Sophomore Vocabulary

(Vocabulary Workshop Book Level E)

Unit 1:

adulterate: (v) to corrupt, make worse by addition of something of lesser value
ambidextrous: (adj) able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful; hypocritical
augment: (v) to make larger, increase
bereft: (adj) deprived of; made unhappy through a loss
deploy: (v) to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up
dour: (adj) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored
fortitude: (n) courage in facing difficulties
gape: (v) to stare with open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide
gibe: (v) to utter taunting words; (n) an expression of scorn
guise: (n) an external appearance, cover, mask
insidious: (adj) intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous
intimation: (n) a hint, indirect suggestion
opulent: (adj) wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose
pliable: (adj) easily bent, flexible, easily influenced
reiterate: (v) to say again, repeat
stolid: (adj) not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive
tentative: (adj) experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant
unkempt: (adj) not combed, untidy, not properly maintained; unpolished, rude
verbatim: (adj, adv) word for word; exactly as written or spoken
warily: (adv) cautiously, with great care

Unit 2:

1. adroit: (adj) skillful, expert in the use of hands or mind

2. amicable: (adj) peaceable, friendly

3. averse: (adj) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

4. belligerent: (adj) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; (n) one at war, one engaged in war

5. benevolent: (adj) kindly, charitable

6. cursory: (adj) hasty, not thorough

7. duplicity: (n) treachery, deceitfulness

8. extol: (v) to praise extravagantly

9. feasible: (adj) possible, able to be done

10. grimace: (n) a wry face, facial distortion; (v) to make a wry face

11. holocaust: (n) a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering

12. impervious: (adj) not affected or hurt by; admitting no passage or entrance

13. impetus: (n) a moving force, impulse, stimulus

14. jeopardy: (n) danger

15. meticulous: (adj) extremely careful; particular about details

16. nostalgia: (n) a longing for something past; homesickness

17. quintessence: (n) the purest essence of something; the most typical example

18. retrogress: (v) to move backward; to return to an earlier condition

19. scrutinize: ( v) to examine closely

20. tepid: (adj) lukewarm; unenthusiastic; marked by an absence of interest

Unit 3:

1. adversary: (n) an enemy, opponent

2. alienate: (v) to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey

3. artifice: (n) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery

4. coerce: (v) to compel, force

5. craven: (adj) cowardly; (n) a coward

6. culinary: (adj) of or related to cooking or in the kitchen

7. delete: (v) to erase, wipe out, cut out

8. demise: (n) a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

9. exhilarate: (v) to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to

10. fallow: (adj) plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; (n) land left unseeded; (v) to plow but not seed

11. harass: (v) to disturb, worry, trouble by repeated attacks

12. inclement: (adj) stormy, harsh, severe in attitude or action

13. muse: (v) to think about in a dreamy way, ponder

14. negligible: (adj) so unimportant that it can be disregarded

15. perpetuate: (v) to make permanent or long-lasting

16. precedent: (n) an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

17. punitive: (adj) inflicting or aiming at punishment

18. redress: (v) to set right, remedy; (n) relief from wrong or injury

19. sojourn: (n) a temporary stay; (v) to stay for a time

20. urbane: (adj) refined in manner or style, suave

Unit 4:

affiliated: (adj) associated, connected
ascertain: (v) to find out
attainment: (n) an accomplishment, the act of achieving
bequeath: (v) to give or pass on as an inheritance
cogent: (adj) forceful and compelling; convincing; relevant; to the point
converge: (v) to move toward one point, approach nearer together
disperse: (v) to scatter, spread far and wide
esteem: (v) to regard highly; (n) a highly favorable opinion or judgment
expunge: (v) to erase, obliterate, destroy
finite: (adj) having limits; lasting for a limited time
invulnerable: (adj) not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack
malevolent: (adj) spiteful, showing ill will
nonchalant: (adj) cool and confident, unconcerned
omniscient: (adj) knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding
panacea: (n) a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems
scrupulous: (adj) exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled
skulk: (v) to move stealthily; to lie in hiding
supercilious: (adj) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority
uncanny: (adj) strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation
venial: (adj) easily excused; pardonable

