Advanced Vocabulary: Definitions and Words for Independent Learners

Allege

To claim or assert something without proof

Arrant

Complete, utter (usually negative)

Badinage

Light, playful, teasing conversation

Conciliate

To make someone less angry; to soothe

Countermand

To cancel or reverse an order

Echelon

A level or rank in an organization or society

Exacerbate

To make the problem worse

Fatuous

Silly and pointless; lacking intelligence

Irrefutable

Impossible to deny or disprove

Juggernaut

A huge, powerful, unstoppable force.

Lackadaisical

Showing little enthusiasm or effort

Litany

A long list of repetitive series

Macabre

Grim or related to death

Paucity

A small amount; scarcity

Portend

To be a sign of something (usually bad)

Raze

To completely destroy

Recant

To take back or withdraw a statement

Saturate

To soak completely; fill statement

Saturnine

Gloomy, moody, or serious

Slough

V. to shed or remove n. A swamp or shedding