APEL Vocabulary List 6

repugnant

repugnant

offensive and completely unacceptable; making somebody feel physically repelled

offensive, appalling, awful

pugnacious

inclined to fight or be aggressive

combative, aggressive

impugn

to suggest that something cannot be trusted, relied on, or respected

challenge, question, dispute

cadence

the beat or measure of something such as a dance or a march that follows a set rhythm; the rise and fall of the voice during speech;

rhythm, beat

lucid

rational, and mentally clear, especially only for a period between episodes of delirium or psychosis; clear and easily understood; emitting light

clear, understandable, coherent

luminous

emitting or reflecting light;

bright, glowing

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal

talkative

deride

to show contempt for somebody or something

mock, jeer at

ridicule

to reduce or dismiss the importance or quality of somebody or something in a contemptuous way

deride, mock

ridiculous

completely unreasonable and not at all sensible or acceptable

unreasonable, unsensible, absurd

risible

capable of causing laughter

laughable, amusing

gesticulation

to move the arms or hands when speaking, or express something with movements of the arms or hands

gesture, body language

gestation

the development of an idea or plan in the mind, or the time it takes to develop; the period of development of the offspring during pregnancy

development, pregnancy

vociferous

shouting in a noisy and determined way

outspoken, vocal

irrevocable

impossible to revoke, undo, or change

irreversible

equivocate

to speak vaguely or ambiguously, especially in order to mislead

prevaricate, ambiguous

unequivocal

allowing for no doubt or misinterpretation

clear

evocative

prompting vivid memories or images of things not present, especially things from the past

suggestive

edifice

a building, especially a large or impressive one

structure

masticate

transitive and intransitive verb to grind and pulverize food inside the mouth, using the teeth and jaws

chew

insuperable

impossible to overcome, get rid of, or deal with successfully

insurmountable, impossible

surreptitious

done in a concealed or underhand way to escape notice, especially disapproval

secret, sneaky

ostentatious

marked by a vulgar display of wealth and success designed to impress people

flashy

imperious

haughty and domineering

commanding, imperial

supplication

a humble and sincere appeal to somebody who has the power to grant a request

request

sagacity

profound knowledge and understanding, coupled with foresight and good judgment

wisdom

perennial

recurrent constantly recurring, or lasting for an indefinite time

recurrent, ceaseless

orthodox

following the established or traditional rules of a political or religious belief, a philosophy, or a way of life

conventional

bereft

deprived of somebody or something loved or valued; lacking in something desirable or necessary

deprived, lacking

atone

to make reparation for a sin or a mistake

expiate