Vocab Final English 12

Aggrandizement

an increase in rank

Arduous

hard to do

Bombastic

marked by the use of language without much real meaning

Celestial

having to do with the heavens

Dishabille

disorder; especially in dress

Enervate

to weaken

Eugenics

the science of genetic control

Conflagration

a large fire

Holocaust

great destruction

Imperturbable

unshakably calm

Inclement

stormy

Incredulous

showing doubt

Officious

meddling

Recalcitrant

refusing to obey rules

Threadbare

frayed or shabby; used so often that it is stale

Acrimonious

bitter

Atheist

one who denies the existence of God

Benediction

a blessing

Copious

abundant

Cupidity

greed

Distraught

in a state of mental conflict

Dulcet

pleasing to the ear, melodious

Eclectic

choosing from a number of sources

Immaterial

unimportant

Querulous

suggestive of complaint

Retract

to draw back

Risible

inclined to laugh

Untenable

incapable of being held

Voracious

ravenous, greedy, gluttonous

Utilitarian

stressing the value of practical over aesthetic qualities

Abject

without hope

Avidity

greed

Cacophony

harsh sound

Commiserate

to feel sorrow for anothers feelings

Cynosure

focal point

Diatribe

rant

Euphemism

use of an indirect expression in place of one thats harsh

Futilitarian

holding the view that human endeavor is futile

Indefatigable

tireless

Myriad

great multitude

Pathological

cause by disease

Propensity

tendency

Sobriety

seriousness

Voluminous

large

Whet

to sharpen

Aversion

a strong dislike

Cache

hiding place, something hidden

Eulogy

high praise for a deceased person

Gratuitous

freely given, uncalled for

Hyperbole

an exaggerated statement

Incontrovertible

not able to be disputed

Indolence

laziness

Labyrinth

a maze

Metamorphosis

a change in form

Incarcerate

to put in jail

Orient

acquaint with

Perspicuous

clear, easily understood

Peruse

to read

Relic

a thing that remains from the past

Urbane

courteous, polished

Anachronism

out of its proper time

Autonomy

independence

Bromide

cliche; platitude

Buffoon

a clown

Colloquial

used in informal speech

Demeanor

behavior

Euphony

pleasing sound

Garrulous

talkative

Incisive

keen; cutting

Omnipotent

unlimited power

Omniscient

having infinite knowledge

Perfidy

betrayal of trust

Refurbish

to make like new

Unassailable

not capable of being defeated

Wanton

immoral, excessive

Abominable

revolting, vile

Baleful

menacing

Composure

calmness

Dissipated

scattered

Ebb

to decline

Iconoclast

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or established institutions

Presage

to indicate in advance

Profusion

abundance

Pusillanimous

cowardly

Pyromania

urge to start fires

Scapegoat

taking the blame for the mistakes of others

Tyro

a beginner

Unimpeachable

beyond doubt

Utopian

excellent, but existing only in theory

Vortex

whirlpool

Authoritarian

supporting authority instead of individual freedom

Clandestine

secret

Debilitate

weaken

Disperse

to send off in different directions

Esoteric

understood by only a select few

Fortuitious

happening by chance

Hauteur

arrogance

Heterogeneous

involving parts that are unlike

Implicit

understood if not directly stated

Impugn

to oppose, criticize