Membean Vocab Mid-High School Study

2024-2025

abolish

: If someone in authority abolishes a law or practice, they formally put an end to it.

acclaim

: When you acclaim the deeds of someone, you praise them highly and approve of them enthusiastically.

accord

: When you are in accord with someone, you are in agreement or harmony with them.

adversary

: An adversary is a person who goes against you in some way, such as an opponent in a contest or a personal enemy in a conflict.

adversity

: If you undergo adversity in life, you struggle with trouble, bad luck, and difficult times.

aesthetic

: The word aesthetic is used to talk about art, beauty, the study of beauty, and the appreciation of beautiful things.

allege

: When you allege that someone has done something, you say or claim that they have done it without showing any proof.

append

: When you append something to something else, you attach or add it, such as extra information to the end of a book.

aptitude

: Someone's aptitude at a skill is their natural ability to perform it well; this word also refers to someone's ability to learn something new or become better at a skill.

arbitrary

: If you describe a decision, rule, or plan as arbitrary, you think that it was decided without any thought, standard, or system to guide it; therefore, it can seem unfair.

arid

: An arid landscape is dry and lacking in sufficient rainfall to support much life.

ascertain

: When you ascertain the truth of something, you determine or find it out for sure.

aspiration

: An aspiration is a personal goal or ambition that you want to achieve.

aspire

: When you aspire to do something, you greatly desire to do it; therefore, you work hard to achieve it.

assent

: When you give your assent, you agree with someone or accept what they have said.

authoritarian

: An authoritarian system, such as a government or military school, demands that people obey all orders without question.

avid

: If you are avid about something, you are excited about and eager to do it.

belligerent

: A belligerent person or country is aggressive, very unfriendly, and likely to start a fight.

benevolent

: Someone who is benevolent wishes others well, often by being kind, filled with goodwill, and charitable towards them.

brevity

: Brevity is communicating by using just a few words or by taking very little time to do so.

cavernous

: A cavernous space is very large and empty; it is both hollow and huge.

chronicle

: A chronicle is a record of historical events that arranges those events in the correct order in which they happened.

chronological

: A chronological history arranges events in the order that they happened.

communal

: Communal property includes those goods or items that are shared in common by a community.

compilation

: A compilation is a gathering together of various things from many sources.

composure

: When someone exhibits composure, they remain calm—even in difficult times or conditions.

concede

: When you concede to something, you unwillingly admit it is true or give in to it.

conceit

: Someone who possesses conceit has excessive self-pride—and thus thinks too highly of their abilities.

concentric

: Concentric circles, gradually increasing in size, spread out from a common central point.

concoct

: When you concoct something, such as a story or recipe, you create it or mix things together in a new way.

conjecture

: A conjecture is a theory or guess that is based on information that is not certain or complete.

consensus

: When a group of people reaches a consensus, it has reached a general agreement about something.

constituent

: A constituent part of something makes up part of the whole thing.

constrain

: When you are constrained, you are forced to do something or are kept from doing it.

contemplate

: When you contemplate something, you either think about it deeply or gaze at it intently.

contemporary

: A contemporary object exists at the same time as something else or exists at the current time.

contrary

: If you act in a contrary way, you oppose or go against an existing way of doing or thinking about something.

convene

: People convene when they gather together or are called together by someone for a meeting.

conventional

: A conventional way of thinking or behaving is the one most commonly accepted by social groups.

convergent

: Two things that are convergent are meeting or coming together at one point in time or space.

cordial

: A cordial greeting is warm, friendly, and polite.

corrosion

corrosion: Corrosion refers to the gradual rusting or decay of metal.

credible

credible: If you act in a credible fashion, you are easy to believe or trust.

criteria

criteria: Criteria are standards that, if met, allow you to do something; for example, getting good grades and performing community service form standards that will help you get into college.

cumulative

cumulative: A cumulative process builds, increases, or grows slowly over time.

cynical

cynical: A cynical person thinks that people in general are most often motivated by selfish concerns; therefore, they doubt, mistrust, and question what people do.

decipher

decipher: When you decipher a message or piece of writing, you work out what it says, even though it is very difficult to read or understand.

deficit

deficit: A deficit occurs when a person or government spends more money than has been received.

demean

demean: When you demean another person, you put them down so that they become embarrassed and lowered in status or character.

denounce

denounce: If you denounce people or actions, you criticize them severely in public because you feel strongly that they are wrong or evil.

depict

depict: When you depict something, you illustrate it with a picture or image and/or describe it using words.

