Vocab Set

conniving

Secretly planning or scheming, often in a sneaky or dishonest way to get what you want\n\nExample: The conniving salesman hid the defects so he could charge more.

coarse

Rough in texture, or rude and crude in manner

Examples:

The coarse fabric scratched my skin.

His coarse remarks offended everyone at dinner.

devotee

A person who is very devoted to something or someone, like a fan

Example:

As a jazz devotee, she rarely missed a local concert.

eccentric

Odd or unconventional in behavior, in a way that stands out

Example:

Our eccentric neighbor wears a top hat while gardening.

remnant

A small piece or amount left over after the rest is gone

Example:

A remnant of the old wall still stands beside the road.

seamless

Smooth and continuous, with no breaks or visible joins

Example:

The editor made the transition between the two scenes seamless.

prudent

Careful and sensible, thinking ahead to avoid problems

Example:

It was prudent to save some money for unexpected repairs.

complacent

So satisfied with how things are that you stop trying or paying attention

Example:

After winning several games, the team grew complacent and stopped practicing hard.

heed

To pay attention to and follow advice or a warning

Example:

Heed the warning and stay away from the unstable cliff.

lucrative

Producing a lot of money or profit

Example:

Her repair business became lucrative once she built a loyal customer base.

receptive

Willing to listen to and consider new ideas or suggestions

Example:

The coach was receptive to our suggestion for a new warm-up routine.

Machiavellian

Cunning and willing to deceive or manipulate others to gain power

Example:

His Machiavellian plan involved turning his rivals against each other.

corridor

A long hallway or passage with rooms or doors along it

Example:

We followed the corridor to the last classroom on the left.

attest

To state or show that something is true, often as a witness

Example:

Several witnesses can attest that she was at the meeting.

cording

Cord or rope-like material, or a set of twisted cords (see notes: possible typo)

Example:

She sewed decorative cording along the edge of the cushion.

retribution

Punishment or payback for something wrong that was done

Example:

The villain feared retribution for betraying his partners.

impose

To force something (a rule, opinion, or burden) on someone

Example:

The school may impose stricter rules on phone use.

mosey

To walk slowly and casually, without hurry

Example:

Let's mosey down to the cafe after lunch.

adhere

To stick firmly to something, or to follow a rule or plan closely

Examples:

The label will adhere to a clean, dry surface.

All players must adhere to the tournament rules.

indulgent

Too willing to give in to wants or to let others have their way

Example:

The indulgent parent let the child eat dessert before dinner every night.

invigorated

Filled with energy and feeling fresh and alive

Example:

I felt invigorated after a brisk walk in the cool air.

parameters

Limits or guidelines that set the boundaries of something

Example:

The assignment's parameters require a five-minute speech with no slides.

antics

Silly, playful, or odd behavior

Example:

The puppy's antics made everyone laugh.

systematic

Done in an organized, step-by-step way following a plan

Example:

She used a systematic approach, checking each possible cause in order.

mangled

Badly damaged, twisted, or crushed

Example:

The bicycle was badly mangled in the collision.

elusive

Hard to find, catch, or understand

Example:

The missing cat remained elusive despite hours of searching.

covert

Secret or hidden, not openly shown

Example:

They held a covert meeting to avoid attracting attention.

tenfold

Ten times as much or as many

Example:

After the video went viral, orders increased tenfold.

precipitous

Very steep, or happening suddenly and sharply

Examples:

We avoided the precipitous mountain path.

A precipitous drop in sales forced the store to close.

notoriety

The state of being widely known for something bad

Example:

The thief gained notoriety after a series of daring robberies.

vindicated

Proven right or cleared of blame after being doubted or accused

Example:

She felt vindicated when the new evidence proved her explanation was correct.

volatile

Likely to change quickly or explode, unstable

Examples:

The volatile stock price rose and fell sharply throughout the week.

Keep that volatile chemical away from heat.

persnickety

Overly fussy or picky about small details

Example:

My persnickety roommate notices whenever a picture frame is slightly crooked.

buccaneer

A pirate, or an adventurous person who takes risks

Examples:

The buccaneer sailed toward the merchant ship.

