Vocabulary 19 Flashcards
lackluster
adj. lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring
apathy
n. lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
inconclusive
adj. not leading to a firm conclusion; not ending doubt or dispute
strategist
n. a person skilled in planning action or policy, esp. in war or politics
imbecile
n. a stupid person
adj. stupid; idiotic
opportunist
n. a person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans
deserter
n. a member of the armed forces who deserts
permissive
adj. allowing or characterized by great or excessive freedom of behavior
marginal
adj. of secondary or minor importance; not central
adj. (of a decision or distinction) very narrow
adj. of, relating to, or situated at the edge or margin of something
staunch
adj. loyal and committed in attitude
adj. (of a wall) of strong or firm construction
inimitable
adj. so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy
singularly
adj. in a remarkable or noticeable way
adj. in a stranger or eccentric way
tenuous
adj. very weak or slight
adj. very slender or fine; insubstantial
aboveboard
adj. legitimate, honest, and open
steadfast
adj. resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering
sensationalism
n. (esp. in journalism) the use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest or excitement
piety
adj. the quality of being religious or reverent
n. a belief or point of view that is accepted with unthinking conventional reverence
obfuscate
v. render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
v. bewilder someone
equivocate
v. use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself
capitulate
v. cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender
intercede
v. intervene on behalf of another
progressive
adj. happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step
adj. (of a group, person, or idea) favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas
impulsive
adj. acting or done without forethought
undertaking
n. a formal pledge or promise to do something
n. a task that is taken on; an enterprise
picket
n. a person or group of people standing outside a place of work or other venue, protesting something or trying to persuade others not to enter during a strike
immense
adj. extremely large or great, esp. in scale or degree
defunct
adj. no longer existing or functioning
perennial
adj. lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring
sequence
v. arrange in a particular order
fashion
v. make into a particular or the required form
acquisitive
adj. excessively interested in acquiring money or material things
divert
v. cause (someone or something) to change course or turn from one direction to another
penache
n. flamboyant confidence of style or manner
brash
adj. self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way
adj. strong, energetic, or irreverent
adj. (of a place or thing) having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance
infraction
n. a violation or infringement of a law, agreement, or set of rules
subordinate
v. treat or regard as of lesser importance than something else
v. make subservient to or dependent on something else
lush
adj. (of vegetation) growing luxuriantly
adj. very rich and providing great sensory pleasure
prosperous
adj. successful in material terms; flourishing financially
recriminate
v. make counteraccusations
verdant
adj. (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation
adj. of the bright green color of lush grass
stunt
v. prevent from growing or developing properly
pliant
adj. pliable
propitiate
v. win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them
magisterial
adj. having or showing great authority
rapturous
adj. characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm
nihilistic
adj. rejecting all religious and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless
maudlin
adj. self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
veer
v. change direction suddenly
v. suddenly change an opinion, subject, type of behavior, etc.
ebb
v. (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce
redolent
adj. strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something)
adj. trongly smelling of something
waft
adj. pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air
insolent
adj. showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect
incantation
n. a series of words said as a magic spell or charm
novelty
n. the quality of being new, original, or unusual
n. a small and inexpensive toy or ornament
salutary
adj. (esp. with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial
subservient
adj. prepared to obey others unquestioningly
