English Vocab 1-12

Affinity

(n.) A spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy for someone or something

Alienate

(v.) To cause someone to feel isolated or estranged.

Anomaly

(n.) Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Caustic

(adj.) Able to burn or corrode; sarcastic in a scathing way.

Compulsory

(adj.) Required by law or a rule; obligatory.

Delineate

(v.) Describe or portray something precisely.

Facetious

(adj.) Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor.

Harbinger

(n. + v.) A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.

Indelible

(adj.) Making marks that cannot be removed.

Intellectual

(n. + adj.) A person possessing a highly developed intellect.

Sycophant

(n.) Someone who uses flattery to get what they want from an authority figure.

Pernicious

(adj.) Something that is destructive or intending to cause harm.

Ubiquitous

(adj,) Appearing everywhere.

Non sequitur

(n.) A statement that does not logically follow the conversational flow.

Diatribe

(n.) A forceful and bitter verbal attack.

Slipshod

(adj.) Showing a lack of care or thought.

Nefarious

(adj.) Wicked or criminal.

Precursor

(n.) A person or thing that comes before another of a similar king.

Impregnable

(adj.) Unable to be captured or broken into.

Demure

(Adj.) Modest or shy.

Debunk

(v.) to expose the falseness or hollowness of a myth, idea, or belief

Acuity

(n.) sharpness of thought, vision, or hearing

Placid

(adj.) not easily upset or excited, usually referring to a person or animal

Implacable

(adj.) unable to be calmed or satisfied

Jingoistic

(adj.) characterized by extreme patriotism, especially in aggressive or warlike foreign policy

Bemoan

(v.) to express discontent or sorrow over something

Abhor

(v.) to regard with disgust and hatred

Misogynist

(n.) a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women

Harangue

(n.) a lengthy and aggressive speech; (v.) to lecture at length in an aggressive and critical manner

Talisman

(n.) an object thought to have magical powers and bring good luck; also, a person who inspires a group

Deride

(v.) to verbally rip apart

Cantankerous

(adj.) argumentative and uncooperative

Noxious

(adj.) very harmful

Bilk

(v.) to cheat someone out of money

Replete

(adj.) filled or well-supplied with something

Blasphemy

(n.) profane talk about something considered sacred or holy

Absolution

(n.) formal release from guilt or punishment

Bovine

(adj.) in the manner of a cow

Contrite

(adj.) deeply remorseful for a bad action

Erudite

(adj.) showing great knowledge or learning

Acquiesce

(v.) to accept something

Lampoon

(v.) to publicly embarrass

Ennui

(n.) dissatisfaction or exhaustion caused by boredom

Temerity

(n.) excessive or foolish boldness

Debacle

(n.) a chaotic failiure

Augment

(v.) to increase; to make something greater by adding to it

Insidious

(adj.) advancing in a gradual way to cause harm

Abstain

(v.) to stop oneself from doing or enjoying something

Haughty

(adj.) arrogantly superior

Tenacious

(adj.) not letting go of or giving up on something one holds dear

Renown

(n.) - widespread and high repute, the state of being known and celebrated by many

Tangent

(n) - a completely different line of thought

Curmudgeon

(n.) - a bad-tempered person

Sojourn

(n.) - a temporary stay or visit in one place

Gregarious

(adj.) - sociable and fond of company.

Myopic

(adj.) - so focused on small things that the whole picture can’t be seen

Galvanize

(v.) - to shock or excite someone into taking action.

Engender

(v.) - to cause or give rise to

Nuance

(n.) - a subtle difference

Covert

(adj.) - not openly displayed