Use Them and Sound Smarter J

Vocabulary Words # 1

Use them and sound smarter J

Tyranny

tyr·an·ny (n)

1. cruelty and injustice in the exercising of power or authority over others

2. oppressive government by one or more people who exercise absolute power cruelly and unjustly

3. a country or state under the power of an oppressive ruler

4. an act of cruelty committed by somebody with great power

Consolation

con·so·la·tion (n)

1. a source of comfort to somebody who is upset or disappointed

2. comfort to somebody who is distressed or disappointed

3. a game or contest held for people or teams who have lost earlier in a tournament

Pretense

pre·tense (n)

1. something done or a way of behaving that is not genuine but is meant to deceive other people

2. a claim, especially one with few facts to support it (often used in the negative)

3. make-believe or things imagined

Eloquence

el·o·quence (n)

1. the ability to speak forcefully, expressively, and persuasively

2. forceful, expressive, and persuasive language

Perseverance

per·se·ver·ance (n)

steady and continued action or belief, usually over a long period and especially despite difficulties or setbacks

Vocabulary Words # 2

Use them and sound smarter J

Pervert

per·vert (v)

1. to lead somebody or something away from what is considered good, normal, moral, or proper

2. to misinterpret or distort something such as a piece of text

3. to use something incorrectly or improperly

Inherent

in·her·ent (adj)

1. unable to be considered separately from the nature of something because of being innate or characteristic

2. Inborn, built-in

Eradicate

e·rad·i·cate (v)

to destroy or get rid of something completely, so that it can never recur or return

Insurrection

in·sur·rec·tion (n)

rebellion against the government or rulers of a country, often involving armed conflict

Penitent

pen·i·tent (adj)

expressing or feeling regret or sorrow for having committed sins or misdeeds

Vocabulary Words # 3

Use them and sound smarter J

Blithe

blithe (adj)

1. happy, cheerful, and carefree (literary)

2. casually indifferent

Admonish

ad·mon·ish (v)

1. to rebuke somebody mildly but earnestly

2. to advise somebody to do or, more often, not to do something

Conviction

con·vic·tion (n)

1. a belief or opinion that is held firmly

2. firmness of belief or opinion

Impart

im·part (v)

1. to communicate information or knowledge

2. to give something a particular quality

Transcendent

tran·scen·dent (adj)

1. superior in quality or achievement

2. above or outside all known categories

3. existing outside the material universe and so not limited by it

Vocabulary Words # 4

Use them and sound smarter J

Exacerbate

ex·ac·er·bate (v)

to make an already bad or problematic situation worse

Foreshadow

fore·shad·ow (v)

to indicate or suggest something, usually something unpleasant, that is going to happen

Somber

som·ber (adj)

1. lacking light or brightness and producing a dull, dark, or melancholy atmosphere

2. having a color or tone that is dark, dull, or suitable for a serious mood or occasion

3. marked by or conveying strict seriousness combined with sadness or a troubled state of mind

Resolution

res·o·lu·tion (n)

1. the process of resolving something

2. a formal expression of the agreement at a meeting, arrived at after discussion and usually as the result of a vote

3. a firm decision to do something

Irony

i·ro·ny (n)

1. a type of humor based on using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning

2. something said or written that uses sardonic humor

3. incongruity between what actually happens and what might be expected to happen, especially when this disparity seems absurd or laughable

Vocabulary Words # 5

Use them and sound smarter J

Ambivalent

am·biv·a·lent (adj)

having mixed, uncertain, or conflicting feelings about something

Prodigious

pro·di·gious (adj)

1. great in amount, size, or extent

2. very impressive or amazing

3. unpromising or ominous

Nihilism

Nai-al-i-zum (n)

1- the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless.

2- Philosophy of extreme skepticism maintaining that nothing in the world has a real existence.

Affluent
Aa-flu-ent (adj)

(Esp. of a group or area) having a great deal of money; wealthy: the affluent societies of the western world | (the affluent) only the affluent could afford to travel abroad. See note at wealthy.

Hypothetical

hy·po·thet·i·cal (adj)

1. existing as or involving something that exists as an unproven idea, theory, or possibility

2. assumed or proposed for further investigation

Vocabulary Words # 6

Use them and sound smarter J

Duplicity

du·plic·i·ty (n)

1. the fact of being deceptive, dishonest, or misleading

2. the state of being double or in a pair (formal)

Egalitarian

e·gal·i·tar·i·an (adj)

maintaining, relating to, or based on a belief that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities

Mandate

man·date (n)

1. an official command or instruction from an authority

2. the authority bestowed on a government or other body by an electoral victory, effectively authorizing it to carry out the policies for which it campaigned

3. a contract by which somebody agrees to perform a service without payment

Malfeasance

mal·fea·sance (n)

1. wrong or illegal conduct, especially in politics or the civil service.

Tenuous

ten·u·ous (adj)

1. not based on anything significant or substantial, and so liable to break down easily when challenged

2. thin and fine and so easily broken

Vocabulary Words # 7

Use them and sound smarter J

Pristine

pris·tine (adj)

1. so clean and neat as to look as good as new

2. not yet altered by human encroachment

Scrutinize

scru·ti·nize (v)

to examine somebody or something closely and carefully

Objective

ob·jec·tive (adj)

1. free of any bias or prejudice caused by personal feelings

2. based on facts rather than thoughts or opinions

3. existing independently of the individual mind or perception

Benevolent

be·nev·o·lent (adj)

1. showing kindness or goodwill

2. performing good or charitable acts and not seeking to make a profit

Heretic

her·e·tic (n)

1. somebody who holds or adheres to an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious teaching, especially one that is officially condemned by religious authorities

2. somebody whose opinions, beliefs, or theories in any field are considered by others in that field to be extremely unconventional or unorthodox

Vocabulary Words # 8

Use them and sound smarter J

Feign

feign (v)

1. to make a show or pretense of something

2. to make up or fabricate something

3. to imitate or copy somebody or something

Complacent

com·pla·cent (adj)

1. self-satisfied, usually in an unreflective way and without being aware of possible dangers

2. eager to please

Supercilious

su·per·cil·i·ous (adj)

full of contempt and arrogance

Conscientious

con·sci·en·tious (adj)

1. thorough and diligent in performing a task

2. governed by or done according to somebody’s sense of right and wrong

Wanton

wan·ton (adj)

1. without restraint or inhibition, especially in sexual behavior

2. without reason or provocation

3. done out of a desire to cause harm

4. unrestrained, heedless of reasonable limits, or characterized by greed and extravagance

5. lacking discipline

Vocabulary Words # 9

Use them and sound smarter J

Reciprocal

re·cip·ro·cal (adj)

1. given or shown by each of two sides or individuals to the other

2. given or done in return for something else

3. used to describe a number or quality that is related to another by the fact that when multiplied together the product is one

4. serving to complement one another

Infinite

in·fi·nite (adj)

1. without any limits that can be measured or realized

2. very great in size, number, degree, or extent

3. greater in number, size, or scope than any arbitrarily assigned value

Imply

im·ply (v)

1. to make something understood without expressing it directly

2. to involve something as a necessary part or condition

Languid

lan·guid (adj)

1. lacking vigor and energy

2. sluggish or slow-moving

3. lacking energy and indifferent

Apathetic

ap·a·thet·ic (adj)

not taking any interest in anything, or not bothering to do anything

Vocabulary Words # 10

Use them and sound smarter J

Contiguous

con·tig·u·ous (adj)

1. sharing a boundary or touching each other physically

2. situated next to something else or to each other

3. connected together so as to form an unbroken sequence in time or an uninterrupted expanse in space

Strident

stri·dent (adj)

1. harsh, loud, grating, or shrill

2. loudly, strongly, or urgently expressed

Interpose

in·ter·pose (v)

1. vti to say something that interrupts what somebody else is saying

2. vt to place yourself or something else between two people or things

3. vti to intervene or interfere in a situation such as a dispute

Vindicate

vin·di·cate (v)

1. to clear somebody or something of blame, guilt, suspicion, or doubt

2. to show that somebody or something is justified or correct

3. to defend or maintain something such as a cause or rights

Precocious

pre·co·cious (adj)

1. more developed, especially mentally, than is usual or expected at a particular age, or showing such advanced development (sometimes used disapprovingly)

2. used to describe a plant or tree that blossoms before its leaves appear, for example, the magnolia, or one whose fruits ripen early

Vocabulary Words # 10

Use them and sound smarter J

Cower

cow·er (v)

to cringe or move backward defensively in fear

Permeate

per·me·ate (v)

1. to enter something and spread throughout it, so that every part or aspect of it is affected

2. to pass through the minute openings in a porous substance or membrane, or make something such as a liquid pass through

Innuendo

in·nu·en·do (n)

1. an indirect remark or gesture that usually carries a suggestion of impropriety

2. an interpretation of words that are claimed to be libelous where the meaning is not obvious, in a legal action for libel or slander

3. an explanation of a technical legal word, usually given in brackets

Erroneous

er·ro·ne·ous (adj)

incorrect, based on an incorrect assumption, or containing something that is incorrect

Vehement

ve·he·ment (adj)

1. expressed with, or showing conviction or intense feeling

2. done with vigor or force

Vocabulary Words # 12

Use them and sound smarter J

Homogeneous

ho·mo·ge·ne·ous (adj)

1. having the same kind of constituent elements, or being similar in nature

2. having a uniform composition or structure

Cordial

cor·dial (adj)

1. friendly and affectionate

2. sincere or profound (literary)

3. stimulating or invigorating (literary)

Crescendo

cres·cen·do (n)

1. a gradual increase in the volume of a passage of music

2. a passage of music in which there is a gradual increase in volume

3. an increase in volume or intensity similar to a crescendo in music

4. the climax of an increase in volume or intensity

Poignant

poign·ant (adj)

1. causing a sharp sense of sadness, pity, or regret

2. particularly penetrating and effective or relevant (literary)

Speculation

spec·u·la·tion (n)

1. a conclusion, theory, or opinion based on incomplete information or evidence

2. reasoning based on incomplete information or evidence

Vocabulary Words # 13

Use them and sound smarter J

Monopolize

Mo-nop-o-lize (v)

1. to have complete control of an industry or service and prevent other companies or people from participating or competing in it

2. to demand or take all of something such as somebody’s time, attention, or affections, in a selfish way

Disconcerting

Dis-con-cert-ing (adj)

1. making somebody feel uneasy confusion and dismay

2. Embarassing and jarring

Fluctuate

Fluc-tu-ate (v)

to change often from high to low levels or from one thing to another in an unpredictable way

ant= Remain stable/ static

Sporadic

Spo-rad-ic (adj)

1. occurring occasionally at intervals that have no apparent pattern

2. used to describe a disease that appears in scattered or isolated instances or locations

Succulent

Suc-cu-lent (adj)

1. juicy and pleasant to the taste

3. exciting and interesting

Vocabulary Words # 14

Use them and sound smarter J

Vestige

ves·tige (n)

1. a trace or sign of something that is no longer present

2. the slightest amount

3. an organ or part of the body that is now rudimentary and no longer functions, but that was fully developed and useful in the past

Scanty

scant·y (adj)

1. not covering much of the part of the body that it is worn on

2. not much and less than is needed

3. only just enough

Contingency

con·tin·gen·cy (n)

1. an event that may occur in the future, especially a problem, emergency, or expense that might arise unexpectedly, needs to be dealt with, and therefore must be prepared for.

2. something that occurs or exists only as a result of something else or that depends on something else

Euphemisms

eu·phe·mism (n)

1. a word or phrase used in place of a term that might be considered too direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive.

2. the use of a word or phrase that is more neutral, vague, or indirect to replace a direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive term

Ramification

ram·i·fi·ca·tion (n)

a usually unintended consequence of an action, decision, or judgment that may complicate the situation or make the intended result more difficult to achieve

Vocabulary Words # 15

Use them and sound smarter J

Turgid

tur·gid (adj)

1. pompous, boring, and overcomplicated

2. swollen or distended by a buildup of fluid

Robust

ro·bust (adj)

1. strong, healthy, and hardy in constitution

2. built, constructed, or designed to be sturdy, durable, or hard-wearing

3. involving or requiring great physical strength and stamina

4. rich, strong-tasting, and full-bodied

Repose

re·pose1 (n)

1. a state of rest or inactivity

2. a condition of peacefulness and tranquility, for example, in a place

3. freedom from troubles or stress

4. calmness and composure of manner

Transpire

tran·spire (v)

1. to become known or be disclosed

2. to take place

3. to give off water vapor through the pores of the skin.

Boisterous

bois·ter·ous (adj)

1. full of noisy enthusiasm and energy, and often roughness or wildness

2. wild, rough, or stormy

Vocabulary Words # 16

Use them and sound smarter J

Abortive

a·bor·tive (adj)

1. failing to reach completion

2. fruitless; cut short

Coherent

co·her·ent (adj)

1. logically or aesthetically consistent and holding together as a harmonious or credible whole

2. able to speak clearly and logically

Elation

e·la·tion (n)

a feeling of extraordinary happiness and excitement

Intimation

in·ti·ma·tion (n)

1. a subtle hint or sign of something

2. a formal announcement of something

Vigil

vig·il (n)

1. a period spent in doing something through the night, for example, watching, guarding, or praying

2. the eve of some festivals and holy days, spent in prayer

Vocabulary Words # 17

Use them and sound smarter J

Acute

a·cute (adj)

1. extremely serious, severe, or painful

2. keenly sharp, perceptive and intelligent

3. very powerful and sensitive to detail

4. used to describe an angle that is less than 90 degrees

Contemptuous

con·temp·tu·ous (adj)

feeling, expressing, or demonstrating a strong dislike or utter lack of respect for somebody or something

Contour(s)

con·tour (n)

1. an outline, especially of something curved or irregular (often used in the plural)

2. the general character or nature of something

3. See contour line

Fervent

fer·vent (adj)

1. showing ardent or extremely passionate enthusiasm

2. so hot as to glow

Turbulent

tur·bu·lent (adj)

1. full of violent motion and agitation

2. marked by disturbances, changes, and unrest