12 - 17 Flashcards
Abstinence
self‐restraint from an indulgence
Acerbic
bitingly bitter in tone or taste
Aggrandize
magnify reputation beyond truth
Apex
highest point or level
Austere
severe or strict in behavior
Bucolic
pleasantly rural or rustic
Coerce
forcefully persuade someone to action
Depraved
wicked or perverted
Dowdy
unfashionable in appearance
Encomium
speech or piece of high praise
Excommunicate
exile or expel from a group
Flippant
not serious or respectful
Guileless
innocent and trusting
Illiterate
ignorant, or unable to read or write
Incoherent
expressed in a confusing way
Insipid
boring, or lacking flavor or interest
Juxtapose
place together for contrasting effect
Mawkish
sentimental in a feeble way
Moniker
personal name or nickname
Obtuse
annoyingly stupid or insensitive
Pathetic
miserably inadequate
Platitude
commonplace remark or cliché
Profuse
exuberantly plentiful
Quip
make a witty remark or joke
Resilient
tough or flexible in difficult times
Scrutinize
examine closely and thoroughly
Strenuous
difficult, tough, or exhausting
Tantamount
equivalent to or as good as something
Turbulence
violent or unsteady movement
Vilify
speak or write ill of someone
Abstruse
obscure or difficult to understand
Aggregate
form or group into something
Aphorism
short saying of a general truth
Autonomous
self‐governing or independent
Burgeon
flourish; or grow or increase rapidly
Collaborate
work jointly on an activity
Courageous
not deterred by danger or pain
Deprecate
express disapproval of
Dramatize
exaggerate importance of
Endeavor
try hard to do or achieve something
Executor
one who makes something happen
Florid
red‐faced; intricate or elaborate
Guise
costume meant to conceal identity
Illumine
light up; or enlighten someone
Incompetent
incapable of doing something
Insolence
disrespectful and rude behavior
Knack
acquired or natural skill at something
Macabre
gruesome and horrifying
Moratorium
temporary halt to something
Obviate
make unnecessary or prevent
Pathos
appealing to one’s pity or emotion
Plebian
common or lacking in refinement
Progenitor
an ancestor or parent
Raconteur
amusing and skillful storyteller
Resolved
fully determined to do something
Secede
withdraw formally from membership
Strident
loud and harsh or grating
Taper
gradually lessen or reduce something
Turmoil
great disorder or confusion
Virtuoso
highly skilled person
Abundant
existing in large quantities
Agile
able to move quickly and easily
Aplomb
self‐confidence or poise
Avarice
extreme greed for material gain
Bygone
gone by or in the past
Collate
collect and combine in order
Covert
secret or not openly displayed
Derelict
in poor condition due to neglect
Drivel
silly nonsense or gibberish
Endow
gift a quality, ability, or asset
Exodus
mass departure of people
Flounder
struggle helplessly or be confused