Proximity-Zenith Vocab words

proximity

nearness; closeness

prudent

wise; shrewd; cautious

puerile

childish

qualify

to limit the meaning of a previous statement; to modify

quandary

a state of confusion or doubt; dilemma

quarantine

forced isolation to prevent the spread of disease

quell

calm; pacify

querulous

constantly complaining

ratify

approve (by formal vote, for example); confirm

rampant

unrestrained; widespread

rebuff

to ignore or reject strongly; snub

rebuttal

denial or contradiction; argument; refutation

recant

to take back something you've said; withdraw a statement or belief

redolent

strongly scented; fragrant

recluse

person who prefers to be alone all the time; someone withdrawn from the rest of society

redundant

more than what is necessary; in speech or writing, a repetition of words or ideas

recondite

hidden; difficult to understand; profound

relegate

reduce or demote to an inferior position; banish

relevancy

having a clear relationship with the matter at hand

remorse

feeling of guilt; regret; self-reproach

reprimand

scold; criticize

reprove

scold; criticize; disapprove of

repudiate

disown; reject

reserve

the ability to control your emotions and actions; self-restraint

resign

give in; acquiesce; relinquish

resolve

determination; strong will

reticent

quiet; uncommunicative

revere

greatly respect

rotund

round

rudimentary

undeveloped; fundamental; elementary

salubrious

promoting health

salutary

promoting health; or having some beneficial effect

sanction

approve; give consent

sanguine

optimistic; cheerful

sardonic

humorous, but humor tinged with sarcasm and disdain; cynical

scanty

small in quantity; insufficient

scrupulous

very thorough; or, doing what is right and ethical

scrutinize

examine closely; inspect carefully

seclusion

separation from other people; isolation

sectarian

limited to the beliefs of a small group, such as a religious sect; narrow in scope

seditious

trying to stir up a revolt against an authority figure

sententious

short and to the point; terse

serpentine

coiled; twisted; winding

servile

like a slave; subservient; submissive

skeptic

one who doesn't believe unless he's shown absolute proof; doubter

slander

negative oral remarks about another person that are untrue

solemn

serious; somber; grave

slough

discard; cast off; shed

somber

dark; gloomy

sonorous

loud, full in sound; booming

spurious

false; fake; misleading

specious

having a false or misleading appearance; only seeming to be true

sporadic

occurring infrequently and without predictability; occasional

stagnant

motionless; unchanging; dull

static

unchanging; motionless

stealth

secretive behavior

stoic

a person who shows no response to pleasure or pain; someone who is impassive

stymie

block; get in the way of; hamper

subjugate

take over; enslave

sublime

of very special quality; noble

subtle

hard to see or understand; elusive

succinct

short and to the point; concise

succor

assistance; relief

sumptuous

rich; magnificent

superfluous

unnecessary; extra

surreptitious

secretive; furtive; clandestine

sustain

support; nurture; take on

sycophant

someone who flatters in order to gain favor; wimpy follower

symmetry

balance; having a similar appearance on all sides

taciturn

quiet

tangent

a line that touches a curve at just one point; or, a comment that is off the main topic

tantamount

equal; comparable

temper

bring into balance; moderate

tenacious

strong; persistent; determined to hold on

tentative

not fully developed or definitely planned; provisional

tenuous

thin; flimsy

terse

of few words; to the point; pithy

thrifty

careful about managing money

timorous

afraid

tirade

a long and bitter speech; diatribe

torpid

sluggish; dull; lacking enthusiasm

translucent

permitting light to pass through

trepidation

fear

trite

overused; common; stale

turbulence

violent disturbance

truculent

aggressive; savage; cruel

tyranny

rule based on absolute power or cruelty

undermine

to weaken by wearing away the foundation; to sabotage

ubiquitous

existing everywhere at the same time

undulate

move in a wavy manner

unanimous

in total agreement

unprecedented

the first of its kind

unerring

without making a mistake

uniform

similar; consistent

unkempt

messy; sloppy

upbraid

criticize severely; scold

usurp

to seize or take over by force

usury

the practice of charging a very high rate of interest on loans

vacillate

move back and forth between choices, unable to decide

vacuous

empty; stupid; purposeless