Vocabulary and Synonyms

A bromide is a platitude - a trite, cliché, or boring remark. It refers to something said so often it becomes uninteresting or obvious. Option A is ordination, a religious ceremony. Option B is euphemism, substituting mild words for harsh ones. Option D means stylish or trendy.

To brood means to sit on eggs to hatch them, as birds do. It can also mean to dwell moodily on something, but the primary biological meaning is the incubation behavior. Option A means to orient or locate oneself. Option B appears truncated but would mean exaggerated or unfounded feelings. Option D is a person with power or influence.

To brook means to tolerate or endure, usually used in negative constructions like would not brook or brook no interference. It means to allow or bear with something, often implying reluctance. Option A is socialization or entering society. Option B is euthanasia. Option D is a molecule, the smallest unit of a substance.

To browbeat means to intimidate or pressure someone by using stern words or domineering behavior. The correct answer is 'bully' (option C) because browbeating involves forcing someone to do something through threats or aggressive behavior. Options A, B, and D are unrelated to the meaning of browbeat.

To browse means to look through casually, but it also has an original meaning related to animals eating - to graze or feed on leaves and shoots. Option C 'graze' is correct because browse can refer to animals eating vegetation. Option A refers to something ornate, B means insincere, and D means to treat with excessive kindness.

To bruise means to injure without breaking the skin, typically causing discoloration from blood trapped under the skin. Option C is correct. Option A refers to an ornithologist (bird scientist), B means unbiased, and D refers to molting (shedding hair/feathers).

Brusque means blunt, abrupt, or rude in manner of speech. Option C 'blunt' is correct. Brusque communication is curt and dismissive. Option A refers to proper spelling, B means to demonstrate clearly, and D means of great importance.

A buccaneer refers to a pirate, especially in the West Indies in the 17th century. Option C 'pirate' is correct. Buccaneers were originally hunters in the Caribbean before becoming pirates. Option A refers to oscillating movement, B means evocative, and D is a physics term.

Bucolic means rustic, pastoral, or relating to the countryside. Option C 'rustic' is correct. Bucolic poetry and imagery depict rural life and landscapes. Option A refers to osseous material, B means to elicit, and D describes autocracy.

A buffoon is a stupid or ridiculous person, especially one who behaves comically. Option C 'stupid person' is correct. Buffoons engage in foolish behavior for amusement. Option A means visible, B means to exacerbate, and D refers to financial matters.

Buffoonery means clowning or foolish, ridiculous behavior. Option C 'clowning' is correct. It refers to the actions or behavior characteristic of a buffoon. Option A refers to ostentatious display, B means to extort, and D refers to mixed-breed animals.

A bugaboo is a bugbear - something that causes fear or annoyance, often an imaginary object of fear. Option C 'bugbear' is correct. Bugaboos are sources of worry or distress. Option A means to ostracize, B means taxing or demanding, and D refers to monochrome coloration.

A bulge is a protruding part or rounded swelling that extends beyond a surface. Option C 'protruding part' is correct. Bulges create convex protrusions. Option A means to eject, B means to promote, and D refers to monochrome painting.

Bulk means large size, volume, or quantity, especially when very large. Think of buying in bulk or the greater part of something (the bulk of the work). The other options describe different words: A refers to an outcast, B means to annoy, and D describes a monogram.

Botch means to do something badly or clumsily, to mismanage through poor workmanship, or to ruin something. The other options are unrelated: A describes something with an odor (odorous), B refers to an epitaph, and D means threatening.