Vocabulary and Synonyms

Xenophobic comes from Greek 'xenos' (foreigner/stranger) and 'phobos' (fear). It means an irrational fear, hatred, or distrust of foreigners or strangers. Perspicacious means insightful (unrelated), 'fear of closed room' describes claustrophobia, and 'tolerant religious ideas' is the opposite.

Hackneyed means made common or trite by overuse - used so frequently it lacks originality or freshness. Think of 'hackneyed phrases' like 'at the end of the day.' The correct option says 'to make common by frequent use.' Other options suggest creativity or innovation, which are opposites.

Whet means to sharpen or make keen, specifically to stimulate or make eager (as in 'whet someone's appetite'). Option A suggests confusion, and C suggests slackening growth, which are opposites. Option D is a nonsensical phrase ('obluse' is misspelled).

Panache means distinctive or stylish elegance - a confident, refined manner of doing things. Think of 'with great panache' - doing something with flair and sophistication. Options B, C, and D all describe clumsiness or inelegance, which are opposites of panache.

Effete describes something that has lost its vitality, energy, or productive capacity - worn out, exhausted, decadent, or depleted. It often applies to ideas, institutions, or people who have become weak or ineffective through age or overuse. The word comes from Latin and originally meant having produced offspring.

HIDEBOUND correctly describes someone or something that is stubbornly prejudiced, narrow-minded, and inflexible in their opinions. The term literally means bound by tradition or old ways of thinking, making it unwilling to consider new ideas or change.

HIERARCHY refers to a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. This is exactly what the definition describes - a structured ranking system.

MIRAGE is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, typically seen in deserts or at sea, where distant objects appear as something else (like water on a dry road). The term perfectly matches the definition given.

MORASS literally means low, wet ground (like a swamp or marsh) and figuratively describes a troublesome situation where one is trapped or entangled. The term captures both the literal and metaphorical meanings in the definition.

NOISOME is the correct answer - it means very offensive or disgusting, particularly to the sense of smell, and can also mean harmful or injurious to health. The other options are vocabulary from other definitions in this set.

OBLIVIOUS means forgetful or lacking consciousness and awareness of one's surroundings. It describes someone who is not paying attention or is unaware of what is happening around them.

POLTROON is a term for a complete coward - someone who is utterly lacking in courage. It's an older, more formal term that directly matches the definition provided.

PROSELYTE refers to someone who has been converted from one religious belief or opinion to another. The term is especially used in religious contexts to describe a convert to a particular faith.

QUASI- is a prefix meaning 'seemingly' or 'resembling but not actually.' It can function as an adjective (as in this question) or prefix, indicating partial or apparent resemblance without being genuine.

RAILLERY refers to good-natured teasing, playful ridicule, or banter. It describes light-hearted joking that is meant to be amusing rather than hurtful or offensive.