If You Pass This Vocabulary Quiz With All Words That Start With 'B', We'll Think You're Brainy

By: Kennita Leon
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
If You Pass This Vocabulary Quiz With All Words That Start With 'B', We'll Think You're Brainy
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

If you're a word-lover or just someone looking to sharpen their word game, then we have quite the quiz for you today. We're going to test you on some words you may or may not know, and they all start with the second letter of the alphabet, B! Having a broad vocabulary doesn't come easy, unless you just have the knack for it -- you have to constantly practice using the words in the right context, as well as remembering the many different meanings that each word could have. 

Take for example the word "buoyant." One one hand, it means something that is able to stay afloat, but it could also describe someone's mood as being cheerful, happy or bubbly.  We have words like this and a lot more in this quiz, and it's time for you to test whether you've been using the most basic of b-words, whether you'll get a "B" on this test or whether you'll bedazzle us with your knowledge of all these words we have in store for you. 

So, if you think you have what it takes to be one of the few who can pass this test with flying colors, it's time to get started. 

Do you know what "brazen" means?
Something that is overly repeated
Something mysterious
To be brave or shameless
To be deadly or sinister
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brazen, which originated from the Old English word bræs, refers to disrespectful or shameless boldness; made of brass, to deal with a tough or embarrassing situation by putting on a bold front.

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Which of these words defines someone who is stuck to their own prejudices?
Burden
Brood
Bravado
Bigot
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bigot is defined as someone who is stubbornly or intolerantly devoted to their views and prejudices, usually regarding religion, politics, race, sexuality, etc.; chauvinist, partisan.

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Do you know the definition of "bashful"?
To summon with a wave
To be shy or coy
A state of deep confusion
Abnormally powerful
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bashful is defined as a hesitancy to attract attention to one's self; timid, shy, reserved, inhibited, coy. It is derived from the 15th-century English word bash and the adjective suffix "ful."

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Can you tell us what "boisterous" means?
Energetically loud
A boring person
Something that is overly repeated
To tarnish a reputation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Boisterous, derived from the Middle English, is defined as noisy, energetic, loud, high-spirited (referring to a person, event or behavior); wild or stormy (in reference to the weather).

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What's a good synonym for "belie"?
Disprove
To refuse to obey
To regret
Not dangerous to one's health
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Belie means to give off a false impression of something (of an appearance); to prove or show to be wrong or false; debunk, contradict, discredit, negate, disprove, call into question.

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Which of these meanings is closest to the definition of "bane"?
To give up
To be deadly or sinister
To summon with a wave
The source or cause of annoyance
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bane is defined as a source or cause of annoyance or great distress; nuisance, pest, blight, hardship, curse, scourge, misfortune. Something, usually poison, which leads to death (archaic).

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What word is a tool with a tapered tip?
Boycott
Brood
Broach
Brandish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Broach refers to any tool or implement with a pointed or tapered tip, such as a spit for roasting meat; to bring up a difficult or sensitive topic for discussion; to open a case to draw liquor.

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Of the options, which word is a wetland or swamp?
Bogus
Burden
Bog
Bravado
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bog is defined as a wet, spongy ground too soft to support a heavy body; wetland, swamp, marsh. To cause something (person, vehicle or animal) to become stuck in wet ground or mud.

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What does it mean to be have a "bias"?
A state of deep confusion
To have a preference or inclination to
Something mysterious
Abnormally powerful
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bias, as a noun, refers to an inclination or preference toward a particular outlook or tendency. To give or show a partial view in favor of or against a person or group over another.

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What do you think "blatant" means?
Something that is overly repeated
A boring person
Obvious or in your face
To refuse to obey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blatant is an adjective which means a complete lack of subtlety; very obvious, brazen. It also means done in a vulgar, openly offensive manner; shameless, unbashful, unconcealed, glaring, flagrant.

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What word describes when something rolls or undulates, usually in or with air?
Billow
Bleak
Bicker
Betrothed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Billow is defined as a large, undulating or rolling mass of something, usually a flame or smoke; a surge of water or great wave; to fill with air and swell outward; to rise or roll in surges or waves.

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Which of these words represents a fight?
Brandish
Brawl
Boycott
Bogus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As a noun, a brawl refers to a loud or rough fight or argument; tussle, scuffle, skirmish. As a verb it is defined as to quarrel or fight very loudly and noisily; wrangle, exchange blows.

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What would you say is the closest to "bittersweet"?
To regret
To tarnish a reputation
To be deadly or sinister
Pleasure entwined with sadness
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bittersweet means being bitter and sweet at once; a pleasure accompanied by regret, suffering or sadness; another name for woody nightshade (a vinelike climbing poisonous shrub).

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It means to be able to stay afloat. Which word is it?
Befuddle
Brood
Binge
Buoyant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Buoyant means having the capability to or being able to stay afloat or to the top of a liquid or gas; (of a mood) cheerful, gay, lighthearted, cheerful, jolly, joyful, bouncy, bubbly.

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What does it mean to be "belligerent"?
To summon with a wave
Something mysterious
Abnormally powerful
Being prone to aggression
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Belligerent is defined as being prone to or displaying hostility or aggressiveness; assertive, combative, warlike, confrontational, militant. A person or country partaking in war conflict.

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Which of these words means to encourage or improve?
Boycott
Burden
Boost
Bravado
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Boost means to encourage or stimulate something to improve or increase; enhance, uplift promote, heighten; to push upward; an increase in an amount; an act or source that brings in help.

