Vocab Test

Assuage

– to make something (pain, anger, fear) less intense

Coalition

– a group formed by different people or parties working together

Decadence

– moral or cultural decline, often with excessive luxury

Hackneyed

– overused; lacking originality

Hiatus

– a pause or break in activity

Jaded

– tired or bored from too much of something

Lurid

– shocking or overly vivid (often in a disturbing way)

Prerogative

– a special right or privilege

Transcend

– to go beyond limits or rise above

Umbrage

– offense or annoyance

Ameliorate

– to improve or make better

Bombastic

– overly showy or exaggerated in speech

Drivel

– nonsense or foolish talk

Epitome

– a perfect example of something

Exhort

– to strongly encourage or urge

Infringe

– to violate or break a rule/law

Intrinsic

– belonging naturally; essential

Permeate

– to spread throughout

Stringent

– strict and severe

Surmise

– to guess without full evidence

Abominate

– to hate deeply

Adventitious

– happening by chance; accidental

Ascribe

– to attribute something to a cause

Commiserate

– to express sympathy

Expedite

– to speed up a process

Nominal

– very small or insignificant

Proclivity

– a natural tendency

Seditious

– encouraging rebellion against authority

Tenuous

– weak or not strong

Vitriolic

– filled with bitter criticism

Affable

– friendly and easy to talk to

Amorphous

– without a clear shape or form

Archetype

– a typical example or original model

Erudite

– highly educated and knowledgeable

Inscrutable

– difficult to understand

Insular

– isolated or narrow-minded

Querulous

– complaining in a whining way

Remonstrate

– to argue or protest strongly

Scurrilous

– making false, harmful statements

Sedulous

– hardworking and diligent

Amnesty

– an official pardon for offenses

Caveat

– a warning or caution

Equitable

– fair and just

Filch

– to steal something small

Fractious

– easily irritated or unruly

Salutary

– producing good effects

Sepulchral

– relating to tombs; gloomy

Soporific

– causing sleep or drowsiness

Transient

– temporary; short-lived

Vapid

– dull or lacking interest

Achilles’ Heel

– a person’s weak spot (from Greek myth about Achilles)

Waterloo

– a final defeat (from Battle of Waterloo where Napoleon lost)

Ivory Tower

– a place of isolation from real-world concerns

Sirens

– dangerous temptations (from Greek mythology creatures who lured sailors)

Burning Bush

– divine revelation (from the story of Moses)

Narcissus

– extreme self-love (from Narcissus)

Holy Grail

– a highly sought-after goal (from Arthurian legend)

Judas

– a traitor (from Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus)

Job

– someone who suffers greatly but remains faithful (from Job)

Phoenix

– rebirth or rising from destruction (mythical bird)