPATCH (verb): To do speedily; to send off - dispatched with remarkable promptness.

Synonym: expedite

(noun): A speedy performance; the sending off of something - done with all possible dispatch.

Synonyms: celerity, alacrity

187. DISPEL: To drive away; to scatter - dispelled a doubt that had lingered.

Synonyms:dissipate, disperse, diffuse

188. DISSENT (noun: DISSENSION): To disagree; to differ in opinion - He dissented violently, rejecting compromise.

189. DISSOLUTE: Living loosely; unrestrained in conduct or morals - his life wasted by dissolute conduct.

Synonyms:debauched, dissipated, profligate

190. DISTRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations.

Synonym: harassed

191. DIVERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse characters; one candid, the other insincere.

Synonym: multifarious

192. DIVERTING: Entertaining - a diverting one of the most amusing I've ever seen.

193. DIVULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information.

Synonyms: disclose, impart

194. DOGMATIC: Positive in expressing an opinion; asserting an opinion as though it were an undisputed fact - spoken dogmatically, as if the speaker considered himself infallible.

Synonyms: overbearing, opinionated, peremptory, dictatorial

195. DOLOROUS: Sorrowful; mournful - a dolorous song full of sorrow for past joys.

Synonyms: doleful, lugubrious, grievous

Antonyms: jocund, blithe, mirthful

196. DYNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful.

Synonym: energetic

Antonyms: static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent

197. ECCLESIASTIC (adj.): Pertaining to the clergy or the church - recognized as an authority in ecclesiastic matters. Antonyms: secular, lay

(noun): A clergyman - an ecclesiastic of liberal views.

198. EDICT: A public command or proclamation issued by an authority - proclaimed by royal edict.

Synonym: decree

199. EDIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifiesthe reader, as well as entertains him

200. EFFETE: No longer productive; hence, lacking in or, worn out - powerful in ancient days, now an effete civilization.