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Which word is used when speaking the Lord's name in vain?
Bleak
Blasphemy
Bogus
Bicker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blasphemy refers to the act of insulting or expressing a lack reverence toward God, taking the Lord's name in vain. The act of likening one's self to a deity, to claim the characteristics of a deity.

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This word means to hand or pass down. Which word is it?
Bequeath
Betrothed
Banter
Befuddle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bequeath means to pass on or hand down something to a person or other beneficiary via a will; grant to, entrust to, transfer to, leave to/leave in one's will to, make over to, bestow to, donate to.

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Which of these meanings hits "beguile" spot on?
To refuse to obey
To enchant or captivate
A state of deep confusion
Something that is overly repeated
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beguile means to enchant or captivate someone, usually in a deceptive manner; to lead by deception, charm, attract, mesmerize, seduce, hypnotize, dazzle, spellbind, woo, win over.

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Which word means to be bombarded?
Brood
Barrage
Boycott
Brandish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barrage, as a verb, means to bombard someone with something such as advice. As a noun, it refers to a concentrated artillery dispersed over a wide area; a rapid outpouring of many things at once.

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To look at someone with envy is what this word means. But which is it?
Bravado
Burden
Bogus
Begrudge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Begrudge is defined as looking upon someone (possession, success, happiness, enjoyment) with disapproval or envy. To give or concede resentfully or reluctantly; feel bitter or annoyed about.

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What does it mean to be "benevolent"?
To be caring or giving
A boring person
To summon with a wave
Not dangerous to one's health
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Benevolent is defined as having or displaying good-natured and compassionate traits; caring, altruistic, kind-hearted. To serve a charitable rather than profitable purpose; nonprofit.

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What is a "bourgeois"?
A middle-class person
To tarnish a reputation
A deadly or sinister person
To regret
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bourgeois means related or characteristic of the social middle class, usually marked by conventional attitudes and perceived materialistic values; a bourgeois person.

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Do you know the meaning of "berate"?
Something mysterious
To scold or reprimand
Abnormally powerful
A state of deep confusion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Berate, which originated in the 16th century, is defined as criticizing or scolding someone angrily and at length; admonish, reprimand, reproach, rebuke, tell off, reproach, take to task.

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Which of these words refers to someone with blunt and sometimes coarse mannerisms?
Binge
Boycott
Brusque
Bleak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brusque refers to markedly abrupt or blunt mannerisms and speech, usually to the point of ungracious coarseness; impolite, discourteous, rude, snappy, sharp, terse, gruff, curt, offhand.

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What does it mean to be "bereft"?
Something that is overly repeated
A boring person
To refuse to obey
Suffering some kind of loss
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bereft means suffering the death of a loved one; stripped or deprived of the use or possession of something; lacking something that is wanted or needed; archaic past participle of bereave.

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Cooperation between two opposing political parties is possible. What word is used to describe this?
Bogus
Bipartisanship
Befuddle
Bravado
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bipartisanship, also known as non-partisanship, is defined as an agreement, compromise or cooperation created by two opposing political parties (especially in the United States).

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When you see the word "bemoan," what comes to mind?
To tarnish a reputation
Expressing grief or discontent
To summon with a wave
To be deadly or sinister
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bemoan is defined as the act of expressing deep grief or discontent over something; lament, mourn. It was derived from the Old English word bemǣnan, meaning complain or lament.

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It means the lack or novelty or originality. But what word is it?
Brandish
Banal
Burden
Brood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Banal is an adjective meaning to lack novelty, originality and freshness to the point of obviousness; unoriginal, dull, uninteresting, valid, clichéd, unimaginative, stale, worn out.

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In plants, it means disease. What is the word for it?
Betrothed
Bicker
Blighted
Binge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In botany, blight is a disease of plants which leads to lesions, withering and death of various parts; an organism which causes blight; in a severely deteriorated condition; defeated or frustrated.

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What does it mean to "bask"?
To take pleasure or delight in
Something mysterious
Abnormally powerful
A state of deep confusion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bask is defined as the act of taking delight in and making the most of something pleasing; revel in, wallow in. To lie exposed to pleasurable warmth and light for relaxation; lounge, sprawl, laze.

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Which of these definitions best suits the word "byzantine"?
Unethical or devious methods
To summon with a wave
A boring person
Something that is overly repeated
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Byzantine means marked by devious or unethical procedures or manner of operation; relating to having the characteristics of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire.

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Which of these words means to strengthen or to boost?
Bleak
Boycott
Bravado
Bolster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bolster means to give a boost to, strengthen, support or reinforce, as with a bolster — a cushion or long pillow; a structural part designed to provide support or bearing or to eliminate friction.

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What does "berth" mean?
To be deadly or sinister
Where a ship stays or is docked
To refuse to obey
Something mysterious
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Berth refers to the place where a ship stays when at the dock or pier; a fixed bunk or bed on a means of transportation such as a train or ship; to provide a sleeping place for someone (on a boat).

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Which of these words can be used in place of "flourish" and "snowball"?
Bogus
Brandish
Burgeon
Brood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Burgeon means to put for forth young shoots, bloom. To begin to expand and grow quickly or rapidly; flourish, prosper, improve, develop, escalate, swell, snowball, rocket, boom, mushroom.

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You Got:
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