1. addict (n) a person with a very strong
desire for something that is habit-
forming and sometimes harmful.
(v) to cause someone to have a
very strong desire for something.
[n. ad-ikt; v. uh-dikt]
Clue: addict = can’t do without
1. Junk food addicts need to change
their eating habits.
2. Pushers try to addict people to
illegal drugs.
Ex: addicted to chocolate; dessert
addict; health food addict
2. aspire (v) to have a strong desire to get
or do something; to seek
aspiration (n) a strong desire to achieve
something; an ambition
[uh-spahyuhr]
Clue: aspire = inspired to achieve
Every NFL team aspires to win the
Super Bowl.
She has aspirations to become a pop
singer.
Ex: aspire to attend college; aspiration
to play professional sports
3. bias (n) a preference that
prevents one from being
impartial; prejudice
(v) to cause someone to have
prejudice; to influence
[bahy-uhs]
Clue: Ms. Price’s bias = Alabama
football
The lawyers in town insist that
Judge Lewis shows bias in favor of
women.
Ex: the biased reporter; the
biased media; referee shows bias
4. blatant (adj) very obvious in an
offensive or shameless way
[bleyt-nt]
Clue: blatant = done on
purpose
The governor’s promise to cut
taxes if re-elected was a blatant
attempt to win votes.
Ex: blatant mistake; blatant
error; blatant comment; blatant
snub; blatant lies
5. candid (adj) expressed honestly and
without holding back unpleasant
truths
[kan-did]
Clue: candid = up front with the truth
Tony asked the teacher for her candid
opinion about his poem.
Ex: candid comments; candid
responses; candid reply; candid truth
6. confront (v) 1. to stand up; to face
boldly
2. to put or bring face to face
[kuhn-fruhnt]
confrontation (n) a hostile meeting
between people who hold
opposite views.
Clue: confront = up front and face
Do you intend to confront the people
who have been spreading rumors about
you?
Ex: confront the accusers; confront
the evidence; confront the hecklers
7. debut (n) a first public appearance
(v) to make a first public
appearance
[dey-byoo, di-, dey-byoo, deb-yoo]
Clue: debut = out for the first time
Radio broadcasting made its debut in
1920.
The American Idol singer debuts with
her first album next week.
Ex: the movie debut; the new sports
car’s debut; the debutant’s debut
8. enroll (v) to sign up to become a
member of some group or
activity; to register
enrollment (n) the number of people
enrolled
[en-rohl]
Clue: enroll = sign up
A small inheritance made it possible for
me to enroll in art school.
Ex: enroll in a class; enroll in the
army; enroll in college; enroll on the
team
9. fluster (v) to make nervous,
embarrassed, or confused
[fluhs-ter]
Clue: fluster = frustrate
The personal question flustered
me, so I was unable to think of an
answer quickly.
Ex: flustered the students; flustered
the opponent; flustered the phone;
flustered at the computer
10. impunity (n) freedom from being
harmed or punished
[im-pyoo-ni-tee]
Clue: impunity = past mistakes don’t
count
Those who think they can smoke
cigarettes with impunity are sadly
mistaken.
Ex: impunity from past mistakes;
impunity or exemption; no impunity
from the abuse of drugs and alcohol
11. intensify (v) to increase; to
strengthened or deepen
[in-ten-suh-fahy]
Clue: intensify = stronger
Volunteers will intensify their
efforts to find the missing
children.
Ex: intensify the workout;
intensify the search, the storm
intensified
12. intimidate (v) to frighten,
especially by threatening
someone
intimidation (n) the act of
intimidating
[in-tim-i-deyt]
Clue: intimidate = make timid
The pitcher’s scowl was intended
to intimidate the batter.
Ex: intimidate the opponent;
intimidate the competition;
intimidate the child
13. obnoxious (adj) very unpleasant;
disgusting
[uhb-nok-shuhs]
Clue: obnoxious = offensive +
annoying
An obnoxious person behind us
kept talking on the phone
throughout the movie.
Ex: obnoxious crying; obnoxious
singing; obnoxious crowd
14. retort (v) to answer; especially in a
quick or clever way
(n) A quick or clever reply
[ri-tawrt]
Clue: retort = a verbal come back
“You have much to be modest about,” I
retorted when the speaker claimed to
be a modest person.
Unable to think of a suitable retort, he
remained silent.
Ex: retorted comment; retorted
answer; a quick, clever retort
15. stint (n) 1. a period of time devoted to
a job or some task
2. a limit or restriction
(v) to limit or restrict
[stint]
Clue: stint = time doing something
After finishing college, Marsha had a
two-year stint in the Peace Corps.
Local benefactors gave without stint to
help make the youth center a reality.
Ex: a stint in the military; a donation
without stint