Vocabulary List with Definitions

acumen

shrewdness shown by keen insight

amorphous

having no definite form or distinct shape

anomaly

deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule

ascertain

learn or discover with confidence

avarice

extreme greed for material wealth

banal

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

bombastic

ostentatiously lofty in style

brusque

rudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner

bulwark

a protective structure of stone or concrete

cadre

a small unit serving as part of a larger political movement

calibrate

make fine adjustments for optimal measuring

capitulate

surrender under agreed conditions

cathartic

emotionally purging

charlatan

a flamboyant deceiver

collusion

secret agreement

compensatory

paid to make up for damage, loss, injury, etc.

craven

lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful

cursory

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

deleterious

harmful to living things

diatribe

thunderous verbal attack

duplicity

the act of deceiving or acting in bad faith

efficacy

capacity or power to produce a desired result

egalitarian

favoring social equality

egress

the act or means of going out

elucidate

make clear and comprehensible

endemic

native to or confined to a certain region

epoch

a period marked by distinctive character

garrulous

full of trivial conversation

harbinger

something indicating the approach of something or someone

hedonist

someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures

ideologue

one who adheres strictly and inflexibly to some belief

impasse

a situation in which no progress can be made

impenitent

not remorseful

ineffable

defying expression or description

inexorable

impossible to prevent, resist, or stop

lamentation

a cry of sorrow and grief

loll

be lazy or idle

lucid

transparently clear; easily understandable

mendicant

a pauper who lives by begging

mercenary

a person hired to fight for another country than their own

milieu

the environmental condition

misconstrue

interpret in the wrong way

obstinate

resistant to guidance or discipline

ostensible

appearing as such but not necessarily so

parochial

narrowly restricted in outlook or scope

pernicious

exceedingly harmful

predilection

a predisposition in favor of something

pungent

having a sharp, biting, or caustic quality

quixotic

not sensible about practical matters

rebuff

reject outright and bluntly

rebuke

censure severely or angrily

regale

occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion

reticent

reluctant to draw attention to yourself

retort

a quick reply to a question or remark

ruse

a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture

slavishness

showing no originality; blindly imitative

sonorous

full and loud and deep

stalwart

a person who is loyal to their allegiance

taciturn

habitually reserved and uncommunicative

tether

tie with a rope

unkempt

not properly maintained or cared for

vacuous

void of expression

vanguard

a creative group active in the innovation of new concepts

vindictive

disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge

vivacious

vigorous and animated

waif

a person, especially a young woman, who is extremely thin

wanton

not restrained or controlled