Unit 5:

altruistic: (adj) unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others
assent: (v) to express agreement; (n) agreement
benefactor: (n) one who does good to others
chivalrous: (adj) marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly
clemency: (n) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness
dearth: (n) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine
diffident: (adj) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved
discrepancy: (n) a difference; a lack of agreement
embark: (v) to go overboard; to make a start; to invest
facile: (adj) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt
indomitable: (adj) unconquerable, refusing to yield
infallible: (adj) free from error; absolutely dependable
plod: (v) to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly
pungent: (adj) causing a sharp sensation; stinging; biting
remiss: (adj) neglectful in performance of one's duties; careless
repose: (v) to rest, lie, place; (n) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness
temerity: (n) rashness, boldness
truculent: (adj) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly; destructive; scathingly harsh
unfeigned: (adj) sincere; real; without pretense
virulent: (adj) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

Unit 6:

accede: (v) to yield to; to assume an office or dignity
brandish: (v) to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion
comprise: (v) to include or contain; to be made up of
deft: (adj) skillful; nimble
destitute: (adj) deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in
explicit: (adj) definite; clearly stated
extirpate: (v) to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally
inopportune: (adj) coming at a bad time; not appropriate
ironic: (adj) suggesting an incongruity between what might be and what is; given to sarcasm
musty: (adj) stale, moldy, out-of-date
officious: (adj) meddling; excessively forward in offering services of assuming authority
ominous: (adj) unfavorable; threatening; of bad omen
pinnacle: (n) a high peak or point
premeditated: (adj) considered beforehand; deliberately planned
rampant: (adj) growing without check; running wild
solace: (n) comfort, relief; (v) to comfort, console
stately: (adj) dignified; majestic
supple: (adj) bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile
suppress: (v) to stop by force, put down
venal: (adj) open to or marked by bribery or corruption

Unit 7:

abhor: (v) to regard with horror and loathing; to hate deeply
amend: (v) to change in a formal way; to change for the better
buffet: (v) to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one's way with difficulty; (n) a slap or blow
chaos: (n) great confusion, disorder
commodious: (adj) roomy; spacious
corrosive: (adj) eating away gradually, acidlike, bitterly sarcastic
discern: (v) to see clearly; recognize
extant: (adj) still existing; not exterminated, destroyed or lost
implicate: (v) to involve in; to connect with or be related to
inter: (v) to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion
martinet: (n) a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules
obviate: (v) to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of
renegade: (n) one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw; (adj) traitorous; unconventional, unorthodox
reprehensible: (adj) deserving blame or punishment
somber: (adj) dark, gloomy, depressed, or melancholy in spirit
squalid: (adj) filthy, wretched, debased
turbulent: (adj) disorderly, riotous, violent, stormy
vociferous: (adj) loud and noisy, compelling attention
voluminous: (adj) of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length
waive: (v) to do without, give up voluntarily; to put off temporarily; defer

Unit 8:

animosity: (n) a strong dislike; bitter hostility
apathy: (n) a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest
apprehensive: (adj) fearful or anxious, especially about the future
commend: (v) to praise, express approval; to present as worthy of attention; to commit to the care of
compatible: (adj) able to get along or work well together; capable of use with some other model or system
condolence: (n) an expression of sympathy
consecrate: (v) to make sacred, hallow; to set apart for a special purpose
decrepit: (adj) old and feeble; worn-out, ruined
deride: (v) to ridicule, laugh at with contempt
ingenuous: (adj) innocent, simple; frank, sincere
multifarious: (adj) having great variety; numerous and diverse
obsolete: (adj) out-of-date; no longer in use
omnivorous: (adj) eating every kind of food; eagerly taking in everything, having a wide variety of tastes
parsimonious: (adj) stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small
quandary: (n) a state of perplexity or doubt
recalcitrant: (adj) stubbornly disobedient; resisting authority
reprisal: (n) an injury done in return for injury
revel: (v) to take great pleasure in; (n) a wild celebration
stultify: (v) to make ineffective or useless; cripple; to have a dulling effect on
suave: (adj) smoothly agreeable or polite; pleasing to the senses

