Exam Vocab

Atone

to make amends

credible

believable; reliable

diligent

hardworking, industrious, not lazy

doleful

sad; dreary

impoverished

poor, in a state of poverty; depleted

incessant

never stopping, going on all the time

lucid

easy to understand, clear; rational, sane

posthumous

occurring or published after death

sardonic

grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic

superfluous

exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess

tenacious

Holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent

apex

the highest point

assimilate

(v.) to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully

exorbitant

(adj.) unreasonably high; excessive

inundate

(v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size

malign

(v.) to speak evil of, slander; (adj.) evil

momentous

very important

obstreperous

noisy; unruly, disorderly

pensive

thoughtful

perilous

dangerous

shoddy

(adj.) of poor quality; characterized by inferior workmanship

surly

(adj.) angry and bad-tempered; rude

tirade

A long, angry speech

vagrant

(n.) an idle wanderer, tramp; (adj.) wandering aimlessly

console

(v.) to comfort; (n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device

dwindle

become smaller or lose substance

flippant

(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy

liability

(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous

preposterous

ridiculous, senseless

pugnacious

quarrelsome, fond of fighting

sparse

(adj.) meager, scant; scattered

remunerate

to reward, pay, reimburse

auxiliary

(adj.) giving assistance or support; (n.) a helper, aid

candid

(adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unposed

expedient

(n.) a means to an end; (adj.) advantageous, useful

grievous

(adj.) causing sorrow or pain; serious

envoy

(n.) a representative or messenger (as of a government)

feign

to pretend

incredulous

disbelieving, skeptical

inscribe

(v.) to write or engrave; to enter a name on a list

Monologue

(n.) a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person

repugnant

(adj.) offensive, disagreeable, distasteful

aspire

(v.) to have ambitious hopes or plans, strive toward a higher goal, desire earnestly; to ascend

bleak

(adj.) bare, dreary, dismal

exploit

(v.) to make use of, develop; to make improper use of for personal profit; (n.) a feat, deed

languid

(adj.) drooping; without energy, sluggish

invincible

not able to be defeated, unbeatable

mire

(n.) mud; wet, swampy ground; a tough situation; (v.) to get stuck

rugged

(adj.) rough, irregular; severe, stern; strong; stormy

skeptic

one who doubts