Brief Definitions of Various Words

Materialism

Valuing material possessions over spiritual values

Methodical

Following a systematic procedure

Meticulous

Showing great attention to detail

Miserly

Characteristic of a miser, preventing enjoyment

Mitigate

Make something less severe or serious

Morose

Having a sullen and gloomy disposition

Mundane

Lacking interest or excitement

Negate

Deny the existence or truth of

Nonchalance

Casually calm and relaxed demeanor

Notoriety

Being famous for a bad quality or deed

Novelty

Something new or unusual

Nurture

Care for and encourage growth or development

Obliterate

Remove or destroy completely

Oblivion

State of being unaware of what is happening

Obscure

Not clear or plain

Obstinate

Stubbornly adhering to a course of action

Ominous

Portending evil or harm

Opaque

Not letting light through

Opportunist

Seeks advantage often at the expense of ethics

Optimist

Inclined to expect good outcomes

Opulence

Wealth, riches, affluence

Orator

Skilled at making formal speeches

Ostentatious

Seeking attention through gaudiness

Pacifist

Opposes war or violence

Partisan

Strong supporter of a party, cause, or person

Peripheral

Relating to the outskirts or sides

Perpetuate

Cause to continue

Pervasive

Spread throughout thoroughly

Pessimism

Attitude of hopelessness toward life

Phenomena

Unusual or interesting observable occurrences

Philanthropist

Donates to help create a better world

Piety

Devotion to God

Placate

Soothe or mollify

Ponderous

Of very great weight

Pragmatic

Dealing with practical affairs

Preclude

Prevent something

Precocious

Exceptionally early in development

Predator

An animal or person that hunts and consumes other beings

Predecessor

Something that comes before another in time or position

Presumptuous

Displaying arrogance or rudeness by overstepping boundaries

Pretentious

Acting with exaggerated self-importance or showiness

Prevalent

Widespread or commonly found

Prodigal

Spending resources recklessly and extravagantly

Profane

Irreverent towards sacred things; secular

Profound

Having deep meaning or significance

Profusion

An abundance or large quantity of something

Proliferation

Rapid and repeated growth or increase

Prolific

Producing abundantly or frequently

Provincial

Relating to a province; narrow-minded or unsophisticated

Proximity

State of being near in space or time

Prudent

Acting with care and thought for the future

Qualified

Officially recognized as skilled or trained for a job

Quandary

A state of uncertainty or dilemma

Ramble

To walk or talk aimlessly and at length

Rancor

Long-standing bitterness or resentment

Ratify

To formally approve or consent to something

Rebuttal

A response that contradicts or opposes an argument

Recluse

A person who lives in seclusion and avoids others

Turmoil

A state of confusion, disturbance, or agitation

Undermine

To weaken or sabotage secretly

Uniformity

Consistent sameness or regularity

Unwarranted

Not justified or explained

Usurp

To seize power or position illegally

Vacillate

To waver between decisions or opinions

Venerate

To regard with deep respect or reverence

Verbose

Using more words than necessary; wordy

Vigor

Physical or mental strength and energy

Vilify

To speak ill of someone with the intent to harm their reputation

Vindicate

To clear from blame or suspicion with evidence

Virtuoso

A highly skilled person, especially in music or art

Volatile

Likely to change suddenly and unpredictably, often for the worse

Whimsical

Playful and unpredictable, rather than serious

Zealot

A person passionately devoted to a cause or belief