Vocabulary Flashcards - P Words

(Of food or drink) pleasant to taste; acceptable or satisfactory (The meal was palatable, but nothing special.)

To make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause; to alleviate (The doctor gave her medication to palliate the pain.)

(Of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible; able to be touched or felt (There was a palpable tension in the room.)

A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases (The scientist sought a panacea for the world's ailments.)

A typical example or pattern of something; a model (The company's success became a paradigm for others in the industry.)

A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality (She was a paragon of virtue, always doing the right thing.)

An outcast (After the scandal, he was treated as a pariah by the community.)

Having a limited or narrow outlook or scope (The parochial views of the local council were not in line with the needs of the broader community.)

Extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources (Her parsimony prevented her from enjoying even the simplest pleasures.)

A quality that evokes pity or sadness (The movie's pathos left the audience in tears.)

The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity (The paucity of evidence made it difficult to prove the case.)

Expressing contempt or disapproval (The article used pejorative terms to describe the politician's actions.)

A strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something (She had a penchant for collecting antique jewelry.)

Extremely poor; poverty-stricken (The penurious man struggled to make ends meet.)

Deceitful and untrustworthy (The perfidious servant betrayed his master.)

(Of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection (His perfunctory nod indicated he was not really interested in the conversation.)

Having a ready insight into and understanding of things (The perspicacious detective quickly solved the mystery.)

Holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action (Her pertinacious refusal to give up eventually led to her success.)

(Especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people (The pervasive smell of smoke filled the entire building.)

(Of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered (The child's petulant behavior annoyed everyone at the restaurant.)

(Of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition (The phlegmatic nurse remained calm even during the emergency.)

(Of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive (The author's pithy writing style made the book a quick and engaging read.)

To make (someone) less angry or hostile (The manager tried to placate the unhappy customer by offering a refund.)

Sounding sad and mournful (The plaintive cry of the wounded animal broke the silence of the night.)

A large or excessive amount of (something) (The library has a plethora of books on various subjects.)

A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something (The article was a polemic against the government's policies.)

Slow and clumsy because of great weight; dull, laborious, or excessively solemn (The ponderous speech put everyone to sleep.)

A sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen (The dark clouds were a portent of the coming storm.)

Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse; dependent on chance; uncertain (The precarious ladder wobbled as he climbed up.)

A very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one (The hikers stood at the edge of the precipice, looking down at the valley below.)

To cause (an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely (The scandal precipitated the company's downfall.)

To prevent from happening; make impossible (The injury precluded him from participating in the race.)

(Of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual (The precocious child was reading books meant for adults.)

A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something (She has a predilection for classical music.)

The quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance (The preponderance of evidence suggests that he is guilty.)

Attractive or appealing in appearance (The prepossessing young actor quickly became a fan favorite.)

Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place (Her prescient comments about the economy proved to be accurate.)

To speak or act in an evasive way (When asked about the crime, the suspect continued to prevaricate.)

A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing (He has a proclivity for taking on too much work.)

To obtain (something), especially with care or effort (She managed to procure a ticket to the sold-out concert.)

Relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious; (Of a person or their behavior) not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent (The comedian's profane jokes offended some audience members.)

Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources (The profligate spending of the government led to a huge deficit.)

(Especially of something offered or discharged) exuberantly plentiful; abundant (The host offered his guests profuse apologies for the inconvenience.)

An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way (He had a propensity for violence when he was younger.)

Giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable (The weather was propitious for the outdoor wedding.)

Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty; commonplace; unromantic (The prosaic details of the meeting were quickly forgotten.)

Tending or able to change frequently or easily; able to do many different things; versatile (The protean actor could play any role convincingly.)

Of or concerning a province of a country or empire; having characteristics or viewpoints considered to be unsophisticated or narrow-minded (The provincial attitudes of the small town were a shock to the city dweller.)

Childishly silly and trivial (His puerile jokes were not appreciated by his colleagues.)

Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight (The pugnacious student was always getting into fights.)

Beauty (The actress was known for her extraordinary pulchritude.)

Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior (The punctilious butler took great care in setting the table.)

Having a sharply strong taste or smell (The pungent aroma of garlic filled the kitchen.)

Showing a lack of courage or determination; timid (The pusillanimous leader was unable to make tough decisions.)

(Of organic matter) decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell (The putrid smell of the decaying garbage was overwhelming.)