New Years English Vocab

abate

to reduce; to subside; diminish; cut down

belittle

to make to seem little; put someone down.

cajole

to persuade someone to do something they don’t want to do

decimate

to kill or destroy a large part of

exhort

to urge strongly; to give a serious warning to

flaunt

to show off; to display ostentatiously

gesticulate

to make gestures, especially when speaking or in place of speaking

insinuate

to hint; to creep in

juxtapose

to place side by side (often for the purpose of contrast)

lament

to mourn

malinger

to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work

obfuscate

to darken; to confuse; to make something confusing

peruse

to read carefully; to study with great care

rebuke

to criticize sharply