New Years English Vocab

abate (v): to reduce; to subside; diminish; cut down

belittle (v): to make to seem little; put someone down.

cajole (v): to persuade someone to do something they don’t want to do

decimate (v): to kill or destroy a large part of

exhort (v): to urge strongly; to give a serious warning to

flaunt (v): to show off; to display ostentatiously

gesticulate (v): to make gestures, especially when speaking or in place of speaking

insinuate (v): to hint; to creep in

juxtapose (v): to place side by side (often for the purpose of contrast)

lament (v): to mourn

malinger (v): to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work

obfuscate (v): to darken; to confuse; to make something confusing

peruse (v): to read carefully; to study with great care

rebuke (v): to criticize sharply