Vocabulary 21 Flashcards
infatuation
n. an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something [WITH]
stampede
n. a sudden panicked rush of a number of horses, cattle, or other animals
n. a sudden rapid movement or reaction of a mass of people in response to a particular circumstance or stimulus
intransigent
adj. unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something
tendentious
adj. expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, esp. a controversial one
partisan
n. a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person
adj. prejudiced in favor of a particular cause
garrulous
adj. excessively talkative, esp. on trivial matters
loquacious
adj. tending to talk a great deal; talkative
castigate
v. reprimand (someone) severely
excoriate
v. censure or criticize severely
censure
v. express severe disapproval of (someone or something), typically in a formal statement
dexterious
adj. demonstrating neat skill, esp. with the hands
adj. mentally adroit; clever
histrionic
adj. overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style
overwrought
n. a state of nervous excitement or anxiety
adj. (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction
indomitable
adj. impossible to subdue or defeat
subdue
v. overcome, quieten, or bring under control (a feeling or person)
brusque
adj. abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
curt
adj. rudely brief
peremptory
adj. (esp. of a person’s manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, esp. in a brusquely imperious way
surreptitious
adj. kept secret, esp. because it would not be approved of
imperturbable
adj. unable to be upset or excited; calm
unflappable
adj. having or showing calmness in a crisis
flappable
adj. excitable and quick to lose one’s composure
wry
adj. using or expressing dry, esp. mocking, humor
droll
adj. curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
savvy
n. shrewdness and practical knowledge, esp. in politics or business
inflame
v. provoke or intensify (strong feelings, esp. anger) in someone
v. make (a situation) worse
lampoon
v. publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm
eulogize
v. praise highly in speech or writing
brevity
n. concise and exact use of words in writing or speech
n. shortness of time
empirical
adj. based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic