The Entire Gang: Vocabulary

soubrette

A lively, flirtatious, or pert young woman; especially a female performer who plays coquettish or mischievous roles in theater or opera.

anathema

A person or thing intensely disliked, condemned, or regarded as utterly unacceptable.

mumpsimus

A person who stubbornly adheres to an outdated belief, habit, or practice despite evidence that it is wrong.

plutocrat

A person whose power or influence comes from great wealth, especially one who controls political or social affairs through money.

misogamist

A person who dislikes or opposes marriage.

agelast

A person who never laughs or lacks a sense of humor.

sesquipedalian

A person who uses long, obscure, or overly elaborate words, often unnecessarily.

pantomath

A person who knows or seeks to know everything; a universal learner.

anachorite

A person who withdraws from society to live a solitary, often religious, life; a hermit.

polymath

A person with extensive knowledge across many different fields of study.

noctambulist

A person who walks or moves about while asleep; a sleepwalker.

mammothreptic

A person excessively spoiled or overindulged, especially by their mother.

apanthropic

A person who avoids human society; a recluse or misanthrope.

supercilious

A person who behaves as though superior to others; arrogant or disdainfully proud.

icarian

A person who is overly ambitious or reckless in pursuit of lofty goals, often risking failure through overconfidence.

promethean

A person who is boldly creative, rebellious, or ambitious in pursuit of great achievements.

inveterate

A person who has a long-established habit, tendency, or attitude that is unlikely to change.

ignominious

A person or action marked by shame, disgrace, or dishonor.

mendacious

A person who is habitually dishonest or prone to lying.

sacrilegious

A person or action showing disrespect or irreverence toward sacred things.

ostentatious

A person who displays wealth, knowledge, or achievements in a showy and excessive way.

parsimonious

A person who is excessively unwilling to spend money; stingy or miserly.

penurious

A person who is extremely poor or excessively unwilling to spend money.

solipsistic

A person who is excessively self-centered or concerned only with their own perspective.

misoneism

A person’s hatred or distrust of new ideas, changes, or innovations.

perspicacious

A person who is highly perceptive, insightful, and capable of understanding things quickly.

nonpareil

A person who is unmatched, unequaled, or without equal in ability or excellence.

anodyne

A person or thing that is soothing, comforting, or unlikely to cause offense.

achillean

A person possessing great strength, courage, or heroic qualities, especially like Achilles.

licentious

A person who lacks moral restraint, especially regarding sexual behavior.

impecunious

A person who has little or no money; poor or financially struggling.

spoliator

A person who plunders, destroys, or steals property.

opulent

A person characterized by great wealth, luxury, or extravagance.

indigent

A person who is extremely poor and lacking basic necessities.

adroit

A person who is skillful, clever, and capable in handling situations.

ultracrepidarian

A person who gives opinions on subjects beyond their knowledge or expertise.

polyglot

A person who knows or speaks many languages.

recalcitrant

A person who stubbornly resists authority, control, or correction.

preponderant

A person or force that is dominant, influential, or greater in importance.

bilk

A person who cheats or defrauds others, especially by avoiding payment.

vouchsafe

A person who graciously grants or gives something, often reluctantly or as a favor.

purloin

A person who steals or takes something dishonestly.

peregrinate

A person who travels from place to place, especially on a long or wandering journey.

paternalistic

A person who treats others in a controlling but supposedly protective manner, like a parent.

intransigence

A person’s refusal to compromise or change their views.

manichaean

A person who views situations in rigid terms of absolute good versus absolute evil.

venal

A person who is corruptible, especially willing to sacrifice principles for money or personal gain.

illimitable

A person or quality that appears limitless, boundless, or without restriction.

abegnation

A person’s act of renouncing or giving up something, especially a claim, privilege, or possession.

abstemious

A person who practices restraint, especially in eating, drinking, or indulgence.

