Vocabulary Words
Quarter 1: #1-20
Alleviate
Aleve alleviates
pain!
Alleviate = to make more bearable
A coalition to save the world!
Coalition = a combination, union, or merger for some specific
purpose.
Cynical
Are YOU cynical?
You don’t believe in fate, just coincidence.
If you need something done right, you know
you need to do it yourself.
As far as you’re concerned, no one has a
“soul mate.”
You think most charity organizations are
somehow cheating their supporters.
Celebrity couples disgust you. They’re just
shameless publicity hounds.
Cynical = distrustful of human nature and motive, believing
motives are primarily selfish.
Jaded
Jaded dog says:
“Initially, I was excited
about the thought of
traveling, but frequent
road trips soon made
me jaded about it.”
Jaded = wearied, worn-out, dulled by excess; cynical
Simulate
Simulate = to imitate; to show
the signs of
Callow
Callow surgeon says:
“G-g-golly! One day
out of med school and
I’m about to perform
brain surgery! Just
look at that scalpel
shake!”
Callow = without experience;
immature
Omniscient
“He sees you when you’re sleeping.
He knows when you’re awake.
He knows if you’ve been bad or
good,
So be good for goodness sakes!”
Omniscient = having total
knowledge; knowing everything
Pulverize
Pulverize = to reduce
to powder or dust; to
demolish
Epitome (i-pit-uh-mee)
THE EPITOME OF
Epitome = an instance that
represents a larger reality
SUCCESS.
Epitome (continued)
Another (perhaps easier) way to define!
Epitome = a perfect example; a model
example
That fashion
model is the
epitome of
beauty.
The epitome of relaxation is
lounging on the beach.
Infer
Inspector Gadget
says: “I can infer
you like music
since you are never
without your iPOD!”
Infer = to find out by reasoning; to deduce
(synonyms: assume; understand)
Vapid
Vapid = dull, uninteresting; lacking liveliness
(synonyms: lifeless; insipid)
Heinous
Heinous = very wicked, offensive
(synonyms: hateful; evil; shocking)
Insurgent
Lego insurgent says:
“I am revolting against
the established Lego
government.”
Insurgent = one who rebels or rises against
authority / rising in revolt, refusing to accept
authority
(synonyms: rebel; revolutionary)
Pillage
Pillage = To rob of goods by
open force
(synonyms: plunder, loot)
Acrimonious
Acrimonious = stinging, bitter
in temper or tone
(synonyms: hostile; biting)
It was an acrimonious break-up…
Corpulent
Corpulent Kitties!
Corpulent = fat; having a large
bulky body
(synonyms: heavy; obese; portly)
Gauntlet
Gauntlet = literally, an armored
or protective glove—usual
meaning: a challenge, as in
“throwing down the gauntlet.”
(synonyms: dare; challenge)
Uh-oh, Kitty threw
down the gauntlet!
Will you accept the
challenge and pick
it up?
Hypothetical
Hypothetically,
if you study
hard, you will
earn good
grades.
Hypothetical = based on an
assumption or guess
(synonyms: assumed; supposed)
Astute
Astute animals
Astute = crafty; clever
(synonyms: shrewd; wily; smart)
Culpable
Culpable = deserving
blame
(synonyms: guilty)
Judge Judy says: “You’re
CULPABLE!” (meaning, you’re
guilty)