Unit 9:

allocate: (v) to set apart or designate for a special purpose; to distribute
ardent: (adj) very enthusiastic, impassioned
assiduous: (adj) persistent, attentive, diligent
brash: (adj) prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent
capricious: (adj) subject to whims or passing fancies
chastise: (v) to inflict physical punishment as a means of correcting; to scold severely
copious: (adj) abundant; plentiful; wordy, verbose
deviate: (v) to turn aside; to stray from a norm; (n) one who departs from a norm; (adj) differing from a norm, heterodox, unconventional
emaciated: (adj) unnaturally thin
exult: (v) to rejoice greatly
gnarled: (adj) knotted, twisted, lumpy
indemnity: (n) payment for damage or loss
inkling: (n) a hint; a vague notion
limpid: (adj) clear, transparent; readily understood
omnipotent: (adj) almighty, having unlimited power or authority
palatable: (adj) agreeable to the taste or one's sensibilities; suitable for consumption
poignant: (adj) deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell
rancor: (n) bitter resentment or ill-will
sophomoric: (adj) immature and overconfident; conceited
spontaneous: (adj) arising naturally; not planned or engineered in advance

Unit 10:

acquiesce: (v) to accept without protest; to agree or submit
allure: (v) to entice, tempt, to be attractive to; (n) a strong attraction; the power to attract or charm
askew: (adj/adv) twisted to one side, crooked, disapprovingly
blithe: (adj) cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned
contentious: (adj) quarrelsome, inclined to argue
covet: (v) to desire something belonging to another
crestfallen: (adj) discouraged, dejected, downcast
disheveled: (adj) rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder
exponent: (n) one who advocated, speaks for, explains, or interprets; (math) the power to which a number, symbol, or expression is to be raised
garrulous: (adj) given to much talking, tediously chatty
insuperable: (adj) incapable of being overcome
lamentable: (adj) to be regretted or pitied
misnomer: (n) an unsuitable or misleading name
profess: (v) to affirm openly; to state belief in; to claim, pretend
respite: (n) a period of relief or rest
retribution: (n) a repayment; a deserved punishment
sinuous: (adj) winding, having many curves; lithe and flexible
sonorous: (adj) full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive in style
vanguard: (n) the foremost part of an army; the leading position in any field
wastrel: (n) a wasteful person, spendthrift; a good-for-nothing

Unit 11:

allude: (v) to refer to casually or indirectly
clairvoyant: (adj) supernaturally perceptive; (n) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer
conclusive: (adj) serving to settle an issue; final
disreputable: (adj) not respectable, not esteemed
endemic: (adj) native or confined to a particular region or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field
exemplary: (adj) worthy of imitation, commendable; serving as a model
fathom: (v) to understand, get to the bottom of; to determine the depth of; (n) a measure of depth in water
guile: (n) treacherous cunning, deceit
integrity: (n) honesty, high moral standards; an unimpaired condition, completeness, soundness
itinerary: (n) a route of travel; a record of travel; a guidebook
misconstrue: (v) to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of
obnoxious: (adj) highly offensive, arousing strong dislike
placate: (v) to appease, soothe, pacify
placid: (adj) calm, peaceful
plagiarism: (n) passing off or using as one's own the writing (or other materials) of another person
potent: (adj) powerful; highly effective
pretext: (n) a false reason, deceptive excuse
protrude: (v) to stick out, thrust forth
stark: (adj) harsh, unrelieved, desolate; (adv) utterly
superficial: (adj) on or near the surface; concerned with or understanding only what is on the surface, shallow

