English Vocabulary Squares

Vocabulary practice cards containing key literary and descriptive terms, roots, and definitions drawn from vocabulary squares notes.

Nadir

Lowest point.

Obdurate

Stubborn or insensitive; unyielding.

Malediction

A curse.

Narcissism

Excessive love of one's body or oneself.

Garrulous

Talkative on trivial matters; rambling.

Taciturn

Untalkative by nature; uncommunicative and close-mouthed.

Exacerbate

To make worse.

Innocuous

Not harmful or injurious.

Petulant

Ill-tempered, peevish, or cranky.

Superfluous

Unnecessary; being more than enough; surplus.

Lament

To feel or express sorrow or regret for; to mourn.

Hubris

Excessive pride; extreme arrogance.

Ostentatious

Meant to impress others; flashy and showy.

Zenith

The time at which something is at its highest point; pinnacle.

Scrupulous

Careful about moral standards; conscientious and ethical.

Censure

Express severe disapproval of—especially in a formal statement; to condemn or criticize.

Moor

A tract of uncultivated land.

Pious

Devoutly religious; reverent.

Prosaic

Dull, unimaginative; banal.

Autonomy

Right of self-government; sovereignty.

Din

A loud, harsh, strident noise; cacophony.

Respite

A period of rest or relief; a break.

Tacit

Not spoken, but understood; implied.

Havoc

Widespread destruction, confusion, or disorder.

Magnanimous

Forgiving, noble in spirit; generous.

Vicarious

Experienced through another person rather than directly.

Circumspect

Watchful and discreet; cautious.

Circumlocution

Use of wordy or evasive language; indirect speech.

Diffident

Timid or shy; lacking confidence.

Retainer

A servant or follower of a noble or wealthy person; an attendant.

Requite

Make appropriate return for service, favor, or wrong-doing; to repay or reciprocate.

Lionize

To treat as a celebrity; to honor.

Barrow

An ancient burial mound.

Pyre

A fire to burn a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.

Juggernaut

A powerful and overwhelming force or institution.

Conflagration

A fire.

Anthropomorphism

Giving human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.

Panacea

Something that cures everything; a cure-all.

Pandemonium

Wild uproar, disorder; tumult or chaos.

Misogynist

Hater of women; male chauvinist.

Misanthrope

One who hates or mistrusts humankind.

Auspicious

Favorable, pointing to a good result; promising.

Dexterous

Skillful in using the hands or body.

Gregarious

Sociable, enjoying and seeking the company of others; outgoing.

Facetious

Humorous, playfully joking.

Bibliophile

A book lover.

Philter

A love potion.

Philanderer

A womanizer.

Philatelist

A stamp collector.