Vocabulary 1
Sophomore Honors
1. approbation – (n) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
synonyms – commendation; sanction
2. assuage – (v) to make easier or milder, to relieve; to quiet, to calm, to put an end to, to appease, to satisfy, to quench
synonyms – to mitigate, to allay
3. coalition – (n) a combination, a union, a merger for some specific purpose
synonyms – alliance, federation
4. decadence – (n) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence
synonyms – degeneration, corruption
5. elicit – (v) to draw forth, to bring out from some source (such as another person)
synonyms – to call forth, to evoke, to extract
6. expostulate – (v) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning
synonyms – to protest, to complain
7. hackneyed – (adj) used so often as to lack freshness or originality
synonyms – trite, commonplace
8. hiatus – (n) a gap, an opening, a break (in the sense of having an element missing)
synonyms – a pause
9. innuendo – (n) a hint, an indirect suggestion (often in a derogatory sense)
synonyms – an insinuation
10. intercede – (v) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement
synonyms – to intervene, to mediate
11. jaded – (adj) wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)
synonyms – sated
12. lurid – (adj) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
synonyms – gruesome, gory, grisly, ghastly
13. meritorious – (adj) worthy, deserving recognition and praise
synonyms – praiseworthy, laud able, commendable
14. petulant – (adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
synonyms – irritable, testy, waspish
15. prerogative – (n) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
synonyms – a perk
16. provincial – (adj) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside (n) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony
synonyms – (adj) narrow-minded, parochial, insular
17. simulate – (v) to make a pretense of, to imitate; to show the outer signs of
synonyms – to feign; to pretend
18. transcend – (v) to rise above or beyond; to exceed
synonyms – to surpass, to outstrip
19. umbrage – (n) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; an offense, a resentment; a vague suspicion
synonyms – an irritation, an annoyance
20. unctuous – (adj) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; pliable
synonyms – mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy