VOCA
bombard = strike assail attack
Warplanes bombarded the city until it was demolished.
Spontaneous = voluntary unprompted
Spontaneous = automatic unplanned
When Cindy heard the good news, a spontaneous smile appeared on her face.
Commission = order hire
In the past, it was common for countries to commission artists to create portraits of the king and queen
Manifestation = indication sign symptom evidence
Eating disorders can be a manifestation of low self-esteem in adolescent girls
Cast about = seek search hunt
Unsure how to increase the company's profits, George cast about for solutions from his colleagues.
Subsidiary = less important auxiliary subordinate
The CEO said that the rest of the details for the merger were subsidiary and could be discussed at a later time
Largely = generally mostly mainly
Korea's citizens are largely of Korean descent, although there is a sizeable foreign population as well.
Denote = indicate signify represent
A raised head and flattened neck denote that a cobra is about to strike.
repudiate - reject disclaim
Martin Luther King JR. repudiated violence as a means to solve problems.
propagate = multiply reproduce
Many single-cell organisms propagate by dividing into two identical copies.
pore = hole
pore = stare, gaze
The copy editor had to pore over the report in order to find the tiny mistake
subterfuge = trick deception
The magician's act seemed real, but it was just a subterfuge.
contention = debate argument disagreement
Contentions among evolutionists involve how the human species evolved.
Tentativeness = hesitation indecision
Tentativeness is often shown by young children in unfamiliar situations.
setback = defeat reverse
Despite early setbacks, George Washington led the Continental Army to victory against the British.
readily = easily effortlessly quickly
In the experiment, rats readily learned to associate certain behaviors with rewards.
readily = willingly without reluctance
When Nathan was offered a larger office, he readily accepted it.
Formidable = Impressive
The creation of the UN was a formidable achievement in international cooperation.
Formidable = difficult to handle
For working parents, raising children is formidable.
Prohibitive = unaffordable extreme exorbitant
For most New Yorkers, the cost of an apartment in Manhattan is prohibitive.
Momentous = significant major meaningful substantial
The singing of the Declaration of Independence was a momentous occasion in American history.
Forestall = prevent hinder avert
The union leader forestalled a riot by telling the strikers to disperse.
Ensuing = subsequent following succeeding
The earthquake and the ensuing aftershock destroyed much of San Francisco in 1906.
Appreciably = noticeably significantly considerably
The temperature dropped appreciably this morning.
tacit = implicit implied unspoken
The two countries made a tacit agreement to end the war, but they did not actually sign a peace treaty.
rupture = burst break apart split tear
Patty's eardrum ruptured due to the sound of the explosion
Well-to-do = wealthy affluent rich
In the early days of air travel, flight tickets were so expensive that only well-to-do people could afford them.
Succulent = juicy, pulpy
Aloe is a plant that stores water in its succulent leaves.
Foul = pollute contaminate
During the industrial Revolution, the smoke from factories fouled the air of many urban areas.
Prey = victim
Prey = exploit
practically = nearly
By the 1970s, brown pelicans were practically extinct in the US
Compelling = convincing persuasive cogent
Inordinate = excessive exorbitant undue
The use of inordinate amounts of pesticide and synthetic fertilizer on crops is against the law.
Colonize = inhabit populate
Fire ants colonize grasslands whereas carpenter ants tend to live in wooded areas.
Compound = add to intensify worsen
The doctor said that scratching an insect bite would only compound the itchiness.
Constellation = collection combination group
Jerusalem is a city that is known for its constellation of cultures.
Outstanding = unpaid unsettled owing
Susan has quite a few outstanding debts this month
Disputatious = contentious argumentative quarrelsome
The disagreement got heated quickly because both people involved were highly disputatious.
eerie = odd strange
The book 1984 was an eerie prediction of the future.
Tenuous = weak insubstantial
Germany provided a tenuous justification for its invasion of Poland in 1939
lodge = embed implant
The meteor flew in from outer space and lodged in the rock
Viable = able to survive
A fetus is considered viable after it has endured 20 weeks inside the womb
impediment = obstacle obstruction barrier
If Ben puts his mind to something, no impediment can stop him from reaching his goals.
stratified = layered
Stratified rock helps geologists determine the age of geological deposits.
turbulent = violent agitated tumultuous
The increase in civil wards around the world is a sign of our turbulent times.
Appraisal = evaluation assessment estimation
Employees are given formal appraisals every six months
Assimilate = absorb take in digest
The research indicates that the human mind can assimilate languages most rapidly before the age of seven.
Account = description report narrative
John Reed wrote a famous account of the Russian Revolution.
Imposing = impressive striking
The Empire State Building is an imposing structure situated in the heart of New York City.
Vitality = energy liveliness vigor
A person's vitality is affected by what he or she eats and how much sleep he or she gets.
hitherto = previously so far until now
The rose bushes that had hitherto looked dead suddenly produced flowers.
plague = cause a problem for bother annoy
Frequent delays plagued the construction project, but finally it was completed.
domain = area field
In the domain of art, nobody is more famous than Leonardo da vinci.
champion = support promote advocate endorse
John Dewey championed the idea that students should actively participate in the learning process.
inflict = cause administer exact
Harsh weather can inflict serious damage on fruit crops.
contemplate = consider ponder
John accepted a teaching position in Vancouver while he contemplated the future.