Short Story Vocabulary

Question 1

finesse

Answer 1

noun
skill and cleverness shown by how someone handles a situation
He has less finesse at the expressive level.

Question 2

incessant

Answer 2

verb
without ending
She talked incessantly so I zoned off.

Question 3

odious

Answer 3

adjective
describes something deserving hatred
He found himself slouching into odious debt.

Question 4

nocturnal

Answer 4

adjective
describes something that is active at night
Bats are nocturnal.

Question 5

palpable

Answer 5

adjective
able to be touched or felt
The results were palpable.

Question 6

tangible

Answer 6

adjective
describes something that has substance or reality
This program will lead to tangible rewards.

Question 7

disarming

Answer 7

adjective
describes something that removes feelings of unfriendliness or mistrust
His smile was disarming and we all lost all feelings of worry.

Question 8

analytical

Answer 8

adjective
describes something that is skilled in breaking a whole into its parts and examining their relationship
Study the poem analytically.

Question 9

futile

Answer 9

adjective
describes something that has no result or effect
Her attempt was futile because we still lost the case.

Question 10

condone

Answer 10

verb
to forgive, overlook, or allow an offense
The murderer’s case was condoned.

Question 11

analyze

Answer 11

verb
to study the parts of something
I analyzed the article and pulled out important details.

Question 12

preclude

Answer 12

verb
to prevent or make impossible beforehand.
Receiving a head injury precluded him from having a successful career.

Question 13

retribution

Answer 13

noun
punishment for doing something wrong
He wanted retribution for stealing his phone.

Question 14

avenge

Answer 14

verb
to get revenge by punishing the wrongdoer
He wanted to avenge the death of his father.

Question 15

avenger

Answer 15

noun
someone who avenges a wrong
The avengers fight criminals.

Question 16

connoisseur

Answer 16

noun
a person who has a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
She is a connoisseur of fine foods.

Question 17

accost

Answer 17

verb
to approach and speak to in a challenging or aggressive way
He was accosted by three gang members in the alleyway.