Critics called the risk-taking investor a business buccaneer.

adjourned

Officially ended a meeting or session for a time

Example:

The chair adjourned the meeting until the following morning.

enigmatic

Mysterious and hard to understand

Example:

Her enigmatic smile left us wondering what she knew.

dispute

An argument or disagreement; or to argue that something is not true

Examples:

The neighbors settled their dispute over the fence.

I dispute the claim that no one reported the problem.

permutation

One of the different ways a set of things can be arranged or ordered

Example:

Changing the order of those three letters produces a different permutation.

esoteric

Understood by only a small group with special knowledge

Example:

The lecture used esoteric terms that only specialists understood.

jurisdiction

The official power or area in which a person or court has legal authority

Example:

The court ruled that the case fell outside its jurisdiction.

radical

Extreme or very different from the usual, especially about big change

Example:

She proposed a radical change: replacing all exams with projects.

radicalized

Made to hold extreme views, especially political or social ones

Example:

The character became radicalized after joining a group that promoted extreme political views.

symbiotic

Describing a relationship where both sides benefit from each other

Example:

The gardener and the cafe had a symbiotic relationship: one supplied herbs, and the other supplied compost.

reprehensible

Deserving blame or strong disapproval, very bad

Example:

Stealing money from a charity is reprehensible behavior.

mutually exclusive

Unable to both be true or happen at the same time

Example:

For one coin toss, heads and tails are mutually exclusive outcomes.

disparate

Very different from each other and not alike

Example:

The festival brought together musicians from disparate traditions.

disparities

Noticeable differences, especially unfair ones, between things

Example:

The report examined disparities in access to medical care.

echelons

Levels or ranks within an organization or group

Example:

The proposal must be approved by the upper echelons of management.

amicably

In a friendly way, without anger

Example:

They ended their business partnership amicably and remained friends.

galvanize

To shock or excite someone into taking action

Example:

The threatened closure helped galvanize the community into organizing a fundraiser.

bravado

Showy confidence, often to hide fear

Example:

His loud bravado faded when he stepped onto the high diving board.

effervescent

Bubbly, either as a liquid or in a lively, cheerful personality

Examples:

The effervescent drink bubbled in the glass.

Her effervescent personality brought energy to the room.

phonetic

Relating to the sounds of speech, or spelled the way it sounds

Example:

The dictionary's phonetic spelling helped me pronounce the unfamiliar word.

rectify

To correct or fix something wrong

Example:

We need to rectify the error before sending the invoice.

bona fide

Genuine and real, not fake

Example:

The certificate confirmed that the painting was a bona fide original.

entendre

A word or phrase with a second meaning, as in "double entendre" (a phrase with a hidden, often risque meaning)

Example:

The comedian used a double entendre that sounded innocent but carried a second, suggestive meaning.

unprecedented

Never done or known before

Example:

The school received an unprecedented number of applications this year.

subsidiary

A smaller company controlled by a larger one; or secondary in importance

Examples:

The parent company sold its shipping subsidiary.

Cost was a subsidiary concern compared with safety.

obstruct

To block or get in the way of something

Example:

Do not obstruct the emergency exit with boxes.

recoup

To get back something you lost or spent, like money

Example:

She hopes to recoup the cost of the equipment through ticket sales.

grandiose

Too grand or showy, trying to seem more important than it is

Example:

His grandiose plan to build a palace seemed out of place for a tiny community club.

smitten

Strongly attracted to or in love with someone

Example:

He was smitten with her from their first conversation.

caveat

A warning or condition to keep in mind

Example:

You can borrow my car, with one caveat: return it by six.

reconciliation

Making peace after a disagreement, or making two things fit together

Examples:

Their reconciliation came after an honest conversation and an apology.

