10th Grade Vocabulary – Spring Semester – Revised August 2008
90 words – add 10 of your choosing
Vocabulary List 1
- abstract: adj. not concrete; lacking form or substance
- aesthetic: adj. having to do with the appreciation of beauty
- alleviate: v. to ease a pain or burden
- ambivalent: adj. simultaneously feeling opposing emotions, uncertain
- apathetic: adj. feeling or showing little emotion
- auspicious: adj. favorable; promising
- benevolent: adj. well-meaning; generous
- candor: n. sincerity, openness
- cogent: adj. convincing, reasonable
- comprehensive: adj. broad or complete in scope or content
Vocabulary List 2
contemporary (adj.) current; modern; from the same time
conviction (noun) a fixed or strong belief
dubious (adj.) doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
eclectic (adj.) made up of a variety of sources or styles
egregious (adj.) conspicuously bad or offensive
exculpate (verb) to free from guilt or blame
gratuitous (adj.) given freely; unearned; unwarranted
hackneyed (adj.) warn out through overuse; trite
Vocabulary List 3
- idealize: v. to consider perfect
- impartial: adj. not in favor of one side or the other; unbiased
- imperious: adj. arrogantly domineering or overbearing
- inherent: adj. inborn; built-in
- innovative: adj. introducing something new
- inveterate: adj. long established; deep-rooted; habitual
- laudatory: adj. giving praise
- maverick: n. one who resists adherence to a group
- mollify: v. to calm or soothe
- novel: adj. strikingly new or unusual
Vocabulary List 4
obdurate: adj. stubborn, inflexible
objectivity: n. judgment uninfluenced by emotion
obstinate: adj. stubbornly adhering to an opinion
ostentatious: adj. describing a pretentious display
paramount: adj. of chief concern or importance
penitent: adj. remorseful for one’s misdeeds
pervasive: adj. dispersed throughout
plausible: adj. seemingly valid or acceptable, credible
profound: adj. having great depth or seriousness
Vocabulary List 5
- prosaic: adj. unimaginative; dull; ordinary
- quandary: n. a state of uncertainty or perplexity
- rancor:n. bitter resentment or ill will; hatred; malice
- spurious: adj. not genuine; false; counterfeit
- stoic: adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain; impassive
- superfluous: adj. extra; unnecessary
- tenuous: adj. having little substance or strength; unsure; weak
- timorous: adj. timid; fearful
- transitory: adj. short-lived; temporary
- vindicated: adj. freed from blame
Vocabulary List 6
sate - v. –to satisfy(an appetite or desire) fully
anarchist - n. - one who disrespects laws or rules
sententious - adj. - pointed; expressing much in few words
transcend - v. –to go above or beyond limits; exceed
deference - n. - yielding in thought
vile - adj. - extremely disgusting
piety - n. - holiness; respect for the divine
blasphemy - n. - disrespectful
Vocabulary List 7
decree - n. - an official order
impassive - adj. - showing no emotion
brazen - adj. - shameless
proficient (adj.) – competent; having or showing knowledge, skill, and aptitude
laborious (adj.) – involving much hard work; difficult
portentous (adj.) – ominous; scary
limpid (adj.) – perfectly clear; transparent
supercilious (adj.) – contemptuous; acting as though one is above, or better than, others
Vocabulary List 8
implore (v) – plead; ask for earnestly
revere (v.) – regard with deep respect and love
confer (v) – grant or bestow
importunity (n.) – persistence in requesting
immaculate (adj.) – spotless
contemplation (n.) – thoughtful inspection
convalesce (v.) – to recover health and strength after illness
contrition (n.) – regret for having done something wrong
supplication (n.) – the act of asking humbly and earnestly
Vocabulary List 9
melancholy (adj.) – sad and depressed
incessant (adj.) – continuing without interruption; ceaseless
scrutinize (v.) – examine carefully
influx (n.) – a coming in
sullen (adj.) – gloomy, sad
euphemism (n.) – a word or phrase substituted for a more unpleasant word or phrase
judicious (adj.) – showing sound judgment or common sense
pervade(v.) – spread throughout; fill
impending (adj.) – about to happen; imminently threatening or menacing
Vocabulary List 10
indignant (adj.) – feeling or expressing anger or scorn, especially at an injustice
tenacious (adj.)—to stick firmly to a decision or opinion
incongruous (adj.): out of place in a particular setting or context
commune (v.): to experience a deep emotional or spiritual relationship with something
interim (n): a period of time between two events or periods
cow (v): to frighten somebody into submission or obedience
potent (adj.) : very strong, effective, or powerful
flourish (v.): to be strong and healthy or to grow well
acquiesce (v.): to agree with something passively rather than expressing approval