Toefl Vocabulary T-U-V-W-Z
T
TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen. and counted.
Synonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial
TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.
TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act promptly.
Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride
(noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark - hurled taunts at his foes.
TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.
Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding
TEMERITY: Unwise or reckless boldness - leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity.
Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness;
(adj.) temerarious, foolhardy, venturesome
Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness
TEMPORAL: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only - a man preoccupied with temporal matters.
Synonyms: mundane, secular, civil
TEMPORIZE: To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time - temporized while his friends hurried to his aid.
Synonym: equivocate
TENET: A principle of belief held as true - a tenet of religion which be maintained loyally.
Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma
TENUOUS: Slender; not substantial; of slight importance - clung desperately to his tenuous hope.
TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night.
Synonyms: placid, serene
Antonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent
TRANSGRESS: To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moral bound or limit -transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law.
TREMULOUS: Trembling - tremulous with fright.
Synonym: quivering
TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense.
Synonym: paltry
Antonyms: gross, momentous
TRUCULENT (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely - a dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides.
TURGID:
(1) Swollen, inflated - turgid rivers overflowing their banks.
Synonyms: bloated, distended
(2) Using big or high-sounding words - a turgid prose style.
Synonyms: pompous, bombastic, prolix
U
UBIQUITOUS: Existing everywhere - The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint.
Synonyms: omnipresent, universal
UNTENABLE: Incapable of being defended or held - withdrew the argument as untenable.
UTILITARIAN (adj.): Materially or practically useful - beautiful, but not utilitarian.
V
VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses.
VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength.
Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim
VENEER: A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority - pierced beneath his thinveneer of elegance.
Synonym: gloss
VENERABLE: Deserving respect or reverence because of age - a venerable leader.
VERNAL: Pertaining to spring-an array of vernal flowers.
Antonym: hibernal (wintry)
VERSATILE: Able to do many things skillfully - versatile in all the arts.
VICARIOUS: Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another - took vicarious pleasure in his brother's victory.
VICISSITUDE: A change from one condition to another, often unexpected - suffered many vicissitudes of fortune.
VIRAGO: A scolding or ill-tempered woman - My neighbor's wife is a virago.
Synonyms: shrew, termagant, vixen
VITUPERATE (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, find fault with in abusive language - an angry man, vituperating the world.
Synonyms: berate, revile
W
WAIVE: To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without - waived his rights to the property.
Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake
WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of the moment.
Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet
WRITHE: To twist about (usually with pain) - writhed in agony on the floor.
Synonyms: contort, squirm
Z
ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in his class.
Antonym: perfunctory
ZENITH: The highest point - the zenith of his career.
Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination, summit
Antonym: nadir