LLH2 Q1 Vocab

abstruse (adj)

difficult to understand; obscure

affable (adj)

friendly, good

alienate (v)

to cause someone to feel isolated or estranged

amity (n)

a friendly relationship; peaceful harmony

antiquated (adj)

old

arbitrary (adj)

based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

arrogant (adj)

having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities

assail (v)

to make a concerted or violent attack on; to criticize strongly

astute (adj)

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people

averse (adj)

having a strong dislike of or opposition to something

belie (v)

to fail to give a true notion or impression of; to contradict

benign (adj)

gentle and kindly; not harmful

bolster (v)

to support or strengthen; to prop up

candor (n)

the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness

censure (v)

to express severe disapproval of, typically in a formal statement

clemency (n)

mercy; lenience

complacent (adj)

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

composure (n)

the state or feeling of being calm and in control of oneself

contingent (adj)

subject to chance; occurring or existing only if certain circumstances are the case

converge (v)

to come together from different directions so as eventually to meet

cordial (adj)

warm and friendly

cupidity (n)

greed for money or possessions

daunted (adj)

made to feel intimidated or apprehensive

deplore (v)

to feel or express strong disapproval of

desultory (adj)

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

digress (v)

to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing

disdain (n)

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt

dissolution (n)

the closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body

dogmatic (adj)

inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

elated (adj)

ecstatically happy

emulate (v)

to match or surpass a person or achievement, typically by imitation

enigma (n)

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

erratic (adj)

not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable

euphemism (n)

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt

expurgate (v)

to remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable

extraneous (adj)

irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with

fastidious (adj)

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

fledgling (n)

a person or organization that is immature, inexperienced, or underdeveloped

fulminate (v)

to express vehement protest

garish (adj)

obtrusively bright and showy; lurid

gravity (n)

extreme or alarming importance; seriousness

harbor (v)

to keep a thought or feeling in one's mind secretly; to give shelter to

heed (v)

to pay attention to; to take notice of

hyperbole (n)

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

imminent (adj)

about to happen

impetuous (adj)

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

inadvertent (adj)

not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning

incompatible (adj)

so opposed in character as to be incapable of existing together

incredulous (adj)

unwilling or unable to believe something

infamy (n)

the state of being well known for some bad quality or deed

infer (v)

to deduce or conclude information from evidence and reasoning

insolent (adj)

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

intractable (adj)

hard to control or deal with; stubborn

irascible (adj)

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered

jeopardy (n)

danger of loss, harm, or failure

jubilant (adj)

feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph

laconic (adj)

using very few words

legacy (n)

an amount of money or property left to someone in a will; something handed down from the past

loath (adj)

reluctant; unwilling

lucid (adj)

expressed clearly; easy to understand

malefactor (n)

a person who commits a crime or some other wrong

meager (adj)

lacking in quantity or quality

mellifluous (adj)

sweet or musical; pleasant to hear

mitigate (v)

to make less severe, serious, or painful

mundane (adj)

lacking interest or excitement; dull; earthly

novelty (n)

the quality of being new, original, or unusual

nurture (v)

to care for and encourage the growth or development of

obscure (adj)

not discovered or known about; uncertain

obtuse (adj)

annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand

optimist (n)

a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future

paragon (n)

a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality

penury (n)

extreme poverty; destitution

pervade (v)

to spread through and be perceived in every part of

phlegmatic (adj)

having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition

ponderous (adj)

slow and clumsy because of great weight; dull or laborious

preclude (v)

to prevent from happening; to make impossible

pretentious (adj)

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or talent than is actually possessed

profound (adj)

very great or intense; having or showing great knowledge or insight

proximity (n)

nearness in space, time, or relationship

quandary (n)

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

rampant (adj)

flourishing or spreading unchecked

recluse (n)

a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people

reprove (v)

to reprimand or censure

reserve (n)

a supply of a commodity kept back for future use; a lack of warmth or openness in manner

revere (v)

to feel deep respect or admiration for something

sanction (v)

to give official permission or approval for an action; to impose a penalty on

scrutinize (v)

to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

seditious (adj)

inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state

slander (n)

the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation

sporadic (adj)

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered

stealth (n)

cautious and surreptitious action or movement

subtle (adj)

so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe

surreptitious (adj)

kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of

tangent (n)

a completely different line of thought or action

tenacious (adj)

tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely

tirade (n)

a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

trite (adj)

overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness

ubiquitous (adj)

present, appearing, or found everywhere

unkempt (adj)

having an untidy, disheveled appearance

vacillate (v)

to alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive