Ultimate Vocab Review

Mrs. B's vocab review

prudence

caution with regard to practical matters; discretion

rescind

to take back, repeal

Ameliorate

to improve

inexorable

incapable of being persuaded or placated

aberration

(noun) something that differs from the norm

admonish

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty

brazen

bold and without shame

censure

harsh criticism or disapproval

conciliatory

friendly, agreeable

denounce

to criticize publicly

egregious

outstandingly bad; shocking

exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

extricate

to disentangle

fortuitous

happening by chance or accident, lucky

impinge

to impact, affect, make an impression

largess

the generous giving of lavish gifts

nominal

trifling, insignificant

obstreperous

noisy; unruly

pernicious

extremely destructive or harmful

wanton

undisciplined, lewd, lustful

punctilious

showing great attention to detail or correct behavior

syn: observant ant:uncaring

While grading the papers, the teach was very punctilious

incredulous

unwilling or unable to believe something

syn:superstitious ant:trusting

After being cheated on, the girlfriend was very incredulous

Benediction

the utterance or bestowing of a blessing, especially at the end of a religious service.

Syn: blessing ant:leaving

At the end of church you receive a benediction.

disembodied

separating from or existing without the body

syn:dismember ant:attached

After an infection, he finger needed to be disembodied.

Tactless

having or showing a lack of adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues

syn:uncaring ant:sympathetic

After her friends dog died, she was very tactless by making jokes about it.

Harrow

Cause of distress to

syn:ruining ant:fixing

After getting furious her pumpkin did not carve out the way she wanted it to, she harrowed it.

Abortive

failing to produce the intended result

syn:fail ant:accomplished

She was abortive by burning the cake.

Vestige

A trace of something that disappeared or no longer exists.

syn: evidence ant:missing

Fossils of dinosaurs are vestige.

Obstinate

stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

Syn: stubborn ant:flexible

She tried to negotiate with the seller but he was obstinate.

Nebulous

in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy

syn:foggy ant:clear

The weather predicted it to be nebulous.

Laudable

deserving praise and commendation

syn:worthy ant:amateur

She was laudable for getting first place.

notoriety

the state of being famous or known for some bad quality or deed.

syn:reputation ant:popular

ineffable

to great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

syn:amazing ant:bad

the movie is ineffable.

insidious

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

syn:deteriorating ant:helpful

Smoking is insidious for your health.

meretricious

apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity

syn:shallow ant:genuine

Even thought he is very handsome, his personality is meretricious.

ingratiate

bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them

syn: flirting ant: avoiding

To get onto good terms with him, she ingratiated with him at the party.

boisterous

Noisy, energetic, cheerful, rowdy

syn: loud ant: quite

The class clown is always boisterous.

Contingency

a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.

syn: predictable ant:certain

She received contingency by getting her fortune read.

Inviolate

free or safe from injury or violation

syn: safe ant: dangerous

After getting home from the trip she was finally inviolate.

Irreverent

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously

Syn: immature ant:respectful

He was very irreverent by yelling at the memorial.

impetuous

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

Extemporize

compose, perform, or produce something such as music or a speech without preparation; improvise

contemptuous

scornful

vinous

resembling, associated with, or fond of wine

Confer

grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right).

Reproach

address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment

Supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

Fractious

irritable and quarrelsome

Conscientious

(of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly

Levity

humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect.

peremptory

insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way

sumptuous

splendid and expensive-looking

hauter

haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride

permeate

(v.) to spread through, pervade

vehemently

in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling.

convivial

friendly, lively, and enjoyable

homogenity

the quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind

dissension

disagreement that leads to discord

insolent

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

credulity

tendency to believe things too quickly or easily

abject

wretched, pitiful

eschew

to shun, avoid

maudlin

weakly sentimental

platitude

an uninspired remark, cliché

resolute

firm, determined

abase

to humiliate, degrade

antiquated

old, out of date

capricious

subject to whims or passing fancies

complacency

self-satisfaction ignorance of danger

diffident

shy, quiet, modest

implicit

understood but not outwardly obvious, implied

myraid

consisting of a very great number

noisome

unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell

odious

instilling hatred or intense displeasure

placate

to ease the anger of, soothe

pretense

an appearance or action intended to deceive

refute

to prove wrong

surmise

to infer with little evidence

vacillate

to fluctuate, hesitate

vociferous

loud, boisterous

Abdicate (verb)

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

Apathetic (Adj)

lacking concern, emotion

Benevolent (Adi)

Marked by goodness or doing good

Chide (verb)

to voice disapproval

Contravene (Verb)

to contradict, oppose, violate

Dogmatic (Adj)

Aggressively and arrogantly certain about unproved principles

Enmity (noun)

(n.) hatred, ill-will, hostility

Fastidious (Adj)

meticulous, demanding, hacing high and often unattainable standards.

Guile (noun)

deceitful, cunning, sly behavior.

Iconoclaust (Noun)

one who attacks common beliefs or institutions

Infamy (noun)

notoriety, extreme ill repute

Mitigate (verb)

to make less violent, alleviate

Obfuscate (verb)

to render incomprehensible

Preclude (verb)

to prevent

Paragon (noun)

a model of excellence or perfection

Quixotic (Adj)

idealistic; impractical

sanctimonious (Adj)

giving a hypocritical appearance of piety

Trenchant (Adj)

effective, articulate, clear-cut

Verbose (Adj)

wordy, impaired by wordiness

Zealous (Adj)

fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something