Category Archives: Vocabulary

Vocab 12

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Paragon – n. a model of perfection; pattern
Pedantic – adj. stuffy or dogmatic; meticulous; academic
Placid – adj. undisturbed, peaceful
Precocious – adj. early in development especially mental development
Prodigious – adj. exciting wonder; extraordinary in size or degree
Prolific – adj. producing abundantly; marked by abundant productivity
Prudent – adj. cautious; discreet
Reverent – adj. devout; solemn; worshipful
Savant – n. a learned person; scholar
Viable – adj. capable of living, growing, and developing

Vocab 11

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Wrought – adj. worked into shape by artistry or effort; processed for use
Augment – v. to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense; supplement
Repose – v. to lie at rest; to lie dead
Knell – n. a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster); an indication of the end or the failure of something
Surfeit – n. an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something (as food or drink); excess; v. – to feed, supply, or give to surfeit
Gild – v. to make bloody; to overlay with or as if with a thin covering of gold
Appall – v. to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay
Incarnadine – v. to make red
Carouse – v. to drink liquor freely or excessively
Consort – v. to keep company with; to associate with

Vocab 10

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Plight – n. an unfortunate, difficult, or precarious situation
Brandish – v. to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
Valor – n. strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness; bravery
Dismal – adj. showing or causing gloom or depression; lacking merit; bad
Surmise – n. a thought or idea based on scanty evidence
Recompense – n. an equivalent or a return for something done, suffered, or given; v. to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred), to return in kind
Chastise – v. to inflict punishment on; to censure severely
Metaphysical – adj. of or relating to the transcendent or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses; supernatural; theoretical
Gall – n. something bitter to endure; bile; v. to irritate or vex
Quell – n. slaughter; v. to pacify; to thoroughly overwhelm

Vocab 9 Sentences

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The munificent priest was laudable among the community because of his panegyric on Christmas and Easter.

Lance Armstrong seemed indefatigable throughout his seven Tour de France victories.

The knight seemed to be impervious to Tom’s sword.

Many people pretend to be judicious, but really have no idea what they are talking about.

The tension in the room was palpable.

Those who do yoga must be lithe to be able or bend the way that they do.

The king was incisive in all his decisions.

My opulence has accumulated over the years thanks to some risky investments in hedge funds.

I see Ms. Walsh as a very laudable person because although we drive her crazy in English class she still loves us.

Vocab 8

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Vitiate – v. to make impure; to pollute
Eulogy – n. a speech in praise of some person or thing
Exonerate – v. to free from blame
Expedite – v. to carry out promptly; to speed up
Extemporaneous – adj. not planned beforehand; performed on the spur of the moment
Extol – v. to praise highly; to glorify
Fathom – v. to come to understand; n. a unit of length used especially for measuring depth of water
Hedonist – n. a person who believes that pleasure is the chief good of life
Hilarity – n. enjoyment; boisterous merriment
Imperturbable – adj. marked by extreme calm and steadiness; unable to be bothered

Vocab 7

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Refute – v. to prove false; to disprove
Repudiate – v. to reject; to disown
Sanctimonious – adj. pretend to be devout
Sanguine – adj. cheerful; optimistic; hopeful
Soporific – adj. sleep inducing; boring; sleepy
Sordid – adj. vile; filthy
Stymie – v. to get in the way of; to hinder
Temperate – adj. mild; moderate; restrained
Urbane – adj. poised; sophisticated; refined
Virtuoso – n. a masterful musician

Vocab 6

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Parsimonious – adj. stingy
Penchant – n. a strong taste or liking for something
Penitent – adj. sorry, contrite
Pervade – v. to spread throughout
Portent – n. an omen; a sign of something coming in the future
Prodigal – adj. wastefully extravagant
Propensity – n. a natural inclination or tendency
Prosaic – adj. dull; unimaginative; everyday; ordinary; more literally, having to do with prose rather than poetry
Querulous – adj. complaining; grumbling; whining
Rancor – n. a bitter, long-lasting ill-will or resentment

Vocab 5 Sentences

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1. His insatiable hunger for success was shown by all of his first place trophies.
2. After the student’s invective at graduation, he was not allowed to matriculate into the college he wanted to attend.
3. Rubber rulers are very malleable and fun to play with when you are bored.
4. I had a morose day after breaking up with my girlfriend.
5. Newton’s law is a maxim which is why it is taught in physics to everyone.
6. Bob showed nepotism when he gave his nephew the job at his business.
7. My great grandmother believes that Advil is a panacea.
8. Nuances of facial expressions can easily distinguish if a person is lying or not.
9. Everyone was annoyed with Kim’s officious behavior at the Student Council meetings.

Vocab 5

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Insatiable – adj. difficult to satisfy; greedy

Invective – n. insulting or abusive speech

Malleable – adj. easy to shape or bend

Matriculate – v. to enroll, especially at a college

Maxim – n. a fundamental principle

Morose – adj. gloomy; sullen

Nepotism – n. showing favoritism to friends or family in business or politics

Nuance – n. a subtle difference or distinction

Officious – adj. annoyingly eager to help or advise

Panacea – n. something that cures everything