Vocabulary Flashcards: Advanced English Words and Definitions

Antithesis

Direct opposite a contrast

Ascend

to move upward, to rise from a lower station

austere

strict, stern; unadorned, ascetic

autonomous

independent, self-contained

banal

common, ordinary, lacking freshness, hackneyed

benign

not causing harm, of gentle disposition, beneficial

capricious

changing suddenly, fickle

dawdle

to waste time, to spend time idly, to move in a lackadaisical manner

Defamation

Act of harming or ruining another's reputation

esoteric

understood only by a small group or a select few

exacerbate

to aggravate, to irritate, to vex

extol

to praise, to glorify

fastidious

reflecting a meticulous or demanding attitude, critical to an extreme

furtive

secret in an underhanded way, stealthy

gregarious

sociable, outgoing

hypocrite

one who is insincere or deceitful

innate

existing from birth, inborn

lethargic

sluggish, languid

melancholy

depression of spirits

opaque

not allowing the passage of light, not transparent; hard to understand

prolific

abundantly fruitful, marked by great productivity

reprove

to scold or to rebuke for a misdeed usually with kindly intent

Symmetry

balanced proportions

tranquil

peaceful, calm

venerate

to honor, to revere