April 23rd Flashcards
Opprobrium
Disgrace and disapproval that result from outrageously shameless actions.
If you go against or oppose what’s good, you might earn opprobrium — the opposite of getting attention for something good. Bad behavior leads to opprobrium. If you throw a soft drink off the theater balcony, the opprobrium might keep you from getting dates to the movies.
Insensible
Incapable of feeling. Unaware.
The adjective insensible is used to describe someone who is unconscious. If you keep your bowling ball on the top shelf of the closet and it rolls out and conks you on the head, you will be probably rendered insensible.
Edify
Uplift, enlighten.
Perfidy / Perfidious
Apostate
Recreant
Person who abandons a party, cause, religion etc.
Insolent
Effrontery
Shameless boldness
Dyspeptic
Dyspeptic is an old-fashioned word not often used anymore. It describes someone who is irritable due to depression or indigestion.
Pessimistic, grumpy, irritable
Wizened
Hoary
Grizzled
Antediluvian
Withered, shrivelled, very old.
Malinger
Pretend to be sick to get out of work
Doctrinaire
Dogmatic
Stubbornly devoted to a theory without practical considerations.
Beguile
Inveigle
Seduce, Entice, lure.
When you tell your boyfriend he’s not just the best boyfriend ever but also the world’s best driver, and this makes him offer to drive the whole way on your upcoming road trip, then congratulations. You know how to inveigle, or use charm to coax someone into doing something.
Trenchant
Forceful or vigorous
If you’re trenchant, it means you think or say smart, sharply worded things that cut right to the heart of the matter. A trenchant observation is one that makes people scratch their chins thoughtfully, or wince with embarrassment for whomever you’re talking about, or both.
Militate
Have great effect. (often as militate against)
Missive
Letter, written message
Pare
Peel off, cut off the outer layer.
Penumbra
Periphery
Demur
Show reluctance especially for moral reasons.
Sophomoric
Jejune
Peurile
Childish, Juvenile, immature
Exigent
Requiring immediate attention
Investiture
Investing, formally giving someone a right or a title.
Manacle
Stymie or Stymy
Fetter
Trammel
Hinder or block.
Imprecation
Malediction
Execration
Curse
If you really don’t like someone you can shout out an imprecation at them. More than simply the use of bad language (although that can be involved, too), an imprecation is a damning curse wishing them nothing but ill.
