Vocab Sets 7-12

Acrimonious

scathing, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech, or behavior

Sulky

silent and aloof in a sullen or offended manner

Vacuous

lacking in ideas or intelligence; inane; stupid

Sagacious

having or showing keen mental discernment, good judgment, and practical sense.

Pensive

engaged in deep or serious thought; reflective.

Supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; arrogant.

Quarrelsome

argumentative; contentious; inclined to hostility

Taciturn

inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation

Valorous

boldness in facing great danger, especially in battle

Tyrannical

unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe; oppressive

Apprehensive

uneasy or fearful about something that might happen

Belittled

made to feel less impressive or important than one would otherwise; disparaged or criticized

Blithe

oyous or merry, especially in a carefree way

Frank

direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; sincere

Jocular

feeling good-humored, as a result of joking

Mocking

mimicking or imitating with the purpose of ridiculing, deriding, or minimizing

Portentous

ominously significant; serious and disquieting, as if something severe is about to happen

Reverent

feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by deep respect

Vehement

zealous; ardent; impassioned

Wistful

a melancholy, yearning, or longing mood

Caustic

severely critical or sarcastic

A caustic chemical is capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue.

Ebullient

overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited.

Ebullient is a much stronger word than happy.

Elegiac

expressing sorrow or lamentation; mournful or melancholy, especially toward the dead

Empathetic

able to feel and identify with the feelings, thoughts, experiences, or attitudes of others

Facetious

not meant to be taken seriously or literally; cleverly humorous.

Incredulous

disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical

Indignant

feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base

Provocative

stirring, stimulating, irritating, or vexing

Resigned

characterized by submissive acceptance

Sentimental

expressive of or appealing to tender emotions, like love, pity, or nostalgia.

Abhorrent

horrifying and offensive to the mind.

Abject

completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.

Credulous

showing a lack of judgment or experience.

Despondent

without or almost without hope.

Ethereal

characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air

Haughty

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy.

Imperious

characterized by a commanding superiority.

Scrupulous

two possible meanings here. One: characterized by extreme care and great effort, and two: having scruples, arising from a sense or right and wrong; principled.

Scurrilous

1: using or given to coarse language. 2: vulgar and evil.

Vituperative

marked by harshly abusive criticism.

Blasphemous

uttering, containing, or exhibiting impious action concerning sacred things; irreverent; profane.

Capricious

subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change; erratic.

Indulgent

characterized by submitting to an inclination or desire; lenient or permissive

Innocuous

not harmful or injurious; harmless; unlikely to harm or offend.

Inscrutable

incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable; not easily understood; mysterious

Insidious

intended to entrap or beguile; stealthily treacherous or deceitful

Serene

calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled

Vitriolic

very caustic or scathing; intensely and bitingly critical

Wanton

1) done, shown, or used maliciously or unjustifiably;

2) without regard for what is right, just, humane; careless; reckless;

3) sexually lawless or unrestrained

Zealous

full of or characterized by eager desire; ardently active, devoted, or diligent.

Impotent

lacking power or ability

Fatalistic

characteristic of the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable

Reticent

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; withdrawn or introverted

Ignominious

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame; embarrassing

Doting

extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring

Venerable

accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.

Paradoxical

seemingly absurd or self-contradictory;

Morbid

characterized by an abnormal or unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects

Indefatigable

persisting tirelessly; unwearied or unwavering

Tawdry

showy, but cheap and of poor quality; tasteless