English GCSE – Level 9 Ready 100 Words

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering the 100 essential Level 9 English GCSE words and their definitions from the text.

aberration

something that differs from the norm

abhor

to hate, detest

acquiesce

to agree without protesting

alacrity

eagerness, speed

amiable

friendly

appease

to calm, satisfy

arcane

obscure, secret, known only by a few

avarice

excessive greed

brazen

excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious

brusque

short, abrupt, dismissive

cajole

to urge, coax

callous

harsh, cold, unfeeling

candour

honesty, frankness

chide

to voice disapproval

circumspect

cautious

clandestine

secret

coerce

to make somebody do something by force or threat

coherent

logically consistent, intelligible

complacency

self-satisfied ignorance of danger

confidant

a person entrusted with secrets

connive

to plot, scheme

cumulative

increasing, building upon itself

cynical

believing the worst of others, esp that all acts are selfish

debase

to lower the quality or esteem of something

decry

to criticize openly

deferential

showing respect for another’s authority

demure

quiet, modest, reserved

deride

to laugh at mockingly, scorn

despot

one who has total power and rules brutally

diligent

showing care in doing one’s work

elated

overjoyed, thrilled

eloquent

expressive, articulate, moving

embezzle

to steal money by falsifying records

empathy

sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own

enmity

ill will, hatred, hostility

erudite

learned

extol

to praise, revere

fabricate

to make up, invent

feral

wild, savage

forsake

to give up, renounce

fractious

troublesome or irritable

furtive

secretive, sly

gluttony

overindulgence in food or drink

gratuitous

uncalled for, unwarranted

haughty

disdainfully proud

hypocrisy

pretending to believe what one does not

impeccable

exemplary, flawless

impertinent

rude, insolent

implacable

incapable of being appeased or mitigated

implicit

Implied or understood without being directly stated

impudent

casually rude, insolent, impertinent

incisive

clear, sharp, direct

indolent

lazy

inept

not suitable or capable, unqualified

infamy

notoriety, extreme ill repute

inhibit

to prevent, restrain, stop

innate

inborn, native, inherent

insatiable

incapable of being satisfied

insular

separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off

intrepid

brave in the face of danger

inveterate

stubbornly established by habit

jubilant

extremely joyful, happy

lithe

graceful, flexible, supple

lurid

ghastly, sensational

maverick

an independent, nonconformist person

maxim

a common saying expressing a principle of conduct

meticulous

extremely careful with details

modicum

a small amount of something

morose

gloomy or sullen

myriad

consisting of a very great number

nadir

the lowest point of something

nominal

trifling, insignificant

novice

a beginner, someone without training or experience

nuance

a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression

oblivious

lacking consciousness or awareness of something

obsequious

excessively compliant or submissive

obtuse

lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect

panacea

a remedy for all ills or difficulties

parody

a satirical imitation

penchant

a tendency, partiality, preference

perusal

a careful examination, review

plethora

an abundance, excess

predilection

a preference or inclination for something

quaint

charmingly old-fashioned

rash

hasty, incautious

refurbish

to restore, clean up

repudiate

to reject, refuse to accept

rife

abundant

salient

significant, conspicuous

serendipity

luck, finding good things without looking for them

staid

sedate, serious, self-restrained

superfluous

exceeding what is necessary

sycophant

one who flatters for self-gain

taciturn

not inclined to talk

truculent

ready to fight, cruel

umbrage

resentment, offence

venerable

deserving of respect because of age or achievement

vociferous

loud, boisterous

wanton

undisciplined, lewd, lustful

zenith

the highest point, culminating point