English II All Vocab Terms

Faux pas (n)

an act or comment with embarrassing social consequences

Platonic (adj)

describes a close relationship that has no romantic or sexual basis

Nonchalant (adj)

giving off a sense of calmness and coolness

Zeitgeist (n)

the mood or a particular time period as captured by ideas and culture

Precedent (n)

something that sets an example for how things are done in the future

Pretentious (adj)

acting more important than others by pretending to know more

Tantalize (v)

to torment someone with something they want without ever giving it to them

Draconian (adj)

extremely strict, as laws or rules

Nemesis (n)

one who constantly works to ensure another's downfall

Rapport (n)

understanding and similar feelings that exist between people or groups

Gauche (adj)

clumsy and socially awkward

Passe (adj)

no longer in fashion

Sans (prep)

typically a facetious way of saying "without"

In lieu of (adv)

in place of, substitute

Schadenfreude (n)

delight taken in another's misfortune

Bildungsroman (n)

a coming-of-age story

Bravado (n)

a bold act meant to show off

Parochial (adj)

having a narrow or limited perspective

Equivocate (v)

to be intentionally vague and misleading

Prepossessing (adj)

attractive and charming

Remiss (adj)

negligent, derelict, lackadaisical, or neglectful

Gratuitous (adj)

unwarranted or uncalled for, given the situation

Placid (adj)

tranquil, calm

Impetuous (adj)

acting without forethought; reckless

Wary (adj)

cautious and alert

Verbose (adj)

using more words than necessary

Taciturn (adj)

quiet and reserved; brooding

Myriad (n)

an immense number

Superfluous (adj)

excessive, nonessential

Dilettante (n)

someone who develops a superficial interest in an area of art or music without being a true expert

Dogmatic (adj)

Claiming one's opinion as though it were the unarguable truth

Didactic (adj)

Trying to instruct or impart knowledge, but typically in a way that is slightly condescending

Retract (v)

To take back a statement or an offer

Assertive (adj)

Willing to advocate for oneself, confident

Repudiate (v)

To reject, to renounce

Adamant (adj)

Unyielding, not giving in

Doctrinaire (adj)

Sticking to a fixed way of doing something despite changes in circumstances

Voracious (adj)

Having an extremely large appetite

Ascetic (adj)

Denying oneself simple pleasures, typically for religious reasons

Abstemious (adj)

Refraining from drinking or eating too much

Insatiable (adj)

Describing a hunger that cannot be satisfied

Sate (v)

To satisfy in terms of consuming enough

Gourmand (n)

Person who enjoys fine food, typically to excess

Ravenous (adj)

Extremely hungry, insatiable

Hoodwink (v)

To deceive

Charlatan (n)

Someone who pretends to have knowledge they don't to hoodwink you

Steadfast (adj)

Firmly devoted

Bilk (v)

To cheat or swindle, usually involving money

Ruse (n)

A clever trick

Bamboozle (v)

To cheat or deceive

Stalwart (adj)

Loyal and reliable

Fidelity (n)

Faithfulness, loyalty

Laud (v)

To praise for great work, typically in public

Lionize (v)

To treat as a celebrity

Deprecate (v)

To express disapproval

Derisory (adj)

Derisive, putting down someone or something

Hail (v)

To praise or acclaim, usually loudly

Approbative (adj)

Expressing approval

Reproach (v)

To express disappointment

Phlegmatic (adj)

Apathetic, unemotional

Indolence (n)

laziness

Vivacious (adj)

Lively and animated

Alacrity (n)

Cheerful promptness in response

Torpid (adj)

Sluggish, lethargic

Ebullient (adj)

Highly and vigorously enthusiastic

Exuberant (adj)

Highly enthusiastic

Industrious (adj)

Hard-working and diligent

Lackadaisical (adj)

Lazy and unenthusiastic

Feckless (adj)

Unmotivated, incompetent, irresponsible

Bustle (v)

To move about actively

Dispatch (n)

Speed at completing a task

Celerity (n)

swiftness

Assiduous (adj)

Working painstakingly to get a job done

Slight (v)

To insult by ignoring

Pejorative (adj)

Describing a word or phrase that has a negative association

Kudos (n)

Praise given for a job well done

Venerate (v)

To respect deeply

Belittle (v)

To insult, put down

Commend (v)

To praise

Revere (v)

To respect deeply

Palindrome (n)

A word or phrase that reads the same forward as it does backward

Portmanteau (n)

A word formed by parts of two other distinct words

Brunch (n)

A late-morning meal that has elements of both breakfast and lunch

Neologism (n)

A new word or expression

Archaic (adj)

Describing a very old word, typically no longer in use.

Barbarism (n)

A word that does not obey the rules of written language

Tautology (n)

A redundancy, essentially saying that A equals A

Eponymous (adj)

Named after a person

Bombastic (adj)

Describing someone whose speech is inflated and self-important

Cryptic (adj)

Intentionally vague or mysterious

Turgid (adj)

Describing writing that is bombastic and puffed up

Lucid (adj)

Clear and easy to understand

Oblique (adj)

Indirect (describing communication)

Limpid (adj)

Very clear and easy to understand (referring to writing)

Sesquipedalian (n)

A person inclined to using very long words

Pedantic (adj)

Overly fussy in one's concern for trivial academic knowledge.

Erudite (adj)

Displaying scholarly knowledge

Pedagogue (n)

A teacher, typically a strict one

Unlettered (adj)

Illiterate

Benighted (adj)

unenlightened