| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Juxtaposition | side-by-side placement |
| licentious | immoral, unrestrained by society |
| malapropism | humorous misuse of a word |
| mirth | frivolity, laughter |
| nomadic | moving from place to place |
| obsequious | overly submissive |
| ostensible | apparent |
| paradigm | ideal example |
| pensive | thoughtful |
| perspicacious | shrewd, astute |
| volition | free choice, free will |
| abscond | depart secretly |
| absolve | forgive, exonerate |
| banal | overly common |
| beguile | deceive, mislead |
| precipitous | hasty, quickly |
| quiescence | inactivity, stillness |
| quintessence | most typical example |
| reticent | not speaking freely, received |
| retort | cutting response |
| slipshod | careless, hasty |
| slovenly | untidy, messy |
| sobriety | seriousness |
| sufferable | bearable |
| strident | loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy |
| cajole | to flatter, coax, persuade |
| callous | thick-skinned, insensitive |
| daunt | to discourage, intimidate |
| dearth | lack, scarcity |
| efficacious | effective, efficient |
| kudos | fame, glory, honor |
| loquacious | talkative |
| malediction | curse |
| misanthrope | person who hates human beings |
| non sequitur | conclusion not following from apparent evidence |
| obdurate | stubborn |
| ostentatious | showy |
| paramount | supreme, dominant, primary |
| perennial | present through the year, persistent |
| philanthropy | love of humanity, generosity to worth cause |
| emaciated | skinny, scrawny, gaunt |
| frivolous | petty, trivial, flippant |
| garrulous | very talkative |
| gratuitous | free, voluntary, unnecessary and unjustified |
| harbinger | precursor, omen |
| polemic | controversy, argument, verbal attack |
| preponderance | majority in number, dominance |
| pugnacious | quarrelsome |
| segue | immediate transition from one part to another |
| quotidian | occurring daily, commonplace |
| remuneration | pay or reward for work |
| replete | abundantly supplied |
| sojourn | stay, visit |
| sophomoric | immature, overconfident |
| superfluous | extra, more than necessary |
| impasse | blocked path, dilemma with no solution |
| implausible | improbable, inconceivable |
| ludicrous | laughable, ridiculous |
| lurk | prowl, sneak |
| malevolent | ill-willed, causing evil or harm to others |
| tangential | digressing, diverting |
| magnanimous | generous, noble in spirit |
| notoriety | fame, often unfavorable |
| omnipotent | having unlimited power |
| omniscient | having infinite knowledge |
| palpable | obvious, real, tangible |
| perfidious | faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy |
| pilfer | to steal small things |
| plebeian | crude, vulgar, low-class |
| polyglot | speaker of many languages |
| mollify | to calm or make less severe |
| neophyte | novice, beginner |
| niggardly | stingy |
| obstreperous | troublesome, boisterous, unruly |
| onerous | burdensome |
| pontificate | to speak in a pretentious manner |
| prodigal | wasteful, extravagant, lavish |
| quagmire | marsh, difficult situation |
| renege | to go back on one's word |
| repose | relaxation, leisure |
| sordid | filthy; contemptible and corrupt |
| stoic | indifferent to or unaffected by emotions |
| stolid | having or showing little emotion |
| surreptitious | characterized by secrecy |
| lackadaisical | idle, lazy; apathetic, indifferent |
| pacific | calm, peaceful |
| paltry | pitifully small or worthless |
| raze | to tear down, to demolish |
| refute | to contradict, to discredit |
| scathing | harshly critical; painfully hot |
| tenacious | stubborn, holding firm |
| aberration | something different from the usual or normal |
| affinity | fondness, liking; similarity |
| bane | something causing death, destruction, or ruin |
| cogent | logically forceful, compelling, convincing |
| commodious | roomy, spacious |
| compulsive | obsessive, fanatic |
| cursory | hastily done; superficial |
| terrestrial | earthly; down-to-earth; commonplace |
| torpid | lethargic; unable to move; dormant |
| squander | to waste |
| trite | shallow, superficial |
| urbane | courteous, refined, suave |
| vacillate | to waver, show indecision |
| wanton | undisciplined |
| torrid | burning hot; passionate |
| ubiquitous | being everywhere simultaneously |
| unadulterated | absolutely pure |
| usurp | to seize by force, without another's consent |
| utopia | perfect place |
| vacuous | empty, void; lacking intelligence; purposeless |
| vernacular | slang, colloquial; lingo, jargon |
| viable | workable; able to succeed or grow |
| wallow | to indulge oneself excessively, to luxuriate |
| xenophobia | fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers |
| wily | clever, deceptive |
| affable | friendly, easy to approach |
| allay | to lessen, to ease, to soothe; to alleviate |
| belittle | to represent as unimportant, to make light of |
| berate | to scold harshly |
| zephyr | gentle breeze, particularly from the west |
| archaic | antiquated, from an earlier time; outdated |
| amenable | agreeable, cooperative |
| animation | enthusiasm, excitement |
| banter | playful conversation |
| boor | crude person, one lacking in manners or taste |
| benign | kindly, gentle or harmless |
| censorious | severely critical |
| chicanery | trickery, fraud, deception |
| contentious | quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent |
| cherubic | sweet, innocent, resembling a cherub angel |
| chortle | to chuckle |
| debunk | to discredit, disprove |
| deferential | respectful and polite in a submissive way |
| epitome | a representative of an entire group; summary |
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