NLN NEX VERBAL ENTRANCE EXAM
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Explicit
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
Ex: "the speaker's intentions were not made explicit"
synonyms: clear, plain, straightforward, crystal clear, easily understandable.
Ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.
Ex: "the question is rather ambiguous"
Ex: "this whole society is morally ambiguous"
Presumptuous
(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or
appropriate.
Ex: "I hope I won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice"
synonyms: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, bold, audacious, forward, familiar, impertinent,
insolent, impudent, cocky;
Wavered
shake with a quivering motion.
"the flame wavered in the draft"
synonyms: flicker, quiver, twinkle, glimmer, wink, blink
Ex: "the candlelight wavered in the draft"
Facilitated
make (an action or process) easy or easier.
Ex: "schools were located on the same campus to facilitate the sharing of resources"
synonyms: make easy/easier, ease, make possible, make smooth/smoother, smooth the
way for
Transgressed
infringe or go beyond the bounds of (a moral principle or other established standard of
behavior).
Ex: "she had transgressed an unwritten social law"
,synonyms:misbehave, behave badly, break the law, err, fall from grace, stray from the
straight and narrow, sin, do wrong, go astray;
Ascetic
characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all
forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
Ex: "an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor"
synonyms: austere, self-denying, abstinent, abstemious, self-disciplined
Dissident
a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
Ex: "a dissident who had been jailed by a military regime"
synonyms:dissenter, objector, protester;
Incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
Ex:"the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath"
synonyms:out of place, out of keeping,
Nondescript
lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics.
Ex: "she lived in a nondescript suburban apartment block"
synonyms:undistinguished, unremarkable, unexceptional, featureless, characterless,
faceless,
Saunter
walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort.
Ex: "Adam sauntered into the room"
synonyms:stroll, amble, wander, meander, drift, walk;
Canter
a three-beat gait of a horse or other quadruped between a trot and a gallop.
Ex:"he kicked his horse into a canter"
Lope
, run or move with a long bounding stride.
Ex: "the dog was loping along by his side"
Falter
start to lose strength or momentum.
Ex: "her smile faltered and then faded"
synonyms:hesitate, delay, drag one's feet, stall; More
speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice.
Ex: ""I c-c-can't," he faltered"
synonyms: stammer, stutter, stumble; More
move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence.
Ex: "he faltered and finally stopped in midstride"
synonyms: struggle, stumble, flounder, founder, be in difficulty
"the economy was faltering"
Pretentious
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually
possessed.
Ex: "a pretentious literary device"
synonyms:affected, ostentatious, showy
Taciturn
reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
synonyms:untalkative, uncommunicative, reticent, unforthcoming, quiet, secretive, tight-
lipped, buttoned-up, close-mouthed
Garrulous
excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
Ex: "Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man"
synonyms:talkative, loquacious, voluble, verbose, chatty,
Voluble
speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.
Ex: "she was as voluble as her husband was silent"
synonyms:talkative, loquacious, garrulous, verbose, wordy, chatty, gossipy, effusive,
gushing, forthcoming, conversational, communicative, expansive;
Commonplace
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Explicit
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
Ex: "the speaker's intentions were not made explicit"
synonyms: clear, plain, straightforward, crystal clear, easily understandable.
Ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.
Ex: "the question is rather ambiguous"
Ex: "this whole society is morally ambiguous"
Presumptuous
(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or
appropriate.
Ex: "I hope I won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice"
synonyms: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, bold, audacious, forward, familiar, impertinent,
insolent, impudent, cocky;
Wavered
shake with a quivering motion.
"the flame wavered in the draft"
synonyms: flicker, quiver, twinkle, glimmer, wink, blink
Ex: "the candlelight wavered in the draft"
Facilitated
make (an action or process) easy or easier.
Ex: "schools were located on the same campus to facilitate the sharing of resources"
synonyms: make easy/easier, ease, make possible, make smooth/smoother, smooth the
way for
Transgressed
infringe or go beyond the bounds of (a moral principle or other established standard of
behavior).
Ex: "she had transgressed an unwritten social law"
,synonyms:misbehave, behave badly, break the law, err, fall from grace, stray from the
straight and narrow, sin, do wrong, go astray;
Ascetic
characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all
forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
Ex: "an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor"
synonyms: austere, self-denying, abstinent, abstemious, self-disciplined
Dissident
a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
Ex: "a dissident who had been jailed by a military regime"
synonyms:dissenter, objector, protester;
Incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
Ex:"the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath"
synonyms:out of place, out of keeping,
Nondescript
lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics.
Ex: "she lived in a nondescript suburban apartment block"
synonyms:undistinguished, unremarkable, unexceptional, featureless, characterless,
faceless,
Saunter
walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort.
Ex: "Adam sauntered into the room"
synonyms:stroll, amble, wander, meander, drift, walk;
Canter
a three-beat gait of a horse or other quadruped between a trot and a gallop.
Ex:"he kicked his horse into a canter"
Lope
, run or move with a long bounding stride.
Ex: "the dog was loping along by his side"
Falter
start to lose strength or momentum.
Ex: "her smile faltered and then faded"
synonyms:hesitate, delay, drag one's feet, stall; More
speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice.
Ex: ""I c-c-can't," he faltered"
synonyms: stammer, stutter, stumble; More
move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence.
Ex: "he faltered and finally stopped in midstride"
synonyms: struggle, stumble, flounder, founder, be in difficulty
"the economy was faltering"
Pretentious
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually
possessed.
Ex: "a pretentious literary device"
synonyms:affected, ostentatious, showy
Taciturn
reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
synonyms:untalkative, uncommunicative, reticent, unforthcoming, quiet, secretive, tight-
lipped, buttoned-up, close-mouthed
Garrulous
excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
Ex: "Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man"
synonyms:talkative, loquacious, voluble, verbose, chatty,
Voluble
speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.
Ex: "she was as voluble as her husband was silent"
synonyms:talkative, loquacious, garrulous, verbose, wordy, chatty, gossipy, effusive,
gushing, forthcoming, conversational, communicative, expansive;
Commonplace
