Vocab

amenity

things that make life more pleasant or comfortable

quandary

struggle to decide what’s the best

cerebrally

involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct

understudy

learn (a role) or the role played by (an actor)

bereft (of)

lack

abound

exist in large numbers or amounts

clamour

a loud and confused noise, that of people shouting vehemently

rejoinder

sharp and witty reply

maunder

rambling confusingly

unrepentant

no remorse

asunder

into pieces

unfeigned

genuine

craven

coward

dishelved

umkempted

throng

a large, densely packed crowd of people or animals

extortionate

high price

prerogative

a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class

uninitiated

have no knowledge of something

gratuitous

unwarranted

treacherous

guilty of or involving betrayal or deception

muffle

wear thick warm clothes

perspicacious

having a ready insight into and understanding of things

crepehanger

a gloomy person; a pessimist

chutzpah

extreme self-confidence or audacity

lachrymose

tearful

adjoin

be next to and joined with (a building, room, or piece of land)

propensity

inclination, tendency

consternation

dismay, depression

strenuous

needing great effort and energy, arduous

impetus

a moving force, impulse, stimulus

myopic

shortsighted

congenital

existing since or before birth

misgiving

feeling of doubt

rambunctious

rebellious

dilapidated

old and in very bad condition

defoliate

remove leaves from something

bellicose

aggressive

paltry

insignificant

rescind

cancel

lodge

pay to live in a room in somebody's house

contiguous to

adjacent, bordering, touching something

cosign sb/sth to

to put somebody/something in an unpleasant situation

denigrate

to criticize somebody/something unfairly; to belittle

subjugate

to defeat/ to gain control over

serendipity

the fact of something interesting or pleasant happening by chance; randomness

savvy

having common sense and good judgment

gorge

a narrow valley between hills or mountains

renege

go back on a promise

opprobrium

harsh criticism or censure

paunch

a fat stomach

deplorable

deserving strong condemnation

insinuate

suggest or hint (something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect and unpleasant way

dissimilitude

dissimilarity or diversity

predicament

a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation

perjorative

degrading

tailback

a line of vehicles that have stopped or are moving only very slowly

potshots

a shot aimed unexpectedly or at random at someone or something with no chance of self-defense

recrimination

arguments between people who are blaming each other

gallop

run very quickly

supple

flexible

reticent

not talking much; reserved

diffuse

spread out, not concise; wordy

garrulous

talkative; loquacious

voluble

talking a great deal with ease; glib

contemptuous

lacking respect; scornful

haughty

having a great pride in oneself and dislike for others

ostentatious

having to do with showing off; pretentious

supercilious

looking down on others; proud and scornful

insipid

lacking flavor or taste; unexciting

platitude

quality of being dull; an obvious remark uttered as if it were original

congenial

compatible; having kindred needs or tastes; sympathetic

convivial

sociable, outgoing in a festive way, especially when pertaining to eating and drinking; fond of good company

gregarious

sociable, outgoing

jocular

liking to be with people, joke around with them and have fun

levity

lightheartedness; gaiety; carefree disposition, particularly when not appropriate

cantankerous

bad tempered; quarrelsome

captious

made for the sake of quarreling; quibbling

polemical

inclined to argue or debate; controversial

munificent

very generous

prodigal

wasteful; lavish

squander

to spend money (or time) in a wasteful, uncaring fashion

austere

having great economy; showing self-control when it comes to foregoing luxuries, frills; stern in manner or appearance.

avarice

greed

mercenary

greedy for self gain; thinking only of money

parsimonious

overly thrifty or miserly

penurious

stingy; relating to great poverty, destitution

conflagration

a huge fire, an inferno

iniquitous

showing a lack of fairness; wicked; vicious

odious

loathsome; evil; revolting in a disgusting way

pernicious

very destructive or harmful, usually in an inconspicuous and relentless way

rancorous

deeply hateful or spiteful; malicious

censure

to criticize strongly

deprecate

to show mild disapproval

phlegmatic

hard to get excited or emotional; calm

languor

weak or lifeless feeling

lassitude

a tired feeling, usually resulting from depression or too much work

lethargic

having little or no energy

soporific

sleep inducing; sleepy

obsequious

obeying or performing a service for someone in an overly attentive manner