Vocabulary Flashcards
Impromtu
Unplanned or unrehearsed
Discombobulate
Upset, cause commotion
Nostalgia
Sentimental longing for past times
Zeitgeist
The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history
Enervating
Draining
Anecdote
Assured, entertaining story about a real incident or person; an account considered unreliable or based on hearsay
Fortuitous
Happening by chance rather than by intention or plan
Loquacious
Talkative
Sophisticated
Showing experience and knowledge of culture and fashion
Idyllic
Blissful, peaceful
Detrimental
Tending to cause harm
Impetuous
Acting or done quickly or rashly
Impecunious
Without or short of money
Simplistic
Treating complex issues and problems as simpler than they really are
Xenophobia
Intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries
Prerogative
Right or privilege exclusive to particular person or group
Stereotype
An image or idea of a thing or person that has become fixed in our minds, a fixed conventionalised representation
Acrimonious
Bitterly angry
Acme
The highest point of achievement or excellence
Optimistic
Positive, hopeful, having a bright view of things
Eccentric
Unconventional and slightly strange
Adage
A proverb or short statement that expresses a general truth
Biased
A one-sided inclination of the mind; prejudiced
Vicissitude
Change of circumstances, fortunes, usually for the worst
Integral
Entire or whole, not fractional, fundamental
Abysmal
Extremely bad
Serendipity
When things happen or occurred by chance in a happy and beneficial way
Metamorphosis
A complete change
Moot
Subject to debate or dispute
Philistine
A person of material outlook, in different to culture
Phenomenal
Spectacular , amazing, a remarkable and usual person
Connoisseur
An expert judge in matters of taste
Nonchalant
Calm, cool, relaxed
Unanimous
Fully in agreement
Euphoria
Intense happiness or elation
Pessimistic
Negative, depressing, without hope
Callous
Insensitive and cruel
Prejudiced
Having a preconceived opinion and is not based on experience or reason
Naive
Lacking experience, wisdom, judgement; artless, unaffected
Bizarre
Very strange or unusual
Vivacious
Lively, animated
Blatant
Open and unashamed
Secular
Not religious, sacred, spiritual
Authentic
Genuine, of undisputed origin
Hoi polloi
The common people
Aficionado
A person who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about particular subject; a devotee of a sport or pastime
Narcissistic
Vain or self obsessed
Irrational
Not logical or reasonable
Adamant
Refusing to change one’s mind
Reciprocal
Done, given, felt in return
succinct
Briefly or clearly expressed
Antagonistic
hostile
Unequivocal
Leaving no doubt, unambiguous, clear and emphatic
Magnanimous
Extremely generous, forgiving. Especially towards a rival or less powerful person
Cynical
Surly, heartless, disinclined to recognise goodness
Disinterested
Impartial, objective
Nadir
Lowest point, most unsuccessful point
Idiosyncrasy
Distinctive, peculiar characteristic, peculiarity of temperaments
Crucial
Critical or decisive
Mediocre
Average, of middling quality
Subtle
Something so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe, elusive, capable of making fine distinctions
Condone
Forgive or accept (behaviour considered wrong or offensive) Approve with reluctance
Ambivalent
Having mixed feelings or opinions about someone or something
Non-descript
Lacking interesting or distinctive characteristics
Vindictive
Having a strong desire for revenge
Deceptive
Misleading, giving an appearance or impression that is not accurate or true
Surreal
Strange, odd bizarre and usually associated with the 20th century art movement
Arbitrary
Not bound by rules, based on random choice or personal whim; absolute or autocratic
Euphemism
And mild way of saying something harsh or blunt
Ambiguous
Having more than one meaning
Disingenuous
Crafty, not open or honest, not sincere
Trivial
Unimportant, of little value
Increments
And increase, and amount or thing added
Kinetic
Pertaining to motion
Supercilious
Haughty, proud
Halcyon
A time of great happiness and calm
Genocide
The deliberate killing/extermination of a very large number of people from a particular ethnic group