All Vocab Words Flashcards
Acrimonious
Adj.
(typically of spech or a debate) angry and bitter
“Mark and Paul had an acrimonious debate about politics”
Circumspect
Adj.
Wary and unwilling to take risks
“Students are more circumspect in school than brave.”
Duplicitous
Adj.
Deceitful
“Mary acted duplicitous when she told me that she hated John, but talked to him all day.”
Fatuous
Adj.
Silly and pointless
“Talking back to the ref was fatuous, she ended up getting carded.”
Insipid
Adj.
Lacking flavour OR lacking vigor or interest
“Many artists continue to create insipid, shallow works.”
Churlish
Adj.
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
“It seems churlish to complain, but I can’t stand it.”
Pragmatic
Adj.
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
“A pragmatic solution may not be the best one in the long term.”
Stolid
Adj.
(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation
“My dad is very stolid. He shows little emotion and is very calm.”
Apathetic
Adj.
Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
“An apathetic student is not easy to teach.”
Complacent
Adj.
Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements
“I am complacent with how I did on my math test.”
Didactic
Adj.
Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
“The teachers didactic approach helped the student understand the concept easier.”
Hackneyed
Adj.
(of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite
The movies plot was so predictable and hackneyed that I could guess the ending from the start.
Irascible
Adj.
Having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
“My sister is known for her irascible temper, she gets angry over the smallest things”
Morose
Adj.
Sullen and ill-tempered
“After receiving bad news, she became quiet and morose; keeping to herself for days.”
Sagacious
Adj.
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement
“My grandma with her years of wisdom and experience alays gives sagacious advice.”
Vapid
Adj.
Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging
“The book was filled with vapid characters and a shallow storyline making it hard to stay engaged.”
Wry
Adj.
Using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor.
“She had a wry smile after the joke, clearly showing it wasn’t funny.”
Ardent
Adj.
Enthusiastic or passionate
“I am an ardent fan of Taylor Swift. I go to all her concerts and collect her merchandise.
Coddled
Adj.
Treated in an indulgent or overprotective way
“Growing up, my little sister was always coddled by our parents, getting whatever she wanted.”
Derisive
Adj.
Expressing contempt or ridicule
“When I shared my idea with the group, they responded with derisive laughter”
Asceticism
Noun
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
“Sarah’s commitment to asceticism led her to give up all material possessions and live in solitude.”
Dint
Noun
A force or power
“By dint of working hard, she became the captain of the soccer team.”
Envoy
Noun
a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission.
“The diplomat was sent as an envoy to negotiate peace between the two countries.”
Defray
Verb
provide money to pay (a cost or expense).
“My parents kindly offered to defray the cost of my college tuition.”
Crass
Adj.
lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence.
“His crass comments during the meeting offended everyone in the room.”
Beguile
Verb
charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.
“The magician’s captivating tricks and charming personality were able to beguile the entire audience.”
Allocation
Noun
the action or process of allocating or distributing something.
“The company’s budget committee decided on the allocation of funds for different departments.”
Enjoins
Verb
to direct or demand (an action) by authoritative order (as from a court of law)
“The sign enjoins visitors to keep off the grass and stay on the designated path.”
Oscillate
Verb
move or swing back and forth at a regular speed.
“The pendulum on the old grandfather clock would oscillate back and forth with a soothing rhythm.”
Interloper
Noun
a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.
“When I walked into the meeting, I felt like an interloper because I didn’t know anyone there.”
Incarcerate
imprison or confine
Verb
The judge decided to incarcerate the criminal for his actions
Vacuous
having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Adjective
“The movie was so vacuous, it lacked any substance or meaningful plot.”