Vocab 8 - 12

acrimony (noun): bitterness & resentment, especially in speech, attitude, or tone

1. The ACRIMONY between the two former friends was obvious; they scowled at one another whole spewing constant insults. 

solace (noun): somebody or something that provides comfort in times of sadness

1. While I may have lost the game, I took SOLACE in the fact that my team and I truly enjoyed a fabulous season. 

exorbitant (adj): far greater than is reasonable or manageable

1. I cannot believe the EXORBITANT price of American Girl dolls; they cost over $100 for simple rubber and cloth doll!

censure (verb or noun): verb form—to express disapproval or condemnation, particularly in official form (for example, by a vote of a legislature) noun form—severe criticism or official expression of disapproval or condemnation

1. The senator was CENSURED for taking bribes; his punishment was to lose his seat, and he went home in shame. 

2. When the teacher showed an inappropriate film in his classroom, he faced CENSURE from his principal; he nearly lost his job and had to sit through a hearing with the school board. 

reprimand (verb): to scold/punish somebody for a wrongdoing

1. When Søren ate his candy without asking, I REPRIMANDED him by telling him he was not being a good listener and sending him to his room. 

lackadaisical (adj): without much enthusiasm, energy, or effort

1. Coach Jeffrey was frustrated with his team’s LACKADAISICAL effort; they barely even tried, and they played sluggish and lazy. 

insipid (adj): dull and lacking in lively qualities.

1. The INSIPID dancer may have completed all the moves perfectly, but she lacked that bounce in her step that gives a routine true spunk and liveliness.  

archaic (adj): old and out of use because it comes from a time period long past

1. Some people say typewriters are simply ARCHAIC; even though they are rarely used and old, I still like to use them to write poetry. 

punctilious (adj): showing great care in small details, particularly when it comes to behavior and etiquette.

1. My PUNCTILIOUS Aunt Kathy is so obsessed with manners that my cousins get grounded for a week if they get caught chewing with their mouth open!

2. It is good to have a PUNCTILIOUS secretary because there is no such thing as being to attentive to detail when it comes to office work.  

irreverent (adj): disrespectful. 

1. I am frustrated with the IRREVERENT behavior from some of my students; their disrespect is ruining things for all the other kids who are in class to learn something.