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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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