All Sadlier Level G

acquisitive

able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property

arrogate

to claim or take without right

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

belabor

to work on excessively; to thrash soundly

carping

tending to find fault, especially in a petty way; petty or nagging criticism

coherent

holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful

congeal

to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid

emulate

to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the original model

encomium

a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute

eschew

to avoid, shun, keep away from

germane

relevant, appropriate, fitting

insatiable

an appetite or desire impossible to satisfy

intransigent

refusing to compromise, irreconcilable

invidious

offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

largesse

generosity in giving; lavish contributions

reconnaissance

a survey made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary examination

substantiate

to establish by evidence, prove; to give substance or form to (argument)

taciturn

habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

temporize

to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision; to compromise

tenable

capable of being held (position) or defended

allay

To calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve

bestial

Beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

convivial

Festive, sociable, having fun together

coterie

A close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest

counterpart

A person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another

demur

To object or take exception to; an objection

effrontery

Shameless boldness, rudeness

embellish

To decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details

ephemeral

Lasting only a short time, short-lived

felicitous

Appropriate, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

furtive

Done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen.

garish

Glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way

illusory

Misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality

indigent

Needy, impoverished

inordinate

Excessive, exceeding reasonable limits

jettison

To cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome

misanthrope

someone who despises people

pertinacious

Very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied

picayune

Of little value or importance, meager; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

raiment

Clothing, garments

Abrogate

to repeal, cancel, declare null and void

Ambient

completely surrounding, encompassing

Asperity

roughness, severity; bitterness or tartness

Burnish

to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish; gloss, brightness,

Cabal

a small group working in secret

Delectable

delightful, highly enjoyable; deliciously flavored, savory; an appealing or appetizing food or dish

Deprecate

to express mild disapproval; to belittle

Detritus

loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration or wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction

Ebullient

overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling

Eclectic

draw from different sources; one whose beliefs are drawn from various sources

Flaccid

limp, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness

Impecunious

having little or no money

Inexorable

inflexible, beyond influence; relentless, unyielding

Moribund

dying, on the way out

Necromancer

one who claims to reveal or influence the future through magic, especially communication with the dead; a magician or wizard

Onerous

burdensome; involving hardship or difficulty

Rife

common, widespread, happening often; plentiful

Rudiments

the parts of any subject or discipline that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything

Sequester

to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody

Winnow

to remove unwanted or inferior elements from a group; separating grain from chaff using air, narrowing a selection

askance

with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval; used especially with glances

attenuate

to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value

benign

gentle, kind, forgiving; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant

cavil

to find fault in a petty way; a trivial objection or criticism

charlatan

one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender or imposter

decimate

to kill or destroy a large part of

foible

a weak point, failing, or minor flaw

forgo

to do without; abstain from; give up

fraught

full of or loaded with; accompanied by

inure

to toughen or harden; accustom someone to something, especially something unpleasant

luminous

emitting or reflecting light; glowing; illuminating

obsequious

someone who is excessively eager to help, obey, or flatter others, typically to gain advantage or show servility

obtuse

blunt; slow or dull in understanding; not sharp; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees

penitent

regretful for one's sins or mistakes; one who is sorry for wrongdoing

peremptory

leaving no opportunity for debate or refusal; dictatorial; determined and resolute

rebuff

to snub or reject; a curt rejection or setback

reconnoiter

to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection

shambles

a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder or confusion

sporadic

occurring at irregular intervals; having no set plan or order

oscilate

to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver

acclamation

a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

bucolic

characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherd, pastoral

calumniate

to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously

chary

extremely cautious or hesitant; reserved

collusion

secret agreement or cooperation

dilettante

a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity without real commitment

increment

an enlargement, increase, addition

mandate

an authoritative command, formal order; to issue an order

paltry

small amount, meager; petty, trivial

paroxysm

a sudden outburst; a spasm

pedantry

a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details

peregrination

the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

redolent

fragrant, smelling strongly; reminiscent or suggestive of

refulgent

shining brightly

shibboleth

a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying

tyro

novice

unremitting

never relaxing or slackening; relentless

vacillate

to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

vituperative

harshly abusive, severely scolding

imperturbable

not easily excited; emotionally steady