Vocab Flashcards
Voracious
Desiring or consuming great quantities.
Ex: After skiing, I find that I have a voracious appetite.
Eminent
Of high reputation. Outstanding.
Ex: The eminent author received the Nobel Prize for literature.
Annals
The historical records
Ex: The annals of sports are full of athletes who have accomplished things that others previously had thought were impossible.
Badger
To pester, nag, or annoy persistently.
Ex: Do not badger me; I will not change my opinion just because of your pestering
Drudgery
Unpleasant, full, or hard work.
Ex: She does we homework on Fridays to Dave herself from the drudgery of having to do it during the weekend.
Laconic
Expressing much in few words.
Ex: His speech was unusually rambling, but this time I found it brief and laconic.
Intrepid
Brave
Ex: The corporal received the Silver Star for his intrepid feeds in combat.
Furtive
Secret, stealthy.
Ex: A plethora of escaped from the prison embarrassed the guards on duty.
Hapless
Unfortunate
Ex: The show or the hapless girl came off her foot right before she stepped in the pile of dog poop.
Irate
Angry, incensed
Ex: When my money was stolen out of my purse at church, I was both surprised and irate
Pretext
An excuse
Ex: Under the pretext if being a surgeon, the imposter gained entry to the hospital.
Adroit
Skillful
Ex: He was so adroit at lying that he got away with it for hours
Gesticulate
To move the arms energetically
Ex: The phony “doctor” began to gesticulate wildly with his scalpel, threatening the nurses.
Vigilant
Watchful
Ex: A vigilant security guard noticed the erratic behavior and called the police
Wrest
To take by force
Ex: The policeman had to wrest the gun away from the belligerent man
Lackluster
Dull, boring, unimpressive
Ex: I expected the movie to be great, but it was lackluster
Incipient
Just beginning to exist
Ex: Okonkwo is concerned about Nwoye’s incipient laziness
Infamous
Having a bad reputation
Ex: Although OJ Simpson had a prestigious football career, his later court trial makes him more infamous than famous
Ominous
Threatening
Ex: The ominous thunder indicated that a bad storm was on the way
Tremulous
Quivering
Ex: The widow’s tremulous hands revealed her nervousness
Repudiate
To deny something
Ex: When he learned that he would be facing the death penalty, the accused man attempted to repudiate the confession he had given earlier
Cessation
Stopping
Ex: After the loud concert ended, the cessation of the noise was a welcome relief
Bristle
Stiffen with anger or fear
Ex: When the moody student believed he was being cause of cheating, he bristled in response
Euphemism
A less offensive term
Ex: “Sanitary engineer” is a euphemism for garbage man
