Group 2 Words Flashcards
CASTIGATION
severe criticism or punishment
CANON
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious
AVARICE
greed
CULPABLE
deserving blame
ACCOLADE
an expression of praise
EBULLIENCE
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
AXIOM
a universally recognized principle
BUCOLIC
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
CACOPHONY
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
AMELIORATE
to make better or more tolerable
EMPIRICAL
based on observation or experiment
CATALYST
a substance that increases the rate of chemical reaction; a person or thing that causes change
FACETIOUS
playful; humorous
ABATE
to lessen in intensity or degree
DOGMATIC
expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improbable principles
BURGEON
to grow rapidly or flourish
ADULATION
excessive praise; intense adoration
CAUSTIC
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
DEARTH
smallness of quantity; scarcity; a lack
CHARY
wary; cautious; sparing
DIDACTIC
intended to teach or instruct
REDOUBTABLE
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
DISCRETION
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
DEMUR
to question or oppose
PRODIGIOUS
abundant in size; force; extraordinary
DISINTERESTED
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
AESTHETIC
dealing with; appreciative of; or responsive to art or beauty
COMPLAISANCE
willingness to comply with the wishes of others
ASCETIC
one who practices rigid self-denial; esp. as an act of religious devotion
SANCTION
authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority to
CONTRITE
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
ECLECTIC
composed of elements from various sources
EMOLLIENT
soothing; an agent that softens the skin
EPHEMERAL
brief; fleeting
ESOTERIC
intended for or understood by a small group
COGENT
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
EULOGY
a speech honoring the dead
EXONERATE
to remove blame
SUPPLANT
to take the place of; supersede
MOROSE
sad; sullen; melancholy
HARANGUE
to deliver a pompous speech; a long pompous speech
HERETICAL
violating accepted dogma or convention
FURTIVE
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
SATIRE
literary work that ridicules or criticizes human vice through humor or derision
ELEGY
a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead
PROLIFIC
producing large amounts; productive
ODIOUS
evoking intense aversion or dislike
IMPECUNIOUS
lacking funds; without money
OPAQUE
impenetrable by light; not reflecting light
INCIPIENT
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
HYPERBOLE
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
INERT
unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
INTRANSIGENT
refusing to compromise
PERNICIOUS
extremely harmful; potentially causing death
PERUSE
to examine with great care
PENURIOUS
penny-pitching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
OSCILLATION
the act of swinging back and forth with a steady rhythm
PRECURSOR
one that precedes and indicates or announces another
PREEN
to dress up; primp; groom oneself with elaborate care
INVEIGLE
to obtain by deception or flattery
VISCOUS
thick; sticky
UBIQUITOUS
existing everywhere at the same time; widespread
FALLACY
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
INNOCUOUS
harmless; causing no damage
PUTREFY
to rot; decay and give off a foul odor
CONTENTIOUS
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
QUAFF
to drink deeply
QUIESCENCE
stillness; motionlessness; being at rest
STOIC
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
PIOUS
extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion
TORPID
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
URBANE
sophisticated; refined; elegant
VILIFY
to defame or characterize harshly
GREGARIOUS
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
SQUALID
sordid; wretched and dirty from neglect
