English S2 Final Exam Vocab

Atkinson 2025

absolve

(V) set or declare someone free of guilt

abyss

(n) a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm

acquiesce

(v) accept something reluctantly but without protest

ambiguous

(adj) double meaning

apathetic

(adj) showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

beguile

(v) charm or enchant in a deceptive way

bereft

(adj) deprived of or lacking (something)

beseech

(v) ask someone urgently to do something

cacophony

(n) a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

cadence

(n) a modulation or inflection of the voice

chaste

(adj) abstaining from sexual intercourse

coerce

(v) persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.

conformity

(n) compliance with standards, rules, or laws.

conscientious

(adj) (of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.

cordial

(adj) warm and friendly

countenance

(n) a person's face or facial expression.

defiant

(adj) showing defiance

deft

(adj) neatly skillful and quick in one's movements.

desolate

(adj) (of a place) deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness.

didactic

(adj) intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

disdain

(n) the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt.

dissent

(n) the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held.

dither

(v) be indecisive.

dogged

(adj) having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.

dubious

(adj) hesitating or doubting.

elegiac

(adj) relating to or characteristic of an elegy.

euphemism

(n) a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

facetious

(adj) treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

fester

(v) (of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate.

hubris

(n) excessive pride or self-confidence.

impetuous

(adj) acting or done quickly and without thought or care.

indignant

(adj) feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

intemperate

(adj) having or showing a lack of self-control

intrepid

(adj) fearless, used for humorous effect

irreverent

(adj) showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously

juxtapose

(v) place or deal with close together for contrasting effect

lament

(n) a passionate expression of grief or sorrow

languid

(adj) slow relaxed

licentious

(adj) promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters

martyr

(n) a person who is killed because of their beliefs

mollify

(v) appease the anger or anxiety of someone

narcissistic

(adj) having an excessive interest in oneelf

nuance

(n) (v) subtle difference

nonchalant

(adj) feeling casually calm and relaxed

ostentatious

(adj) characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.

paradigm

(n) a typical example or pattern of something; a model.

pensive

(adj) engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought.

perjury

(n) the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.

plaintive

(adj) sounding sad and mournful.

poignant

(adj) evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

ravenous

(adj) extremely hungry

reproach

(v) (n) address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment

reverie

(n) a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.

sardonic

(adj) grimly mocking or cynical.

scorn

(n) (v) the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable; contempt.

shrewd

(adj) having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.

segue

(v) (n) (in music and film) move without interruption from one piece of music or scene to another.

squalid

(adj) (of a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect.

surmise

(v) suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it. (n) a supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it.

tenacity

(n) the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip.

vacuous

(adj) having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.

vain

(adj) having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth.

vapid

(adj) offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

vehement

(adv) in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling.

vengeance

(n) punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.

vex

(v) make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters.

vicarious

(adj) experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person.

vulgar

(adj) lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined.

writhe

(v) make continual twisting, squirming movements or contortions of the body.

zealous

(adj) showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.