Unit 12:

abjure: (v) to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun
acrid: (adj) harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper
august: (adj) majestic, inspiring admiration and respect
callous: (adj) emotionally hardened, unfeeling
clandestine: (adj) secret, concealed; underhanded
compunction: (n) remorse, regret
conflagration: (n) a large, destructive fire
elated: (adj, participle) in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased
indelible: (adj) not able to be erased or removed; memorable
indulgent: (adj) yielding to the wishes or demands of others
inveterate: (adj) firmly established; long-standing; habitual
irrelevant: (adj) not to the point; not applicable or pertinent
nocturnal: (adj) of or occuring in the night; under cover of darkness
platitude: (n) a commonplace, stale or trite remark
quell: (v) to subdue, put down forcibly
quiescent: (adj) inactive, at rest
ruminate: (v) to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud
tacit: (adj) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred
tangible: (adj) capable of being touched; real, concrete
trenchant: (adj) incisive, keen; forceful, effective, cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut

Unit 13:

antipathy: (n) a strong dislike, hostile feeling
applicable: (adj) capable of being applied; relevant, suitable
asset: (n) something of value; a resource; an advantage
beset: (v) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in; (adj., part.) harassed, troubled; studded (as with jewels)
compassion: (n) sympathy for another's suffering; pity
decorum: (n) proper behavior, good taste; orderliness
duress: (n) compulsion by threat; forcible confinement
exuberant: (adj) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained; excessive, abundant
facsimile: (n) an exact copy
imbibe: (v) to drink; to take in; to absorb
implacable: (adj) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding
infinitesimal: (adj) so small as to be almost immeasurable; minute
innocuous: (adj) harmless, inoffensive, insignificant
militate: (v) to have effect or force on or against someone or something, fight against
patent: (n) exclusive rights over an invention; copyright; (v) to arrange or obtain such rights; (adj) plain, open to view, copyrighted
prowess: (n) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability
sedate: (adj) quiet, settled, sober; (v) to administer a tranquilizer
stentorian: (adj) extremely loud
stipulate: (v) to arrange specifically; to require as a condition of agreement
ultimatum: (n) a final proposal or statement of conditions

Unit 14:

alacrity: (n) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action
alleviate: (v) to relieve, make more bearable
antithesis: (n) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast
appall: (v) to fill with dismay or horror
bellicose: (adj) warlike in manner and temperament; quarrelsome
disparage: (v) to belittle, speak slightly of; to undervalue
dissonant: (adj) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds
droll: (adj) amusingly odd
edict: (n) an order issued by someone of authority
elucidate: (v) to clarify, explain
laud: (v) to praise
loll: (v) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop
loquacious: (adj) talkative, wordy; fond of talking
magnanimous: (adj) generous in forgiving, above small meanness
mandatory: (adj) required, obligatory
nondescript: (adj) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified
phlegmatic: (adj) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional
rescind: (v) to repeal, cancel
vivacious: (adj) lively, sprightly, full of energy
whet: (v) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager

Unit 15:

abrasive: (adj) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down; (n) a substance used to smooth or polish
acclimate: (v) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation
chagrin: (n) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v) to cause such a feeling
complacent: (adj) self-satisfied; overly content
concur: (v) to express agreement, approve
defamation: (n) slander or libel
explicate: (v) to make plain or clear; explain; to interpret
fracas: (n) a noisy quarrel or brawl
grotesque: (adj) unnatural, distorted; bizarre
pandemonium: (n) a wild uproar, din, or commotion
raucous: (adj) disagreeably harsh-sounding; disorderly
receptive: (adj) open and responsive to ideas or suggestions
renounce: (v) to give up or resign something
repress: (v) to hold back; to put down or check by force
reticent: (adj) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant
savory: (adj) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable
somnolent: (adj) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep
vehement: (adj) intense, forceful, powerful
voluble: (adj) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent
zealous: (adj) eager, earnest, devoted