Semester 2 Vocabulary

Acrimonious

scathing, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech, or behavior (caustic, vituperative, scathing)

Sulky

silent and aloof in a sullen or offended manner (sullen)

Vacuous

lacking in ideas or intelligence; inane; stupid (brainless)

Sagacious

having or showing keen mental discernment, good judgment, and practical sense (wise, knowledge)

Pensive

often engaged in deep or serious thought (contemplative, reflective)

Supercilious

haughtily disdainful or contemptuous; behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others (haughty, conceited, pompous)

Quarrelsome

argumentative; contentious; inclined to hostility (argumentative, disputative)

Taciturn

inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation (reserved, quiet)

Valorous

boldness in facing great danger, especially in battle (brave, adventurous)

Tyrannical

unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe; oppressive (dictatorial, autocratic)

Apprehensive

uneasy or fearful about something that might happen (anxious, agitated)

Belittled

made to feel less impressive or important than one would otherwise; disparaged or criticized (disparaged)

Blithe

joyous or merry, especially in a carefree way (lighthearted, ebullient)

Frank

direct and unreserved; straightforward; sincere (straightforward, direct)

Jocular

feeling good-humored, as a result of joking (comic, humorous)

Mocking

mimicking or imitating with the purpose of ridiculing deriding or minimizing (ridicule, taunt)

Portentous

ominously significant; serious and disquieting, as if something severe is able to happen (foreboding, foreshadowing)

Reverent

Feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by deep respect (respectful)

Vehement

zealous; ardent; impassioned (spirited, fervent)

Wistful

pensive, in a melancholdy, yearning, or longing way (nostalgic, yearning)

Caustic

severely critical or sarcastic (scathing, acrimonious)

Ebullient

overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited (cheerful, jaunty)

Elegiac

expressing sorrow or lamentation; mournful or melancholy, especially toward the dead (mournful, sorrowful)

Empathetic

able to feel and identify with the feelings, thoughts, experiences, or attitudes of others (compassionate, sympathetic)

Facetious

not meant to be taken seriously or literally; cleverly humorous (comic, lighthearted)

Incredulous

disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical (unconvinced, doubtful)

Indignant

feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base (offended)

Provocative

stirring, stimulating, irritating, or vexing (provoking)

Resigned

characterized by submissive acceptance (reconciled)

Sentimental

expressive of or appealing to tender emotions, like love, pity, or nostalgia (emotional, affectionate)

Abhorent

horrifying and offensive to the mind (repulsive, repugnant)

Abject

completely without pride or dignity; self abasing

Credulous

showing a lack of judgement or experience

Despondent

without or almost without hope

Ethereal

characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air

Haughty

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

Imperious

characterized by commanding superioirty

Scrupulous

1, characterized by extreme care and great effort, 2, having scruples, arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled

Scurrlious

1, using or given to coarse language, 2, vulgar and evil

Vituperative

marked by harshly abusive criticism

Blasphemous

uttering, containing, or exhibiting impious action concerning sacred things; irrelevant, profane

Capricious

subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion, or unpredictable change'; erratic

Indulgent

characterized by submitting to an inclination or desire; lenient or permissive

Innocuous

not harmful or injurious; harmless; unlikely to harm or offend

Inscrutable

Incapable of being investigated, analyzed or scrutinized; impenetrable; not easily understood; mysterious

Insidious

intended to entrap or beguile; stealthily treacherous or deceitful

Serene

calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled

Vitriolic

very caustic or scathing; intensely and bitingly critical

Wanton

1. done, shown or used maliciously or unjustifiably; 2) without regard for what is right, just humane; careless; reckless; 3) sexually lawless or unrestrained

Zealous

full of or characterized by eager desire; ardently active, devoted or diligent

Impotent

lacking power or ability

Fatalistic

characteristic of the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable

Reticent

not revealing one’s thoughts or feeling readily; withdrawn or introverted

Ignominious

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame; embarrassing

Doting

extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring

Venerable

accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character

Paradoxical

seemingly absurd or self-contradictory

Morbid

characterized by an abnormal or unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant sibjects

Indefatigable

persisting tirelessly; unwearied or unwavering

Tawdry

showy, but cheap and of poor quality; tasteless (gaudy, flashy, tacky)