deplorable

deplorable: When someone's conduct is deplorable, it is shameful, very unacceptable, or really bad.

designation

designation: A designation is a name, label, or mark that something is given to identify it.

despicable

despicable: If you say a person's actions are despicable, you think they are extremely unpleasant or nasty.

deterrent

deterrent: A deterrent keeps someone from doing something against you.

deviate

deviate: When someone's behavior is deviating, they do things differently by departing or straying from their usual way of acting.

devious

devious: A devious person can act in a dishonest, tricky, or secretive way for their own purposes.

discern

discern: When you discern something, you notice, detect, or understand it, often after thinking about it carefully or studying it for some time.

dismal

dismal: A dismal situation is depressing, hopeless, or miserable.

dismantle

dismantle: When you dismantle something, you take it apart or destroy it piece by piece.

dispel

dispel: When you dispel a thought from your mind, you cause it to go away or disappear; when you do the same to a crowd, you cause it to scatter into different directions.

disposition

disposition: Your disposition is your personality, the way you tend to react to the various events in your life, and the mood that you generally have.

disrupt

disrupt: When you disrupt something that is happening, you interrupt, upset, or disturb it in some way.

dissension

dissension: Dissension is a disagreement or difference of opinion among a group of people that can cause conflict.

dubious

dubious: If someone makes a dubious claim, there is a great deal of disbelief or doubt about it.

eccentric

eccentric: If someone is eccentric, they behave in a strange and unusual way that is different from most people.

ecstatic

ecstatic: When you are ecstatic about something, you are overjoyed or extremely happy about it.

egotistical

egotistical: An egotistical person thinks about or is concerned with no one else other than themself.

embark

embark: When you embark upon a journey, you begin it, such as by boarding a plane or starting to learn something new.

encompass

encompass: When something encompasses something else, it includes all aspects of it or completely surrounds it.

entice

entice: When someone entices you, they are trying to get you to do something by making it appear attractive.

entity

entity: An entity is a separate thing or object that is real and exists, such as a fish, a tree, or a rock.

epidemic

epidemic: An epidemic problem, such as a disease or unpleasant development of some kind, spreads quickly over a widespread area.

erratic

erratic: Erratic behavior is irregular, unpredictable, and unusual.

evasive

evasive: When you are being evasive, you are trying to avoid trouble or not give a direct answer to a question.

excerpt

excerpt: An excerpt from a book is a passage or selection from it.

exclusion

exclusion: Exclusion is the act of shutting someone out of a group or an activity.

excursion

excursion: An excursion is a short trip or outing from which you return home fairly quickly.

exemplify

exemplify: One thing that exemplifies another serves as an example of it, illustrates it, or demonstrates it.

exodus

exodus: An exodus is a mass departure of people from one land to another.

fabricate

fabricate: You fabricate something by creating it, such as by building a house or making up a story.

facilitate

facilitate: When you facilitate something, such as an event or project, you make it easier for everyone to get it done by giving assistance.

fidelity

fidelity: Fidelity towards something, such as a marriage or promise, is faithfulness or loyalty towards it.

flair

flair: Flair can either refer to a natural talent that you possess or the ability you have to make the most of your personal style.

fluctuate

fluctuate: Things that fluctuate vary or change often, rising or falling seemingly at random.

formative

formative: Something formative shapes or influences the growth of something else.

formulate

formulate: When you formulate a plan of action, you carefully work it out or design it in great detail ahead of time.

fortification

fortification: A fortification is a structure or building that is used in defense against an invading army.

fruitless

fruitless: A fruitless effort at doing something does not bring about a successful result.

generic

generic: A generic description or attribute is not specific to any one thing but applies to all members of an entire class or group.

genre

genre: A genre is a category, type, or class of artistic work.

gingerly

gingerly: To handle an object gingerly is to be careful and cautious with it.

glut

glut: A glut of anything is an excess or too much of it.

gratification

gratification: When you have a feeling of gratification, you experience satisfaction or pleasure about a job well done.

hamper

hamper: When you hamper someone's efforts, you try to slow down their progress by holding them back.

heed

heed: When you heed another's wishes, you are mindful of them and therefore give them your full attention.

homage

homage: When you pay homage to another person, you show them great admiration or respect; you might even worship them.

humanitarian

humanitarian: A humanitarian response to a crisis is one that focuses on the well-being and care of people in need.

hypothetical

hypothetical: Something that is hypothetical is based on possible situations or events rather than actual ones.

immerse

immerse: When you immerse yourself in a subject, you are so interested in it that your mind is completely occupied by it.