English II Honors Final Vocabulary

acquiesce

agree or express agreement

adulterate

make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance

aggregate

gather in a mass, sum, or whole

amenable

disposed or willing to comply

antipathy

a feeling of intense dislike

ardent

characterized by strong enthusiasm

arduous

characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion

ascertain

learn or discover with confidence

barrage

the rapid and continuous delivery of communication

boisterous

marked by exuberance and high spirits

bravado

a swaggering show of courage

cacophony

loud confusing disagreeable sounds

cajole

influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

candor

the quality of being honest and straightforward

cantankerous

having a difficult and contrary disposition

complacent

contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions

conceive

have the idea for

condescend

do something that one considers to be below one's dignity

conflagration

a very intense and uncontrolled fire

conformity

correspondence in form, type, or appearance

conscientious

characterized by extreme care and great effort

contemptuous

expressing extreme scorn

copious

large in number or quantity

corroborate

support with evidence or authority or make more certain

covet

wish, long, or crave for

cynicism

a pessimistic feeling of distrust

deleterious

harmful to living things

dictum

an authoritative declaration

dilapidated

in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration

discern

perceive, recognize, or detect

docile

willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed

effervescent

marked by high spirits or excitement

egalitarian

favoring social equality

elucidate

to ask questions, to explain, to provide answers

endear

make attractive or lovable

err

make a mistake

erudite

having or showing profound knowledge

exaltation

a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

exemplary

worthy of imitation

expedite

process fast and efficiently

fawning

attempting to win favor by flattery

fervent

characterized by intense emotion

fortuitous

lucky; occurring by happy chance

frivolous

not serious in content, attitude, or behavior

frugal

avoiding waste

gesticulate

show, express, or direct through movement

hegemony

the dominance or leadership of one social group over others

imperious

having or showing arrogant superiority

impervious

not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

incongruous

lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness

inept

generally incompetent and ineffectual

iniquity

absence of moral or spiritual values

insinuate

suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand

insipid

lacking interest or significance or impact

intermittent

stopping and starting at irregular intervals

lucid

transparently clear; easily understandable

lucrative

producing a sizeable profit

magnanimous

noble and generous in spirit

meander

move or cause to move in a winding or curving course

misgiving

uneasiness about the fitness of an action

mnemonic

of or relating to the practice of aiding the memory

morbid

suggesting the horror of death and decay

mutinous

characterized by a rebellion against authority

myriad

a large indefinite number

obfuscate

make dim and incomprehensible

odious

extremely repulsive or unpleasant

ostentatious

intended to attract notice and impress others

ostracize

avoid speaking to or dealing with

palpable

capable of being perceived

penitent

feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds

permeate (or pervade)

spread or diffuse through

pertinent

having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand

prevailing

most frequent or common

prodigious

very impressive; far beyond what is usual

prudent

marked by sound judgment

punctilious

marked by precise accordance with details

quandary

state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options

rapport

a relationship of mutual understanding between people

reprehensible

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

reprimand

an act or expression of criticism and censure

repudiate

reject as untrue, unfounded, or unjust

rescind

cancel officially

scrutinize

look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

slovenly

negligent of neatness especially in dress and person

sojourn

a temporary stay

supersede

take the place or move into the position of

surmise

imagine to be the case or true or probable

taciturn

habitually reserved and uncommunicative

tactful

having a sense of what is considerate in dealing with others

tractable

easily managed

umbrage

a feeling of anger caused by being offended

uncouth

lacking refinement or cultivation or taste

ungainly

lacking grace in movement or posture

unilateral

involving only one part or side

unobtrusive

not undesirably noticeable

vanquish

defeat in a competition, race, or conflict

vehement

marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions

vilify

spread negative information about

vindicate

clear of accusation, blame, or doubt with supporting proof

whimsical

indulging in or influenced by the imagination