Vocab Flashcards
deference
(n). respectful regard; respect
vacillate
(v). to waver between two choices
fervor
(n). passion
pragmatic
(adj). more concerned with facts than with theories; practical
alleviate
(v). to lessen a bad feeling
negligence
(n). carelessness
ascetic
(adj). without luxuries; living simply, austere
dogmatic
(adj). stubbornly opinionated
condone
(v). to forgive, overlook
dissent
(n). disagreement, refusal to conform
didactic
(adj.) intended to teach; instructive
disparity
(n). a lack of equality
ephemeral
(adj). fleeting; short-lived
prosaic
(adj). dull; uninspired; bland
calumny
(n). a false, malicious statement intended to harm
disparage
(v). to speak badly of
profuse
(adj). many of; abundant
euphemism
(n). a nice way of saying a bad thing; a word of phrase used in place of another word or phrase thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.
lassitude
(n). weariness
ubiquitous
(adj). omnipresent; existing everywhere at the same time.
pariah
(n.) a social outcast
spurious
(adj.) false; lacking authenticity; different than what claimed to be
fastidious
(adj.) overly critical; concerned that even the smallest detail be just right
mitigate
(v.) to lessen the severity of
mutable
(adj.) tending or likely to change; capable of changing
venerate
(v.) to regard with profound respect; to honor as sacred
capitulate
(v.) to give into something unavoidable; to surrender, especially under specified conditions
astute
(adj.) perceptive; intelligent
paradox
(n.) something that seems contradictory but is or may be true nonetheless
languidly
(adv.) slowly; in a tired fashion
censure
(v.) to criticize; to strongly disapprove; to blame
reprehensible
(adj.) shameful; extremely bad
relegate
(v.) to move or dismiss to a lower or less important position
miserly
(adj.) greedy for money and unwilling to share or spend it
taciturn
(adj.) silent; sparing with words
cathartic
(adj.) emotionally cleansing; purging; purifying
vapid
(adj.) lacking freshness or zest; stale; flat
insolent
(adj.) boldly disrespectful
reproach
(v.) to find fault with; to blame or censure
placate
(v.) to make calm; to soothe
affable
(adj.) easy to talk to or approach; friendly
esoteric
(adj.) known or understood by only a few
hubris
(n.) excessive pride or self confidence
deleterious
(adj.) harmful
obstinate
(adj.) stubbornly adhering to one’s beliefs, purpose, etc.
jocular
(adj.) intended to be funny; having a playful, joking disposition
polemical
(adj.) inclined to argue or debate
prodigal
(adj.) wasteful; lavish
avarice
(n.) greed
quandary
(n.) a dilemma; a puzzling situation
bane
(n). something that continually causes pain or destruction.
reverent
(adj.) showing a profound or high level of respect.
precarious
(adj.) dangerous or risky; uncertain.
aloof
(adj.) emotionally removed or distant; showing no concern.
indolent
(adj.) lazy
gregarious
(adj.) sociable; outgoing.
cantankerous
(adj.) bad-tempered; easy to anger and difficult to get along with.
impugn
(v.) to attack as false or untrustworthy.
cryptic
(adj.) hard to understand or decipher; hidden; mysterious
iniquity
(n.) a great injustice; a grossly immoral act.
sycophant
(n.) a self-servant who tries to gain power through flattery
efface
(v.) to wipe out; to treat as unimportant
ardent
(adj.) full of passion and emotion
adamant
(adj.) unyielding; unwilling to bend
din
(n.) an on-going loud sound; noise
laud
(v.) to praise
copious
(adj.) abundant; plentiful
voracious
(adj.) craving or consuming large quantities; exceedingly eager; insatiable
delectable
(adj.) delicious
scruples
(n.) morals or ethics
itinerant
(adj.) tending to move or wander; prone to travel
acrid
(adj.) unpleasantly strong or bitter in taste, smell, tone, or character.
erudite
(adj.) wise due to much studying; scholarly
obtuse
(adj.) not clear or precise in perception, feeling, or intellect
surreptitious
(adj.) done or made in a secret, stealthy way
intrepid
(adj.) fearless
burgeon
(v.) to grow or develop quickly
inception
(n.) the beginning or earliest stage
debunk
(v.) to prove wrong or false
indignant
(adj.) angry, often at the unfairness of something
furtive
(adj.) sneaky; done in a way not intended to be noticed.
charlatan
(n.) an imposter; a quack; a fraud
phlegmatic
(adj.) calm and unemotional
occlude
(v.) to prevent the passage of
bemused
(adj.) lost in thought; preoccupied, bewildered
eclectic
(adj.) taken from a variety if sources
innocuous
(adj.) harmless
diffident
(adj.) lacking self-confidence
paradigm
(n.) an example or model
dilatory
(adj.) intended to delay
perfunctory
(adj.) done in a routine way; hasty and superficial
paragon
(n.) a model or pattern of excellence
proclivity
(n.) a natural inclination or disposition
torpor
(n.) extreme mental and physical sluggishness
verdant
(adj.) green with foliage and vegetation
emulate
(v.) to imitate with effort to equal or excel.
malleable
(adj.) capable of being shaped or molded
perfidious
(adj.) deliberately treacherous and/or faithless; deceitful
apathy
(n.) a lack of interest or emotion
vindicate
(v.) to justify or uphold; to clear, as for blame or suspicion.