English 10 Vocabulary Terms

acerbic

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright

exacerbate

make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse

acrimony

bitterness or ill feeling

altruism

the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

alienate

cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged

alias (noun)

a false or assumed identity

alias (adverb)

used to indicate that a named person is also known or more familiar under another specified name

animosity

strong hostility

magnanimous

generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person

animate

bring to life, or give (a movie character) the appearance of movement using animation technique

antecedent

a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another

antecedent (grammar)

a word, phrase, clause, or sentence to which another word (especially a following relative pronoun) refers

antediluvian

of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood

antiquated

old-fashioned or outdated

misanthrope

a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society

philanthropy

the desire to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes

anthropomorphic

relating to or characterized by the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object

belligerent

hostile and aggressive

bellicose

demonstrating aggressiveness and willingness to fight

decapitate

cut off the head of (a person or animal)

capitulate

cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender

precipitous

dangerously high or steep, or (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration

cede

give up (power or territory)

incessant

(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption

intercede

intervene on behalf of another

cognizance

knowledge, awareness, or notice

agnostic

a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known about the existence or nature of God or anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God

prognosticate

foretell or prophesy (an event in the future)

credulous

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things

credence

belief in or acceptance of something as true

credential

a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person's background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something

culpable

deserving blame

exculpate

show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing

culprit

a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed

demographics

statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it

demagogue

a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices

pandemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease over a whole country or the world at a particular time

doleful

expressing sorrow; mournful

indolent

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy

condolence

an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death

euphoria

a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness

euthanasia

the act of killing someone painlessly, especially someone suffering from an incurable illness

euphemism

an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh

infallible

incapable of making mistakes or being wrong

fallacious

based on a mistaken belief

falsify

alter (information or evidence) so as to mislead

diffidence

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

fidelity

faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support

perfidious

deceitful and untrustworthy

congenital

(of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth

engender

cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition)

progeny

a descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring

retrograde

directed or moving backwards, or going from better to worse

digress

leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing

transgress

infringe or go beyond the bounds of (a moral principle or other established standard of behavior)

gratuitous

uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted

gratitude

a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

ingratiate

bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them

gregarious

(of a person) fond of company; sociable

egregious

outstandingly bad; shocking

congregate

gather into a crowd or mass

incorrigible

(of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed

inexorable

impossible to stop or prevent

ignominious

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame

lavish

sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious

lave

wash

alleviate

make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe

levity

humor of frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect

elevate

raise or lift (something) up to a higher position

eloquent

fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal; talkative

circumlocution

the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive

lucid

expressed clearly; easy to understand

elucidate

make (something) clear; explain

illuminate

make (something) visible or bright by shining light on it or help to clarify or explain

magnanimous

generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person

magnify

make (something) appear larger than it is, especially with a lens or microscope

magnate

a wealthy and influential person, especially in business

admonish

warn or reprimand someone firmly

premonition

a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant

monitor

an instrument or device used for observing, checking, or keeping a continuous record of a process or quantity

morbid

characterized by an unusual interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease

moribund

(of a person) at the point of death

mortal

(of a living being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death

nascent

(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential

innate

inborn; natural

native

associated with the place or circumstances of a person's birth

neophyte

a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief

neoteny

the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal

neologism

a newly coined word or expression

obfuscate

render obscure, unclear, or unintelligble

obstinate

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so

obstreperous

noisy and difficult to control

panacea

a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases

pandemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease over a whole country or the world at a particular time

pander

gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need or habit or a person with such desire)

pristine

in its original condition; unspoiled

primordial

existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval

prima donna

the chief female singer in an opera or opera company, or a very temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent of importance

proscribe

forbid, especially by law