vocab list 13

acerbic

1. sour in taste; 2. sharp or bitter of temper, mood or expression

aphoristic

bemused

1. caused to be bewildered confused;

2. caused to be engrossed in thought

brusque

abrupt and curt in manner or speech, often to the point of rudeness; blunt

colloquial

characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language

ebullient

marked by the quality of expressing feelings or ideas in an enthusiastic and lively manner

flippant

marked by disrespectful levity or indifferent

hortative

strongly urgent; inciting, encouraging by argument

indignant

characterized by or filled with anger aroused by something unjust, mean or unworthy

insolent

lachrymose

tearful or given to weeping; inducting tears or sadness; sorrowful or mournful in tone

pragmatic

focused on practical results and solutions rather than theories or ideals

rancorous

marked by bitter, long-lasting resentment and ill will

sardonic

scornfully mocking and derisive

sententious

characterized by moralizing often in a pompous or affected manner

surly

1. rude or bad tempered;

2. unfriendly or hostile, menacingly irritable;

3. dark or dismal, threatening

timorous

full of apprehensiveness; timid

vitriolic

bitterly scathing; caustic

whimsical

1. capricious, playful, or fanciful

2. characterized by erratic behavior or unpredictability

wry

drily humorous, often with a touch of irony