vocab quiz 3

mordant

sharply sarcastic or critical

machination

a plot or scheme, usually sinister

opprobrium

harsh criticism or public disgrace

parsimony

extreme unwillingness to spend money

querulous

complaining in a whining manner

temerity

excessive confidence or boldness

sedulous

diligent; showing careful persistence

truculent

aggressively defiant; eager to fight

obdurate

stubbornly refusing to change

aplomb

confidence and self-assurance, especially in a different situation

enervate

to weaken or drain of energy

vituperation

bitter and abusive language

lascivious

lustful or lewd

sycophant

a person who flatters to gain favor

effulgent

shining brightly; radiant

ineluctable

unavoidable, inevitable

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity

peregrinate

to travel or wander from place to place

complaisant

inclined to agree with others or comply; agreeable

docile

submissive, easily taught or handled

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness

predilection

a preference or special liking for something

punctilious

very attentive to detail, especially in behavior

veracity

truthfulness, accuracy

despond

to become discouraged or lose hope

chicanery

deception or trickery by manipulation or dishonesty

iconoclast

one who attacks traditional beliefs

loquacious

very talkative

misanthrope

a person who dislikes mankind

castigate

to reprimand or punish severely

dulcet

pleasing to the ear

insidious

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

ameliorate

to improve or make better

peremptory

insisting on immediate attention, not open to challenge

flotsam

floating debris or worthless odds and ends

phlegmatic

unemotional; calm and sluggish

reticent

reserved or restrained in expression

voracious

having a huge appetite, greedy

obfuscate

to make something unclear or unintelligible

effrontery

audacious boldness; insolence

abjure

to formally reject or renounce a belief, claim, or course of action

facetious

joking, often inappropriately; flippant

sanguine

optimistic, especially in a bad situation

supercilious

arrogantly superior or disdainful

zenith

the highest point; peak

vitriolic

filled with bitter criticism or malice

deride

to ridicule or mock

vacuous

lacking intelligence or ideas; empty

ineffable

too great or extreme to be expressed in words

ubiquity

the state of being everywhere at once

archly

in a playfully mischievous or teasing manner

desiccate

to dry out completely; to dehydrate

deleterious

harmful or injurious to health or well-being

fatuous

foolishly self-satisfied

ignominious

deserving disgrace; shameful

cadge

to beg or mooch

churlish

rude, boorish, or impolite

insipid

lacking flavor or interest; dull

inimical

hostile; harmful

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing; relevant

gaunt

excessively thin and bony; bleak

intransigent

unwilling to change one's views or agree

conflate

to combine two or more things

appertain

to relate or pertain to something

temerarious

reckless; rash

exigent

requiring immediate attention; urgent

mendicant

a beggar

stolid

unemotional; impassive

wanton

deliberate and unprovoked

gaudy

flashy, tacky

connivers

persons who secretly plot or conspire

gambol

to frolic; to skip or leap playfully

effervescence

vivacity and enthusiasm

neologism

a newly coined word or expression

acrid

having a strong, unpleasant taste or smell