Beatty Summer Vocab

Supercilious

Supercilious

1.  Behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important. (self-centered/superior)

Synonyms: Haughty, Imperious, Superior

In a Sentence: The supercilious man boasted about his salary, knowing that he was much wealthier than those around him

Part of Speech: adjective

Profligate

Definition: 

1. recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources. (excessive)

2. behaving in a way that is bad or morally wrong (immoral)

Synonyms: 

1. Extravagant, Spendthrift

2. Immoral, Wicked

Antonyms: 

1. Canny (clever), Careful, Thrifty

2. Virtuous, Good, Moral

In a Sentence: 

1. She is well-known for her profligate spending habits.

2. Corporate bodies are more corrupt and profligate than individuals because they have more power to do mischief.

Part of Speech: noun or adjective

Obdurate

1. stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

Synonyms: Callous, Cold-blooded, Heartle

In a Sentence: The obdurate refusal of the crotchety old man to let the neighborhood kids retrieve their stray ball from his backyard

Part of Speech: adjective

Execrate

Definition: to have or show feelings of hate toward someone or something, (cursing)

Synonyms: Animosity, Dislike, Abhorrence

In a Sentence: She came to execrate the hypocritical values of her upper-class upbringing.

Part of speech: verb

Reproving

Definition: express your dissatisfaction or disapproval with something (shaming)

Synonyms: Reprimand, Chastise, Scold
In a Sentence: Pegler gave him a swift, reproving look, while Leslie pretended not to have heard what her husband had said.

Part of Speech: adjective

Exculpate

Definition: to clear from a charge of fault or guilt (exonerate)

Synonyms: Absolve, Acquit, Amnesty
In a Sentence: The pilot of the aircraft will surely be exculpated when all the facts are known.

Part of Speech: verb

Immutable

Definition: unchanging over time or unable to be changed (rigid)

Synonyms: unchangeable, fixed, rigid
In a Sentence: Are we dealing with something which is an inborn, immutable trait like, say, eye color?

Part of Speech: adjective

Scathing

Definition: witheringly scornful; severely critical (judging)

Synonyms: devastating, withering, blistering
In a Sentence:

Part of Speech: adjective

Expedient

Definition: (of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral (practical but wrong)

Synonyms: convenient, useful, profitable
In a Sentence: Either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so.

Part of Speech: adjective

Pernicious

Definition: having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way (pollution is pernicious)

Synonyms: harmful, damaging, destructive
In a Sentence: The pernicious effects of air pollution.

Part of Speech: adjective

Impertinent

Definition:

1. not showing proper respect (disrespectful)

2. not pertinent to a particular matter (inapplicable)

Synonyms: 

1. Rude, insolent, impolite

2. Irrelevant, inapplicable, inappropriate

In a Sentence:

1. An impertinent question

2. Talk of “rhetoric” and “strategy” is impertinent to this process

Part of Speech: adjective

Sagacity

Definition:  ability to make good judgments (wise)

Synonyms: wisdom, perceptiveness, judgement
In a Sentence: A man of great political sagacity.

Part of Speech: noun

Censure

1. express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement (criticize)

2. the expression of formal disapproval (criticism)

Synonyms: 

1. Chastise, condemn, criticize

2. Condemnation, criticism, reprimand

In a Sentence:

1. A judge was censured in 1983 for a variety of types of injudicious conduct. 

2. Angry delegates offered a resolution of censure against the offenders. 

Part of Speech:

1. Verb

2. Noun

Privation

Definition: a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking (deprived of needs)

Synonyms: deprivation, hardship, poverty
In a Sentence: Years of rationing and privation

Part of Speech: noun

Ineffable

Definition: too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words (indescribable)

Synonyms: inexpressible, indescribable, undefinable
In a Sentence: the ineffable natural beauty of the Everglades

Part of Speech: adjective

Affectation

Definition: behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress (suck-up writing)

Synonyms: pretension, artificiality, pretentiousness
In a Sentence: The affectation of a man who measures every word for effect.

Part of Speech: noun

Staid

Definition: sedate, respectable, and unadventurous (conventional)

Synonyms: sedate, respectable, conventional
In a Sentence: I had a staid old aunt who had never married

Part of Speech: adjective

Servile

Definition:

1. having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others (very helpful)

2. of or characteristic of a slave or slaves

Synonyms: groveling, obsequious, sycophantic, slavish
In a Sentence: 

1. He bowed his head in a servile manner

2. The servile condition of the peasants

Part of Speech: adjective

palpable

1. (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.

2. able to be touched or felt.