The accountant's reconciliation of the two records explained the missing payment.

precarious

Not safe or secure, likely to fall or fail

Example:

The vase sat in a precarious position on the edge of the shelf.

status quo

The way things currently are

Example:

The new policy challenges the status quo rather than preserving it.

walleyed

Having eyes that look outward or stare with a wide, glaring look

Example:

The novelist described the startled character as walleyed, with a wide, glaring stare.

intuitive

Known or understood by instinct without needing to be taught

Example:

The app's intuitive layout made it easy to use without instructions.

pristine

Perfectly clean and untouched, in original condition

Example:

We found a pristine notebook with no marks on its pages.

concurrently

At the same time

Example:

The two workshops ran concurrently, so I could attend only one.

vague

Not clear or specific, hard to understand

Example:

His vague directions did not tell us which street to take.

partial

Only part of something, not whole; or favoring one side

Examples:

We received only a partial refund.

The judge must remain impartial rather than partial to one side.

nefarious

Wicked or evil

Example:

The detective uncovered a nefarious plot to steal the inheritance.

endearing

Causing others to feel love or affection

Example:

The child's earnest attempts to help were endearing.

exemplary

Serving as a very good example, excellent

Example:

Her exemplary work gave the rest of the team a standard to follow.

endure

To put up with something hard, or to last a long time

Examples:

The hikers had to endure freezing rain.

Their friendship continued to endure through years of change.

catharsis

A release of strong emotions that leaves you feeling relieved

Example:

Writing about her grief brought a sense of catharsis.

archaic

Very old-fashioned, from an earlier time

Example:

The letter contained archaic expressions rarely used today.

precursor

Something that came before and led to something else

Example:

The early prototype was a precursor to the finished device.

encumbered

Weighed down or held back by a burden

Example:

Encumbered by heavy bags, he struggled to climb the stairs.

tentatively

In an unsure way, not final

Example:

We tentatively agreed to meet on Friday, but the time may change.

desolate

Empty, lonely, and bleak

Example:

The abandoned station looked desolate in the winter rain.

pensive

Quietly thoughtful, often a little sad

Example:

He grew pensive while looking through old family photographs.

permeable

Letting liquids or gases pass through

Example:

The permeable material allowed water to pass through.

vigilant

Watchful and alert for danger or trouble

Example:

Stay vigilant and report any smoke you see.

emanate

To come out from a source, like light or a smell

Example:

A sweet smell seemed to emanate from the bakery.

reconcile

To make peace between people, or to make conflicting things agree

Examples:

They tried to reconcile after their argument.

I cannot reconcile these two accounts because their dates conflict.

rhetoric

The art of persuasive speaking or writing; sometimes just fancy words with little substance

Examples:

Her speech showed a strong command of rhetoric.

The promises sounded like empty rhetoric because no action followed.

vernacular

The everyday language of a particular group or region

Example:

The dialogue uses the local vernacular rather than formal textbook language.

superficial

On the surface only, not deep or thorough

Example:

A superficial inspection missed the crack beneath the paint.

irrefutable

Impossible to argue against or disprove

Example:

The recording provided irrefutable evidence of what was said.

contingency

A possible future event or backup plan you prepare for

Example:

Our contingency plan is to move the picnic indoors if it rains.

relinquish

To give up or let go of something

Example:

He refused to relinquish control of the project.

legible

Clear enough to read

Example:

Please write your name in legible handwriting.

admonished

Warned or scolded firmly but gently

Example:

The teacher admonished us for interrupting the speaker.

segues

Smooth transitions from one topic or piece to the next (spelled "segue")

Example:

The host's segues connected the interviews without awkward pauses.

parallels

Similarities between two things; or lines that run side by side and never meet

Examples:

The essay draws parallels between the two stories.

In the diagram, the two straight paths run as parallels and never meet.

geyser

A hot spring that shoots water and steam into the air

Example:

The geyser sent a plume of hot water and steam into the air.

autonomy

The freedom to make your own choices and govern yourself

Example:

The team gained autonomy to choose its own schedule.

ramifications

Consequences or results that follow from an action, often complicated ones

Example:

We should consider the ramifications before canceling the program.