English Vocab Unit 3 Flashcards

aesthetic

having a sense of beauty; giving an impression of beauty

catalyst

a person or thing that brings about change

disparage

to criticize; put down

ingratiate

to charm; win favor; make oneself agreeable

insipid

flat; tasteless;unexciting

peerless

so superior as to be without equal; incomparable; unsurpassed

propriety

appropriateness

virtuoso

an expert particularly in the arts

vitriolic

sharply critical; harsh; biting

whimsical

fanciful; odd; arbitrary

amicable

friendly; showing goodwill

devious

not straightforward; tricky; shifty

dissonance

a harsh, disagreeable combination of sounds

efface

to wipe out; erase

garrulous

talkative to an annoying degree

immutable

never changing or varying

ponderous

heavy, labored; massive; lacking grace

predecessor

a person who comes before another in time

rebuff

to reject bluntly; snub

static

not moving or progressing; still

acquiesce

to consent without protest; comply; assent

articulate

well-spoken

belittle

to make something seem less worthy or less important

bombastic

using high sounding language without much meaning; overblown

conciliatory

tending to win over or appease; pacifiying

delineate

to represent in words or pictures

diffident

lacking self-confidence; timid

laconic

using as few words as possible; terse

scanty

barely sufficient; barely adequate; meager

subjugate

to bring under control; enslave; conquer

anarchy

lawlessness; lack of government; absence of authority or rules

authoritarian

demanding or expecting total obedience

depravity

evil; moral corruption

meager

lacking in quality or quantity; insufficient

predilection

a natural preference; to like something

quixotic

idealistic but impractical

salutary

promoting good health

suppress

to put down by force

temerity

rash boldness

turbulence

violent irregularity, disturbance, or agitation, as of motion, air,
or water

callous

hardened in mind or feelings

desecrate

to treat with extreme disrespect; to defile

evanescent

gradually disappearing; fading away like a vapor

heed

to pay attention to; to listen to

indigent

not having enough to live on; very poor; impoverished; needy

paragon

a model of excellence or perfection

provincial

limited and narrow in outlook; unsophisticated

steadfast

firmly and consistently loyal

supercilious

proud; scornful; looking down on others

usurp

to seize power or position by force; to steal