High School level Vocab (A-D)

Ambulatory (adjective)

relating to walking or moving between places

Ameliorate (verb)

to ease the pain of something, or make better

amoral (adjective)

having a messed up moral compass where one does not care about right and wrong

amorphous (adjective)

not having a clear shape; lacking unity

antediluvian (adjective)

being very old and outdated

antithesis (noun)

the direct opposite of something

aplomb (noun)

lots of poise or confidence shown in a situation

apparition (noun)

the ghost of a dead person

ardor (noun)

a strong feeling of energy and eagerness

aspiration (noun)

the act of pronouncing the letter H (less common definition)

austere (adjective)

unfriendly and overly serious; showing a disregard for pleasure.

avarice (noun)

a strong desire for personal gain or money

bailiff (noun)

a court officer who helps control people in a courtroom, or a person who manages the property of others

bashful (adjective)

socially awkward and uneasy when others are around

beget (verb)

to make something happen or to produce (other definition: to become the parent of someone)

benign (adjective)

gentle and not very harmful

blithe (adjective)

lack of care or consideration; blind happiness

boon (noun)

something that comes at the right time

cagey (adjective)

not saying everything one knows about something, and careful to avoid traps

cahier (noun)

a report about a policy, usually of a governing body

cajole (verb)

to persuade, usually in a flattering and soothing way

caprice (noun)

a change in someone's mood, usually unpredictable

castigate (verb)

to harshly criticize

censure (noun)

strong hate or disdain, usually from an entity rather than a person

chaff (noun)

the parts of a seed that can't be eaten; also used to describe something useless

chagrin (noun)

a feeling of frustration and annoyance due to failure

charlatan (noun)

someone who pretends to be something they aren't

circuitous (adjective)

not going the most efficient way; not done simply

cistern (noun)

a container for holding water; sometimes underground

clamor (noun)

a strong demand for something, or a continuous noise

clandestine (adjective)

secretly or done discreetly

collusion (noun)

a secret and illegal agreement

commensurate (adjective)

equal to something in size, weight or degree

conciliate (verb)

to make an agreement with; to become friendly with

congenial (adjective)

outgoing, friendly, and pleasant

congenital (adjective)

existing since birth and not hereditary, often referring to a condition

corpulent (adjective)

obese or fat

corroborate (verb)

to confirm and help prove something

crone (noun)

a mean and ugly old woman

culpable (adjective)

guilty of something or deserving of blame (adj. version of culprit)

curmudgeon (noun)

a crusty old person with a bad temper

decorum (noun)

polite behavior, respect and good manners

deftly (adverb)

Done accurately and quickly

dearth (noun)

the state of not having enough things or a lack of something

deceit (noun)

lies and dishonesty

delectable (adjective)

very pleasant tasting or smelling; usually referring to food

dell (noun)

a small valley with trees and other vegetation

demagogue (noun)

a political leader who gets support because of false claims

deplore (verb)

to show lots of grief for, or to disapprove of

desiccated (adjective)

having the water removed from it; extremely dry

desperado (noun)

a daring criminal who is not afraid of injury or capture

detriment (noun)

a cause of damage, injury, or loss

dexterity (noun)

the ability to think critically, use one's body skillfully, or be graceful in physical activity

diffidence (noun)

a lack of confidence shown around others

diminution (noun)

the process of becoming lesser

diminutive (adjective)

very small (adj. version of diminution)

din (noun)

a loud, continuous noise (synonym of clamor)

dispensary (noun)

a place for medication or minor medical treatment; another word for infirmary

dissident (noun)

someone who publicly disagrees with an authority

docile (adjective)

easy to train, teach, or manage

dogmatic (adjective)

expressing opinions as if they are correct

domicile (noun)

a person's permanent home

dowdy (adjective)

having a dull and uninteresting appearance

drivel (noun)

foolish writing; nonsense

dubious (adjective)

unsure or doubtful about something

diaphanous (adjective)

clear; see through

affable (adjective)

very kind, social and outgoing

artifice (noun)

a trick or ruse

banal (adjective)

stale or gone bad

choleric (adjective)

easily irritable and annoying

countenance (noun)

a facial expression someone makes is their ______

desolation (noun)

grief or the state of grieving for someone or something

destitute (adjective)

poor; living without money or valuable things

dingy (adjective)

dark and hard to see in

doff (verb)

to remove or get rid of

acumen (noun)

the ability or skill to make quick decisions and good judgement

callow (adjective)

immature or inexperienced

contrived (adjective)

created deliberately in a way that seems artificial

crest (noun)

the top or peak of a hill or mountain

bestride (verb)

to mount or sit on, referring to a horse

abstemious (adjective)

very moderate and having good control over oneself

abstruse (adjective)

hard to understand; confusing

accost (verb)

to approach someone and talk to them in a bold or aggressive manner

credulity (noun)

a tendency to be too gullible

chary (adjective)

cautious or reluctant

consensus (noun)

a general agreement