Vocab List 2 Flashcards
Miserly
adj. people who are stingy with their money and not likely to be generous, like Ebenezer Scrooge
his miserly great-uncle proved to be worth nearly $1 million
Misanthropic
adj. hating or distrusting mankind
condemned for his misanthropic views
Mitigate
vb. to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate
he wanted to mitigate misery in the world
Motley
adj. of various colors; of mixed ingredients
a motley costume; a motley crowd.
Mottled
adj. spotted or streaked with varied colors
a mottled pony.
Mundane
adj. of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit
Mundane affairs
Murky
adj. dark; cloudy
a murky cavern.
Mutable
adj. given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form
mutable in mood as a spring wind.
Nettle
v. to irritate or provoke
nettled by his critics.
Noisome
adj. foul-smelling; harmful
the swamp gave off a noisome odor.
Nonchalant
adj. unmoved or indifferent; casual
reacted to the news in a nonchalant manner.
Notorious
adj. widely known (in a bad sense)
A notorious gambler
Novice
n. a beginner
conducted himself in politics like a novice.
Obdurate
adj. hard-hearted; stubborn
an obdurate, unrepentant criminal.
Obtrusive
adj. thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence
made himself obnoxiously obtrusive.
Obviate
v. to prevent, dispose of, or make unnecessary by appropriate actions an act which obviated all objections.
Onus
n. burden; duty
bore the onus of his difficult office creditably.
Ostensible
adj. apparent; pretended
his ostensible, though not actual, purpose.
Ostracize
v. to banish; to exclude from public favor or privileges
a former premier ostracized by popular vote.
Panacea
n. a remedy for all ills
seeking a panacea to cure our social troubles.
Panegyric
n. a speech or writing of extravagant praise
delivered a panegyric at his friend’s testimonial dinner.
