Toll Free:(866) 712-7742See the vocabulary section containing A and B for specifics on learning vocabulary and some hints and tips for your Clep and Dantes tests.
For this segment we will be exploring just the letters C and D.
You will likely see many of these words within your CLEP study materials or on the actual tests. Either way, learning the words and definitions will help you in your college endeavors.
CLEP Vocabulary Word List (C and D)
Words beginning with C
Cache – noun (caash)
a hidden storage space; a secret store of valuables or money; “His passport was hidden away in his closet cache.”
Cantankerous – adj (kaan taang juhr uhs)
stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate; in a bad mood; “He answered her cantankerously.”
Catalyst – noun (kaat uhl ihst)
something that causes an important event to happen; “The invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country.”
Caucus – noun (kaw kuhs)
a closed political meeting; meet to select a candidate or promote a policy; “The group decided on their candidate for mayor at a closed-door caucus.”
Caustic – adj (kah stihk)
harsh or corrosive in tone; any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue; “The defendant had only caustic comments to speak of his accusers.”
Certitude – noun (suhr tih tood)
total certainty or greater certainty than circumstances warrant; “He spoke with certitude, however he was by no means an expert.”
Chimerical – adj (kie mehr ih kuhl)
of or pertaining to a chimera; being a figment of the imagination; “The chimerical monster was on the loose in the young boy’s dream.”
Circuitous – adj (suhr kyoo ih tuhs)
not direct or to the point; of a long and winding route; “The scenery was beautiful along the circuitous route through the mountains.”
Circumvent – verb (suhr kuhm vehnt)
to avoid or get around something; to bypass; “He narrowly circumvented the blame and ended up with the promotion.”
Cogent – adj (koh juhnt)
powerfully persuasive; “The cogent argument about universal health care is that it is for the betterment of society.”
Colloquial – adj (kuh loh kwee uhl)
denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is characteristic of familiar conversation; informal; “She wrote letters to her family in a colloquial style.”
Compliant – adj (kuhn plie uhnt)
conformity: acting according to certain accepted standards; “The formal attire was compliant with the setting at the upscale affair.”
Condole – verb (kuhn dohl)
to express sympathetic sorrow, to lament; “He must condole the widow.”
Conflagration – noun (kahn fluh gray shuhn)
an uncontrolled burning that threatens human life, health, property or ecology; “The conflagration raged across the grassy plains toward the farmhouse.”
Confluence – noun (kahn floo uhns)
a place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers); “Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.”
Consternation – noun (kahn stuhr nay shuhn)
terror, combined with amazement; dismay; “The onlookers gazed with consternation as the smoke filled the sky following the terrorist attack.”
Contentious – adj (kuhn tihg yoo uhs)
marked by heated arguments or controversy; given to struggling with others out of jealousy or discord; “Contentious parties are often found in divorce court.”
Continence – noun (kahn tih nihns)
the ability to control the timing of urination or a bowel movement; “His continence held, although he was terrified by the Halloween parade.”
Coterie – noun (koh tuh ree)
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose; “The coterie met regularly to formulate political plans.”
Cull – verb (kuhl)
the process of selecting for acceptance or removal; “The sick animals were culled from the herd.”
Dearth – noun (duhrth)
an insufficient quantity or number; “There was a dearth of food leading to widespread famine.”
Debacle – noun (dih baa kuhl)
a sudden and violent collapse; disaster; “The football game was so bad it was deemed a total debacle.”
Demagogue – noun (deh muh gawg)
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices; “The presidential candidate’s views were that of his constituents.”
Digress – verb (dih fyooz)
sidetrack: wander from a direct or straight course; “She regularly digresses when telling a story.”
Diluvial – adj (dih loo vee uhl)
relating to or produced by a flood or deluge; “The diluvial river poured into the basement, flooding everything there.”
Discomfit – verb (dhs kuhm fiht)
defeated: people who are defeated; to defeat the plans or hopes of; to frustrate; “Their valiant attempts to reclaim the city were discomfited.”
Disingenuous – adj (dihs ihn jehn yoo uhs)
not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; “”Disingenuously, he asked leading questions abut his opponent’s work.”
Dissident – adj (dihs ih duhnt)
a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution; “The dissidents challenged the government’s oppressive policies.”
Doctrinaire – adj (dahk truh nayr)
stubbornly insistent on theory without regard for practicality or suitability; “His doctrinaire policies led to his business’ failure.”
Doleful – adj (dohl fuhl)
filled with or evoking sadness; “His mother looked at him dolefully when he told her he had joined the Army.”
