Great Gatsby Vocab

Complacent

Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements; content to a fault.

Privy

Having knowledge of something private or secret; sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private.

Feign

To pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury; to fake or simulate.

Reproach

To express disapproval or disappointment; to address someone in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment.

Wistful(ly)

Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing; yearning.

Supercilious

Behaving or looking as though one thinks they are superior to others; arrogant.

Deft

Neat and skillful in one's movements; demonstrating skill and cleverness.

Retort

A quick, witty, or sharp reply; to respond to a remark or accusation in a sharp, witty, or angry manner.

Intimation

An indication or hint; a suggestion.

Corroborate

To confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding); to strengthen or uphold with additional evidence.

Immoderately

Excessively or beyond reasonable limits; not moderate.

Countenance

A person's face or facial expression; to tolerate or approve of something.

Incessant

Continuing without interruption; constant or never-ending.

Defer

To put off or postpone; to yield to the opinion or wishes of another.

Grotesque

Comically or repulsively ugly or distorted; bizarre in a disturbing way.

Clad

Dressed or clothed in a particular way.

Hauteur/Haughty

Arrogant, disdainful, or condescending behavior; snobbishness.

Interpose

To place or come between; to intervene or interrupt.

Languid(ly)

Lacking in vigor or vitality; slow and relaxed.

Strident

Loud, harsh, and grating; presenting a harsh, insistent, or discordant sound.

Vacuous

Lacking intelligence or thought; empty-headed or mindless.

Ascertain

To find out or determine with certainty.

Cordial (adj)

Warm and friendly; showing sincere kindness and goodwill.

Vehement

Showing strong and intense feeling; passionate or forceful.

Erroneous

Containing error; incorrect or mistaken.

Prodigality

Excessive or extravagant spending; wastefulness.

Permeate

To spread or diffuse through; to penetrate or pervade.

Convivial

Friendly, sociable, and enjoyable in the company of others.

Din

A loud, continuous noise; a tumultuous clamor.

Impetuous

Acting or done quickly without thought or care; impulsive.

Jaunty

Having a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner; stylish or smart in appearance.

Affectation

Behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress; a pretense.

Elicit

To draw out or evoke a response, information, or reaction.

Juxtaposition

The act or placement of two things (usually abstract concepts) near each other.

Incredulity

The state of being unwilling or unable to believe; skepticism.

Threadbare

Worn out or shabby, especially clothing or fabric; overused to the point of cliché.

Retribution

Punishment that is considered to be morally right and fully deserved.

Disconcerting

Causing one to feel unsettled, uneasy, or confused; disturbing.

Punctilious

Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior; meticulous.

Bootlegger

A person who illegally sells or transports alcoholic beverages, especially during Prohibition.

Obliged

Being under moral or legal obligation; willing to do a favor or service.

Ecstatic

Feeling overwhelming happiness, excitement, or joy.

Hulking

Large, heavy, and clumsy; massive or bulky.

Innumerable

Too many to be counted; countless or numerous.

Nebulous

Unclear, vague, or ill-defined; lacking definite form or limits.

Exultation

A feeling of triumphant elation or jubilation; rejoicing.

Vestige

A trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

Defunct

No longer existing or functioning; obsolete or dead.

Harrowed

Disturbed or distressed emotionally; tormented or troubled.

Tactless

Lacking skill or sensitivity in dealing with others; blunt or insensitive in social situations.

Laudable

Worthy of praise or commendation; deserving approval.

Insidious

Proceeding in a subtle, but harmful way; treacherous or deceitful.

Ineffable

Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words; beyond expression.

Turgid

Excessively complex or elaborate, especially in language; swollen or pompous.

Repose

A state of rest, sleep, or tranquility; calmness.

Ingratiate

To bring oneself into favor or good graces with others, often through deliberate effort.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt.

Dilatory

Tending to delay or procrastinate; slow to act.

Obtrusive

Noticeably or undesirably noticeable; protruding or conspicuous.

Saunter

To walk in a slow, relaxed manner; to stroll.

Tentative

Not certain or fixed; hesitant or uncertain.

Irreverent

Showing a lack of respect, especially for things that are generally taken seriously.

Truculent

Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.

Presumptuous

Failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate; overconfident or bold.

Laden

Heavily loaded or weighed down; burdened.

Magnanimous

Very generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person.

Rancor

Bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing.

Tumultuous

Making a loud, confused noise; marked by tumult or uproar.

Inviolate

Free or safe from injury or violation; untouched or undisturbed.

Affront

An action or remark that causes outrage or offense; an insult.

Lustreless

Lacking brightness, shine, or vitality; dull or lackluster.

Commensurate

Corresponding in size, degree, or proportion; proportionate.

Pander

To gratify or indulge someone's desires, often through the provision of what is morally or socially objectionable.

Sullen

Showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve; morose.

Sparse

Thinly dispersed or scattered; not thick or dense.

Derange

To cause someone to become insane or disordered; to disrupt the normal operation or function of something.

Surmise

A supposition or idea based on scanty evidence; to infer with little evidence.

Elocution

The skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.

Unutterable

Too great, intense, or awful to be expressed or described in words; unspeakable.

Adventitious

Happening or carried on according to chance rather than design; accidental or fortuitous.

Amorphous

Lacking a definite form or clear shape; shapeless.

Fortuitous

Happening by chance or accident; fortunate or lucky.

Forlorn

Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely; hopeless.

Garrulous

Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters; chatty.

(In) Cahoots

In partnership or collaboration, often in a secretive or conspiratorial manner.

Corroborate

To confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding); to strengthen or uphold with additional evidence.

Benediction

A blessing or expression of good wishes; a prayer invoking divine protection.

Whim

A sudden and impulsive desire or change of mind; a capricious notion.

Unscrupulous

Lacking moral principles; dishonest or unethical.

Indiscernible

Impossible to see or perceive clearly; not distinguishable.