avaricious

A person who has an extreme desire for wealth or possessions; greedy.

calumny

A person’s false and malicious accusation intended to damage another’s reputation.

craven

A person who is cowardly, lacking courage or bravery.

dilatory

A person who delays, procrastinates, or acts slowly.

insouciant

A person who is carefree, unconcerned, or casually indifferent.

invidious

A person or attitude that is likely to provoke resentment, jealousy, or hostility.

mawkish

A person or expression that is overly sentimental or emotionally excessive.

munificent

A person who is extremely generous, especially in giving gifts or money.

obdurate

A person who is stubbornly resistant to persuasion, compassion, or change.

obsequious

A person who is excessively submissive or eager to please those in authority.

probity

A person’s strong moral integrity, honesty, and uprightness.

profligate

A person who is recklessly wasteful, immoral, or self-indulgent.

querulous

A person who frequently complains or finds fault.

rectitude

A person’s moral correctness, honesty, and adherence to ethical principles.

truculent

A person who is aggressively defiant, hostile, or eager to fight.

unctuous

A person who behaves with excessive sincerity, flattery, or friendliness in a way that seems insincere.

miasma

A foul, unhealthy atmosphere or influence; originally a poisonous vapor believed to cause disease.

zugzwang

A situation in which any possible action or decision leads to disadvantage or deterioration; a term from chess.

pyrrhic

Achieved at such great cost that it is nearly equivalent to defeat; originating from Pyrrhus of Epirus’s costly victories.

sepulchral

Resembling a tomb; gloomy, deathly, or associated with burial.

superannuated

Outdated, obsolete, or weakened by age; no longer useful or effective.

wan

Pale, weak, sickly, or lacking vitality.

pallid

Lacking color or brightness; pale, dull, or lifeless in appearance.

infernal

Relating to hell; extremely unpleasant, evil, or dreadful.

vivisepulture

The burial of a person while still alive; figuratively, a state of being trapped or buried in life.

infandous

Too horrible, shocking, or wicked to be spoken of.

tenebrous

Dark, shadowy, obscure, or suggestive of gloom and mystery.

acedia

A state of spiritual apathy, listlessness, or indifference; traditionally associated with neglect of one’s duties or purpose.

kalopsia

The delusion or perception that things are more beautiful than they truly are.

paramnesia

A disturbance of memory involving false recollections or a sense of familiarity with unfamiliar things.

exaltation

A feeling of intense happiness, joy, or elevated emotional or spiritual state.

threnody

A mournful song, poem, or expression of grief, especially for the dead.

tachypsychia

A condition in which time seems to pass unusually quickly or thoughts seem to move at an accelerated pace.

inquietude

A state of restlessness, anxiety, or unease.

ataraxis

A state of calmness, tranquility, and freedom from emotional disturbance.

beatitude

A state of supreme happiness, blessedness, or spiritual joy.

velleity

A weak desire or wish that lacks the motivation to become an action.

hypermnesia

An unusually strong ability to remember or recall information.

basorexia

An intense desire or craving for kissing.

psychomachy

A struggle or conflict within the mind, especially between opposing emotions, impulses, or moral forces.

smeagold

An intense, possessive desire for wealth or an object; derived from the character Sméagol/Gollum as a symbol of obsession.

funereal

Gloomy, mournful, or resembling a funeral atmosphere.

halcyon

Peaceful, happy, and idyllic; often referring to a nostalgic period of calm.

gaiety

Cheerfulness, joyfulness, or lively happiness.

alexithymia

Difficulty identifying, understanding, or expressing one’s emotions.

doleful

Full of sadness, sorrow, or grief.

quixotic

Idealistic and impractical, often driven by romantic or unrealistic hopes.

anthropophobia

A fear or strong aversion toward people or human society.

saturnine

Gloomy, melancholy, or habitually serious in temperament.

rhapsodic

Highly enthusiastic, emotional, or expressive in speech or writing.