12th Grade Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards for 12th-grade students, covering words from 'anachronistic' to 'zealot'.

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; outdated

abbreviate

to shorten (a word, phrase, or text)

abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power, especially the throne

abstinence

voluntary restraint from indulging an appetite or desire, often for health or religious reasons

adulation

excessive praise or flattery

adversity

difficulties or misfortune

aesthetic

relating to beauty or artistic appreciation

amicable

friendly; peaceable

anecdote

a brief, interesting story about a real incident or person

anonymous

not named or identified; having an unknown or unacknowledged name

antagonist

a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something

arid

extremely dry or lacking in moisture

assiduous

showing great care, attention, and effort; diligent

asylum

protection granted to someone fleeing persecution; or an institution offering shelter

benevolent

well-meaning; kindly

camaraderie

mutual trust and friendship among people spending time together

censure

to express strong disapproval; or the expression of that disapproval

circuitous

indirect or roundabout

clairvoyant

having the ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact

collaborate

to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce with others

compassion

sympathetic concern for the troubles or suffering of others

compromise

an agreement reached by mutual concession; or to settle differences by mutual adjustment

condescending

showing a patronizing superiority

conditional

subject to one or more conditions being met

conformist

someone who matches their behavior and ideas to group norms

congregation

a gathering of people, especially for religious worship

convergence

the process or state of converging; coming together

deleterious

harmful to health or well-being

demagogue

a political leader who appeals to emotions and prejudices rather than rational argument

digression

a temporary departure from the main subject in speaking or writing

diligent

showing steady, careful, and persistent effort

discredit

to harm the reputation of; to disgrace

disdain

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one’s respect or concern

divergent

moving or extending in different directions from a common point

empathy

the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings

emulate

to imitate with the intent to equal or surpass

enervating

causing one to feel drained of energy; weakening

enhance

to improve or augment

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

evanescent

quickly fading or disappearing

exasperation

a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance

exemplary

serving as a desirable model; representing the best

extenuating

making a mistake or offense seem less serious due to special circumstances

florid

having a red or flushed complexion; or elaborately intricate

fortuitous

happening by accident or chance rather than design

frugal

sparing or economical with regard to money or food

hackneyed

lacking significance due to overuse; cliché

haughty

arrogantly superior and disdainful

hedonist

a person who believes the pursuit of pleasure is the highest goal

hypothesis

a supposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth

impetuous

acting quickly and without thought or care

impute

to attribute (responsibility or fault) to someone

incompatible

two things so different they cannot exist together

inconsequential

not important or significant

inevitable

certain to happen; unavoidable

integrity

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

intrepid

fearless; adventurous

intuitive

using or based on what one feels to be true without conscious reasoning

jubilation

a feeling of great happiness and triumph

lobbyist

someone who tries to influence government or public officials on a specific issue

longevity

long life or existence; duration

mundane

ordinary, commonplace, or unexciting

nonchalant

appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety

novice

someone new to a field or activity; a beginner

opulent

rich, luxurious, or lavish

orator

a skilled public speaker

ostentatious

characterized by vulgar or pretentious display to impress others

parched

dried out with heat; extremely thirsty

perfidious

deceitful and untrustworthy

precocious

having developed abilities at an unusually early age

pretentious

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than is actually possessed

procrastinate

to delay or postpone action

prosaic

lacking poetic beauty; unimaginative; dull

prosperity

the state of being successful and wealthy

provocative

causing anger or another strong reaction, especially deliberately

prudent

acting with or showing care and thought for the future

querulous

complaining in a petulant or whining manner

rancorous

characterized by bitterness or resentment

reclusive

avoiding the company of other people; solitary

reconciliation

restoration of friendly relations; harmony

renovation

the act of renewing or repairing

resilient

able to recover quickly from difficulties

restrained

characterized by reserve or moderation; controlled

reverence

deep respect for someone or something

sagacity

the quality of being wise; shrewdness

scrutinize

examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

spontaneity

spontaneous behavior or action

spurious

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

submissive

ready to conform to the authority or will of others

substantiate

provide evidence to support or prove the truth

superficial

existing or occurring at or on the surface; shallow

superfluous

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

suppress

to forcibly put an end to; to prevent the development of

surreptitious

kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of

tactful

having or showing sensitivity in dealing with others or difficult issues

tenacious

tending to keep a firm hold; persistent

transient

lasting only for a short time; impermanent

venerable

accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age

vindicate

clear (someone) of blame or suspicion

wary

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems