Advanced Vocabulary: Set A & B for Independent Learners

Remit

(v.) To send money; to cancel a debt or punishment; to slacken.

Profligate

(adj.) Recklessly extravagant or wasteful.

Presentiment

(n.) A vague sense of approaching misfortune; a premonition.

Onus

(n.) A burden, obligation, or responsibility.

Mollify

(v.) To soften in feeling or temper; to appease.

Mawkish

(adj.) Excessively and objectionably sentimental.

Impromptu

(adj./adv.) Done without preparation; offhand.

Forbearance

(n.) Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.

Deference

(n.) Humble submission and respect.

Cloy

(v.) To weary with an excess of sweetness or indulgence.

Choleric

(adj.) Bad-tempered or irritable.

Bumptious

(adj.) Offensively self-assertive.

Bulwark

(n.) A defensive wall; a strong support or protection.

Brouhaha

(n.) A noisy and overexcited reaction or response to something; uproar.

Turgid

(adj.) Swollen; pompous or bombastic in language.

Tortuous

(adj.) Full of twists and turns; excessively complex.

Surfeit

(n.) An excessive amount of something.

Supplicate

(v.) To beg humbly and earnestly.

Providential

(adj.) Occurring at a favorable time; lucky.

Precocious

(adj.) Developing certain abilities at an earlier age than usual.

Ostensible

(adj.) Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so.

Obdurate

(adj.) Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion.

Jejune

(adj.) Naive, simplistic, and superficial; dry and uninteresting.

Infirmity

(n.) Physical or mental weakness.

Inception

(n.) The establishment or starting point of something.

Amenable

(adj.) Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded.

Rejoinder

(n.) A reply, especially a sharp or witty one.

Prolific

(adj.) Abundantly productive; fruitful.

Predilection

(n.) A preference or special liking for something.

Nonplussed

(adj.) Surprised and confused so much that one is unsure how to react.

Incontrovertible

(adj.) Not able to be denied or disputed.

Inauspicious

(adj.) Not conducive to success; unpromising.

Foment

(v.) To instigate or stir up (an undesirable sentiment or course of action).

Encumber

(v.) To restrict or burden.

Disconsolate

(adj.) Without consolation or comfort; unhappy.

Connoisseur

(n.) An expert judge in matters of taste.

Collate

(v.) To collect and combine (texts, information, or figures) in proper order.

Carousal

(n.) A noisy, drunken feast or social gathering.

Broach

(v.) To bring up a subject for discussion.

Aver vs. Abet

Aver means to state as a fact; Abet means to assist or encourage (usually in wrongdoing).

Scintillating

(adj.) Sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly clever or skillful.

Sanctimonious

(adj.) Making a show of being morally superior to other people.

Prosaic

(adj.) Dull, lacking poetic beauty; ordinary.

Preeminent

(adj.) Surpassing all others; very distinguished.

Ostentatious

(adj.) Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display.

Incisive

(adj.) Analytical and clear-thinking; sharp.

Enthrall

(v.) To capture the fascinated attention of.

Deleterious

(adj.) Causing harm or damage.

Specious

(adj.) Superficially plausible, but actually wrong.

Absolve

(v.) To set or declare free from blame or guilt.

Quail

(v.) To feel or show fear or apprehension.

Salient

(adj.) Most noticeable or important.

Inculcate

(v.) To instill an idea or attitude by persistent instruction.

Palpable

(adj.) Able to be touched or felt; plain to see.

Florid

(adj.) Having a red or flushed complexion; elaborately or excessively intricate.

Foist

(v.) To impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on.

Gauche

(adj.) Lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.

Censurable

(adj.) Deserving of condemnation or blame.

Abstemious

(adj.) Not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking.

Provocative

(adj.) Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction.

Recondite

(adj.) Little known; abstruse.

Reprobate

(n.) An unprincipled person.

Inimical

(adj.) Tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly.

Invective

(n.) Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

Motley

(adj.) Incongruously varied in appearance or character.

Gratuitous

(adj.) Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.

Imperious

(adj.) Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant.

Equanimity

(n.) Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper.

Fortuitous

(adj.) Happening by accident or chance rather than design.

Bedlam

(n.) A scene of uproar and confusion.

Covert

(adj.) Not openly acknowledged or displayed.

Debonair

(adj.) Confident, stylish, and charming.

Torpid

(adj.) Mentally or physically inactive; lethargic.

Supposition

(n.) A belief held without proof or certain knowledge.

Succinct

(adj.) Briefly and clearly expressed.

Modicum

(n.) A small quantity of a particular thing.

Equivocate

(v.) To use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth.

Dilatory

(adj.) Slow to act; intended to cause delay.

Anathema

(n.) Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.

Astute

Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations.

Avarice

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

Squeamish

Easily made to feel sick or disgusted.

Odium

General or widespread hatred or disgust.

Perfidy

Deceitfulness; untrustworthiness.

Impugn

To dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of.

Elan

Energy, style, and enthusiasm.

Expurgate

To remove matter thought to be objectionable from a book or account.

Dissension

Disagreement that leads to discord.

Consternation

Feelings of anxiety or dismay at something unexpected.

Conducive

Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.

Acrimonious

Angry and bitter (typically of a speech or a debate).

Stalwart

Loyal, reliable, and hardworking.

Reprove

To reprimand or censure someone.

Punctilious

Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.

Redoubtable

Formidable, especially as an opponent.

Inconsequential

Not important or significant.

Disconcert

To disturb the composure of; unsettle.

Crass

Lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence.

Debase

To reduce something in quality or value; degrade.

Cadaverous

Resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony.