Unit Three Vocabulary

Aesthetic

Having a sense of beauty; giving an impression of beauty; artistic

Peerless

Without an equal; unrivaled.

Amicable

Characterized by friendship and goodwill.

Immutable

Unchanging over time; unalterable.

Catalyst

Something that causes or accelerates a change.

Propriety

Conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior.

Devious

Not straightforward; shifty.

Ponderous

Heavy or weighty; slow and clumsy.

Disparage

To regard or represent as being of little worth.

Virtuoso

A person highly skilled in a particular art, especially music.

Dissonance

A lack of harmony among musical notes.

Predecessor

A person who held a position before another.

Ingratiate

To bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering.

Vitriolic

Filled with bitter criticism or malice.

Efface

To erase or remove completely.

Rebuff

To reject bluntly; snub.

Insipid

Lacking flavor, vigor, or interest.

Whimsical

Playfully quaint or fanciful.

Garrulous

Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.

Static

Lacking in movement or action; fixed.

Acquiesce

To accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Delineate

To describe or portray something precisely.

Anarchy

A state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority.

Quixotic

Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

Articulate

Able to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing.

Diffident

Modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence.

Authoritarian

Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority.

Salutary

Producing a beneficial effect.

Belittle

To make someone or something seem less impressive.

Laconic

Using very few words.

Depravity

Moral corruption; wickedness.

Suppress

To put an end to the activities of something.

Bombastic

High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.

Scanty

Small or insufficient in quantity or amount.

Meager

Lacking in quantity or quality.

Temerity

Excessive confidence or boldness.

Conciliatory

Intended or likely to placate or pacify.

Subjugate

To bring under control; conquer.

Predilection

A preference or special liking for something.

Turbulence

Violent or unsteady movement.

Callous

Emotionally insensitive; unfeeling.

Desecrate

To treat with disrespect; to violate the sanctity of.

Evanescent

Quickly fading; vanishing.

Heed

To pay attention to.

Provincial

Limited in perspective; narrow-minded.

Steadfast

Firmly loyal and constant.

Supercilious

Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.

Indigent

Poor; needy.

Usurp

To take a position of power or importance illegally or by force.