Toefl Vocabulary K-L-M
K
KALEIDOSCOPIC: Constantly changing or varying in pattern or scenes - kaleidoscopic views of New York.
KEN: Range of sight or understanding - something beyond our ken.
Synonym: insight
L
LABYRINTH (adj.: LABYRINTHINE): A structure or intricate passage out of which it is difficult to find one's way (also applied to spiritual and intellectual complexities) - confused by a labyrinth of intellectual discussions.
Synonym:maze
LACHRYMOSE: Causing or given to shedding tears - a lachrymose tragedy.
LACONIC: Saying much in few words - a laconic reply that spoke volumes.
Synonyms:concise, pithy, terse, succinct, taciturn, reticent
Antonyms:verbose, prolix, redundant, diffuse, tautological, turgid, garrulous, voluble
LARCENY: Theft - indicted for grand larceny.
LATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal.
Synonyms:dormant, quiescent, covert, potential
Antonyms:apparent, patent
LAVISH:
(1) Profuse or generous - lavish in praise.
Synonyms: ample, superabundant
(2) Given to extravagance - a lavish spender.
Synonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous.
Antonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious
LETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon.
Synonyms: mortal, fatal
LONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants.
LOW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow.
Synonym: moo
LUCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text.
Synonyms: pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent
Antonyms: abstruse, obscure
LUDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring.
Synonyms: mirthful, droll, comical, absurd
Antonyms: doleful, lugubrious, dismal
LUMINARY: An eminent person; a celestial body - the platform graced by a number of luminaries.
M
MACHIAVELLIAN: Sacrificing moral principles in order to attain power; politically cunning; crafty - amachiavellian design, wickedly contrived.
Synonym: unscrupulous
MALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting with malicious intent.
Synonyms:rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive
Antonym: benign
MASQUERADE (verb): To assume a deceptive appearance or character - a thief masquerading as an honest man.
Synonyms: dissemble, feign
(noun): A disguise; a group of people in disguise or fancy costumes - a masquerade so perfect no one could guess his identity.
MAUDLIN: Sentimental to the point of tears - turned maudlin at the mention of his lost dog.
Synonym : mawkish, lachrymose
MEANDER: To walk about (or talk) aimlessly; to wind about (as a stream) - meandered through the town, looking into shop windows.
Synonym: ramble
MEDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.
MERCENARY: Acting solely from a consideration of reward or profit - actuated by a mercenary motive.
Synonym: venal
MERETRICIOUS: Attracting in a false, cheap, or showy manner- a meretricious beauty that is too flashy to be real.
Synonyms:tawdry, specious
METICULOUS: Fussy about minute details - took meticulous pains with his composition.
Synonyms:fastidious, punctilious, overscrupulous, finical, methodical
Antonyms:desultory, perfunctory, slovenly
METTLE (adj.: METTLESOME: high-spirited ): Disposition; spirit; courage - His mettle was tried in battle.
Idiom: to be on one's mettle (meaning, “ready to do one's best”)
Synonyms:temperament, ardor
MICROCOSM: A little world, or a universe in miniature this village, a microcosm of the great outside world.
Antonym:macrocosm (world on a large scale)
MIMIC: To make fun of or copy by imitating - mimicked the comedian's gestures.
MISANTHROPIC (noun: MISANTHROPE): Hating or distrusting mankind - condemned for his misanthropicviews.
Antonyms: philanthropic, altruistic
MISNOMER: A name or term that describes wrongly - To call him a brave man is really a misnomer.
MONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue.
Synonym:soliloquy
Antonyms:colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or more persons; dialogue: conversation between two persons
MOROSE: Gloomy; ill-humored - shunned because of his morose temper.
Synonyms: sulky, crabbed, sullen, splenetic, saturnine
Antonyms: blithe, genial
MOTLEY: Of various colors; of mixed ingredients - a motley costume; a motley crowd.
Synonyms: checkered (referring to a varied career), piebald, variegated, diverse, heterogeneous
Antonym: homogeneous
MOTTLED: Spotted or streaked with varied colors - a mottled pony.
Synonyms:blotched, dappled
MUNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs.
Synonyms:earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal
MURKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern.
Synonyms:dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous
Antonyms:resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating
MUTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a spring wind.
Synonyms:vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious
Antonyms:constant, steady
MYRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.