Unit 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary Word

Definition

Example Sentence

1. Approbation

(noun)

The expression of approval or favorable opinion; praise.

The young artist beamed with pride when her painting received the approbation of the judges at the state competition.

2. Assuage

(verb)

To make easier or milder; to relieve; to quiet or calm.

The coach tried to assuage the team's frustration after the loss by reminding them how much they had improved throughout the season.

3. Coalition

(noun)

A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.

A coalition of students, parents, and teachers joined together to demand safer crosswalks near the school.

4. Decadence

(noun)

Decline, decay, or deterioration; excessive self-indulgence.

Historians often point to the decadence of the Roman Empire — its lavish feasts and corrupt leaders — as a sign of its eventual collapse.

5. Elicit

(verb)

To draw forth, bring out from some source (such as a person).

The teacher's thought-provoking question managed to elicit a lively debate from students who had been quiet all week.

6. Expostulate

(verb)

To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.

Maya's parents expostulated for hours, urging her not to drop out of school just two credits short of graduation.

7. Hackneyed

(adjective)

Used so often as to lack freshness or originality; trite.

The writing teacher urged her students to avoid hackneyed phrases like "at the end of the day" and find more original ways to express their ideas.

8. Hiatus

(noun)

A gap, opening, or break in a schedule (in the sense of having something missing).

After a two-year hiatus, the beloved band finally returned to the stage, much to the delight of their fans.

9. Innuendo

(noun)

A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often derogatory).

Rather than accusing his opponent directly, the politician relied on innuendo, letting voters draw their own negative conclusions.

10. Intercede

(verb)

To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party in a disagreement.

When the argument between the two lab partners grew heated, their teacher stepped in to intercede and help them find a compromise.

11. Jaded

(adjective)

Wearied, worn-out, or dulled (usually by excessive indulgence).

Having traveled to dozens of countries, the veteran journalist had grown so jaded that even the most stunning landscapes no longer impressed her.

12. Lurid

(adjective)

Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational.

The tabloid's lurid headlines about the celebrity scandal attracted attention, but serious readers dismissed the stories.

13. Meritorious

(adjective)

Deserving recognition and praise.

The firefighter received a medal for his meritorious conduct during the disaster, having saved eleven people from the burning building.

14. Petulant

(adjective)

Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset.

The petulant toddler threw his toys across the room simply because his sandwich had been cut into squares instead of triangles.

15. Prerogative

(noun)

A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence.

It is the prerogative of the head chef to change the menu, and no other staff member has the authority to do so.

16. Provincial

(adj / noun)

Pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook.

After years of living in a major city, Darnell found his hometown's provincial attitudes toward outsiders difficult to tolerate.

17. Simulate

(verb)

To make a pretense of; to imitate; to show the outer signs of.

The flight training program uses advanced technology to simulate real emergency conditions so pilots can practice without any actual danger.

18. Transcend

(verb)

To rise above or beyond, exceed.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of equality and justice was able to transcend racial and cultural boundaries, inspiring people all over the world.

19. Umbrage

(noun)

Shade cast by trees; foliage; offense, resentment, or suspicion.

Carla took umbrage at her coworker's comment that she "got lucky" with her promotion, feeling it dismissed years of her hard work.

20. Unctuous

(adjective)

Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness.

The unctuous salesman's over-the-top flattery and forced smiles made the customers uneasy rather than eager to buy.