Vocabulary Drill

Chapter Ten

abjuring · rejecting

abstruse · puzzling

accomplice · partner in crime

acumen · insight or shrewdness

adverse · negative or bad

aghast · shocked or stunned

animated · excited or lively

ardent · eager or intense

attentive · caring or kind

auspicious · positive or favorable

balmy · mild or pleasant

bane · curse or great annoyance

bemused · puzzled

bewildered · dazed or confused

brazen · bold or shameless

cadence · beat or rhythm

cajole · coax or sweet-talk

camaraderie · friendship or brotherhood

canvas · background or setting

capacious · large or roomy

carousing · partying

cavorting · horsing around

certitude · confidence or certainty

chastise · yell at

coerced · tempted or pressured

colluding · plotting or scheming

complicit · associated with or involved in

contrite · sorry or ashamed

conundrum · puzzle or mystery

copious · numerous or plentiful

cordial · warm or friendly

corrupt · shady or dishonest

counsel · advise

coy · shy or timid

cursory · quick or hurried

dawdle · hang around or waste time

deception · trickery

defaced · vandalized

dejected · unhappy or depressed

devious · tricky or dishonest

dilatory · slow

disaffected · discontented or rebellious

discern · make out

discordant · conflicting or incompatible

disparate · different or dissimilar

excursion · outing or detour

exorbitant · excessive or outrageous

expeditiously · quickly

extinguish · put out or turn off

fiasco · disaster or mess

forbearance · patience

gross · disgusting

guileless · straightforward or upfront

hurdle · jump over

illicit · illegal

impetuously · suddenly or without planning

inclined · ready or feeling like

indecipherable · unreadable

indignation · anger or annoyance

irate · angry

iridescent · shimmering

juxtaposition · side-by-side comparison

knell · ring or chime

malevolent · wicked

mercurial · changing or unpredictable

munificence · kindness or generosity

mural · wall painting

obtuse · stupid or simple-minded

opiate · drug or narcotic

opportunist · someone who takes advantage or people or circumstances

peruse · read carefully

pervaded · spread through

plaintively · sadly

precisely · exactly

preoccupied · worried or fixated

qualms · doubts or worries

quandary · dilemma

rancor · bitterness or resentment

randomly · by chance

rashly · hastily or without thinking

reticent · quiet or reserved

reverently · respectfully

revived · reenergized

shilling · selling or promoting

shrewd · sharp or clever

sly · sneaky or secretive

smug · self-satisfied

stereotype · commonly held belief that may be wrong

unalloyed · pure or absolute

underscored · emphasized

valid · real or legitimate