KROD VOCAB 2

blanch

to take the color out

auspicious

favorable; promising

courtesan

a prostitute with a wealthy clientele

benign

kind and gentle

mollify

to calm or soothe

raffish

marked by flashy vulgarity (can be positive)

attenuate

reduce the force, effect or value of

dubious

doubtful

implicit

implied, though not plainly expressed

apprehensive

anxious that something will occur

indubitably

unquestionable, without doubt

spurious

not genuine

astute

shrewd, clever

clandestine

secretive

smolder

burn slowly with smoke but no flame

methodical

done according to a systematic or established form of procedure

improvident

not having or showing foresite

gaudy

extravagantly bright, showy

spasmodic

done in brief irregular bursts

auxiliary

providing additional or supplemental support

disingenuous

not straightforward

ruse

a crafty trick

promulgate

promote

surreptitiously

done by secretive means

endow

provide with an asset

lurid

presented using very vivid details, especially with crime or sexual exploits

feign

pretend to be impacted my something

ambivalent

simultaneously having opposing feelings

dissonant

lacking harmony

baying

to bark or howl loudly

capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

stolid

calm dependable showing little emotion

coquettish

flirtatious

affectation

behavior speech writing that is artificial and designed to impress

whimsical

playfully fanciful especially in an appealing and amusing way

antithetical

directly opposed

ignominy

public shame and disgrace

enmity

mutual hatred

xenophobic

a fear or dislike of anything foreign

zeal

great enthusiasm for something

inconsequential

unimportant

blithely

a cheerful indifference that others may seem as calloused

tenuous

having little substance or strength

epitomize

to embody the essential characteristics

assiduous

hardworking

harbinger

a precursor

galvanize

to energize and stir to action

dogged

stubbornly persevering

intrepid

courageous

pinioned

tie or hold the limbs of someone

maverick

one who is independent and resists adherence to a group

obdurate

stubborn; inflexible

gallantry

an act of marked courtesy (to a lady)

altruistic

characterized by unselfish concern for the welfare of others

reticent

reluctant to publicly discuss one’s thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs

analogous

characterized by a parallel similarity that allows the drawing for an analogy

proliferate

to grow or increase rapidly

mercurial

unpredictable and given to constantly shifting moods

diffidently

hesitant in speaking or acting due follow self-confidence

earnest

resulting from or showing intense or sincere conviction

vitality

energy, power to survive

assimilation

to make similar

consensus

general agreement

derived

copied or adapted from a source

incumbent

obligatory

placate

to make someone less angry or hostile

malleable

easily shaped or formed, influenced

subdue

to restrain

myopic

shortsighted, lacking foresight

epitomize

to embody the essential characteristics of a trait

innate

possessed from birth

inveterate

long established, deep rooted

conundrum

a confusing and difficult problem or question

foster

to promote the development of something

hijab

a head covering worn by some Muslim women in public

eulogize

to praise with eloquent words

criterion

a standard of judging something

indignant

characterized by outrage caused by something perceived as unjust or wrong

reprobate

a person who is depraved, unprincipled, and wicked

heretic

a person who opposes accepted and established beliefs

stoic

indifferent to pleasure or pain

condemn

to express strong disapproval of

disparage

to speak in a slighting way or negatively

pejorative

words or phrases that belittle or speak negatively about someone

vilify

to make vicious statements about

brusque

rudely abrupt

caustic

bitingly sarcastic or witty

Fractious

quarrelsome, unruly

incorrigible

unable to be reformed

ingrate

an ungrateful person

insolent

insulting in manner or speech

brittle

easily broken

deleterious

having a harmful effect, injurious

ire

an expression of strong anger

shelve

to put aside and postpone

heinous

hatefully evil

smart

elegant and stylish in manners or dress

dispel

to drive away or scatter