1 - 4 Parent Honors Seniors Vocabulary

Haughty

Arrogantly superior and disdainful

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation

Invective

Insulting, abusive language

Subvert

To flip a rule or tradition on its head

Vacillate

To waver between two options or decisions

Lionize

To treat like a celebrity

Bemused

Confused and bewildered

Anomaly

Something that deviates from the norm

Chagrin

Good-humored teasing or ridicule

Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way

Wry

Using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor; adj

Conciliatory

Intended to appease or pacify; adj

Equivocate

To use vague language in order to conceal the truth or avoid committing; verb

Jocular

Humorous and playful; adj

Bedlam

Uproar and confusion; noun

Unscrupulous

Having or showing no moral principles; adj

Wily

Skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitful; adj

Candor

The quality of being open and honest in expression; noun

Contemptuous

Showing disdain, scornful; adj

Didactic

Intended to teach; adj

Austere

severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

Indignant

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

Punctilious

showing great attention to detail or correct behavior

Pragmatic

dealing with things sensibly and realistically

Reproof

an expression of disapproval

Strident

loud and harsh

Ignoble

not honorable in character or purpose

Changeable

irregular; inconsistent

Inimitable

so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy

Allay

to lessen or to relieve

Illustrious

well known, respected, and admired for past achievements; adj

Misanthropic

disliking humankind and avoidant of society; adj

Fecund

fertile, fruitful, productive; adj

Sublime

awe-inspiringly grand or beautiful; adj

Idyllic

a time, place, or circumstance that is happy, peaceful, or picturesque; adj

Lament

a passionate expression of grief or sorrow; verb

Ostentatious

showy, designed to impress; adj

Begrudgingly

Reluctantly; adverb

Reprieve

a cancellation or postponement of a punishment; verb

Blithe

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper; adj