by Hatice Oncel

TOEFL VOCAB-11

rate, speed

pace

Careful, thorough

It took months of painstaking research to write the book

painstaking

unimportant, minor

The company offered Jeremy a paltry sum which he refused

paltry

Chief, topThere are many priorities, but reducing the budget deficit is paramount/is of paramount importance.

paramount

strange, old, unique, specialShe has the most peculiar ideas.What a peculiar smell!

peculiar

enter, go into, puncture Amazingly, the bullet did not penetrate his brain.

penetrate

observe, sense, noticeI perceived a note of unhappiness in her voice.

perceive

n. danger, hazard, risk

I never felt that my life was in peril

peril

dangerous, risky, hazardousThe country roads are quite perilous

perilous

constant, endless, eternalThey lived in perpetual fear of being discovered and arrested.

perpetual

puzzling, confusing

The disease has continued to perplex doctors

perplexing

Important, key, cruciala pivotal figure/role/idea

pivotal

epidemic, trouble, harassa plague of insects

plague

Likely, credible, believablea plausible explanation/excuse

plausible

beg, appeal

He was on his knees, pleading for mercy/forgiveness

plead

luxurious, opulent, elegant

He took me out to a really plush restaurant

plush

strong, powerful, effectiveThe Berlin Wall was a potent symbol of the Cold War.

potent

jump, leapThe cat sat in the tree ready to pounce on the ducks below.

pounce

accurate, exact The cat sat in the tree ready to pounce on the ducks below.

precise

first, opening, leading, foremost

He's one of the nation's premier scientists

premier

urgent, crucialThe most pressing question is what do we do next?

pressing

Excuse, justification

I called her on the pretext of needing more information

pretext

Succeed, win, triumphI am sure that common sense will prevail in the end

prevail

Common

These diseases are more prevalent among young children

prevalent

Investigate

The interviewer probed deep into her private life

probe

Obtain, secureShe's managed somehow to procure his telephone number

procure

Important, deep

profound

Plentiful, copious

profuse

Punctual

They've written back already - that was a very prompt reply

prompt

Flourish, succeedA lot of microchip manufacturing companies prospered at that time

prosper

Careful, sensibleIt's always prudent to read a contract properly before signing it.

prudent

grind, powder, crush pulverized coal/bones

pulverize

Bitter, sharpI sat down to a cup of wonderfully pungent Turkish coffee.

pungent

chase, follow, seek

The car was pursued by helicopters

pursue