English Vocabulary J–Q

 

J

jaded adj. cynical about, tired of, or dulled to something due to overexposure to it

jingoism n. extreme, fanatical nationalism or patriotism

jubilant adj. extremely joyful, happy

judicious adj. having or exercising sound judgment

juxtaposition n. the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison

 

K

kismet n. fate, fortune

knell n. the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death

kudos n. praise for an achievement

 

L

laceration n. a cut or tear

laconic adj. terse in speech or writing

languid adj. sluggish from fatigue or weakness

larceny n. obtaining another’s property by theft or trickery

largesse (or largess) n. the generous giving of lavish gifts

lascivious adj. lewd, lustful, salacious

latent adj. hidden but capable of being exposed

laudatory adj. expressing admiration or praise

lavish adj. given without limits; v. to give without limits

lax adj. 1. negligent, undisciplined; 2. loose

lecherous adj. obsessed with or overindulgent in sex

legerdemain n. deception, sleight-of-hand

lenient adj. tolerant, gentle

lethargic adj. in a state of sluggishness or apathy

lewd adj. indecent, obscene

liability n. 1. something for which one is legally responsible, usually involving disadvantage or risk; 2. a handicap, burden

liaison n. 1. an ambassador or envoy; 2. a secretive sexual relationship or affair

libel n. writing that falsely damages a person’s reputation

libertarian adj. advocating principles of liberty and free will

licentious adj. displaying a lack of moral or legal restraint

limpid adj. clear, transparent

lithe adj. graceful, flexible, supple

litigate v. to file a lawsuit

litigious adj. prone to arguments, disputes, or lawsuits

loquacious adj. talkative, garrulous

lucid adj. clear, easily understandable

lugubrious adj. excessively or showily mournful

luminous adj. shining brightly

lurid adj. ghastly, sensational

 

M

maelstrom n. 1. a powerful whirlpool that sucks in objects; 2. a violent or tempestuous situation in general

magnanimous adj. noble, generous

malediction n. a curse

malefic adj. evil, harmful, malicious

malevolent adj. wanting harm to befall others

malleable adj. capable of being shaped or transformed

mandarin n. 1. a member of the cultural or intellectual elite; 2. a bureaucrat or government official of high rank

mandate n. 1. an authoritative command; 2. authorization given by the voting public to its representatives

manifest adj. 1. visible or perceptible; 2. obvious or easily understood; v. to show plainly

manifold adj. diverse, varied

martinet n. one who is overly and rigidly concerned with detail and discipline

maudlin adj. sentimental, schmaltzy

maverick n. an independent, nonconformist person

mawkish adj. excessively or sickeningly sentimental

maxim n. a common saying expressing a principle of conduct

meager adj. deficient in size or quality

medley n. a mixture of differing things

mellifluous adj. richly flowing, pleasing to the ear

mendacious adj. lying, false, dishonest

mercurial adj. unpredictably moody or temperamental

meretricious adj. 1. gaudy, showy; 2. deceptive, insincere

meritorious adj. worthy of esteem or reward

metamorphosis n. a transformation in form, shape, substance

meticulous adj. extremely careful with details

misanthrope n. one who hates or distrusts people in general

misogynist n. one who hates women; adj. hateful of women

mitigate v. to alleviate, make less violent

moderate adj. not extreme; n. one who expresses moderate opinions

modicum n. a small amount of something

modulate v. to adjust, adapt, pass from one state to another

mollify v. to soften in temper

monolithic adj. 1. massive; 2. existing in one large whole

morass n. 1. a wet, swampy bog; 2. figuratively, something that traps and confuses

morbid adj. gruesome, unhealthily obsessed with death

mordant adj. bitingly or cuttingly sarcastic, caustic

mores n. the fixed moral attitudes or customs of a group of people

moribund adj. 1. dying, nearing death; 2. nearly obsolete

morose adj. gloomy or sullen

multifarious adj. having great diversity or variety

mundane adj. 1. characterized by the ordinary, practical, or commonplace; 2. secular, concerned with this world

munificence n. generosity in giving

mutable adj. able or prone to change

myriad adj. numerous, countless; n. a very large number

 

N

nadir n. the lowest point of something

nascent adj. in the process of being born or coming into existence

nebulous adj. vaguely defined, cloudy

nefarious adj. infamous for wickedness or villainy

negligent adj. habitually careless, neglectful

nemesis n. a primary enemy, rival, or source of ruin

neophyte n. one who is young or inexperienced

nocturnal adj. relating to, occurring during, or active during the night

noisome adj. unpleasant or offensive, especially to the sense of smell

nomadic adj. wandering from place to place

nomenclature n. a name, system of names, or naming process

nonchalant adj. indifferent, cool, unconcerned

nondescript adj. generic or dull, lacking distinctive character

nostalgia n. a wistful longing for the past

notorious adj. widely and unfavorably known

novice n. a beginner, one without training or experience

noxious adj. harmful, unwholesome

nuance n. a slight variation in meaning, tone, or expression

nubile adj. attractive, marriageable (used of young women)

nurture n. 1. to bring up, educate; 2. to foster, assist the development of

 

O

obdurate adj. unyielding to persuasion or moral influences

obfuscate v. to render incomprehensible

oblique adj. diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward

oblivious adj. lacking consciousness or awareness

obscure adj. unclear, partially hidden

obsequious adj. excessively compliant or submissive

obsolete adj. no longer used; out of date

obstreperous adj. noisy, unruly

obtrusive adj. 1. prominent, protruding; 2. brash, assertive

obtuse adj. lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect

obviate v. 1. to prevent, avert; 2. to make unnecessary

occidental adj. of or relating to the West

odious adj. provoking hatred, disgust, or intense dislike

officious adj. meddlesome, eager to offer one’s services when they are neither wanted nor needed

ominous adj. foreboding or foreshadowing evil

omniscient adj. all-knowing

onerous adj. burdensome, oppressive, taxing

opulent adj. characterized by rich abundance or wealth

oracle n. one who predicts the future, a prophet

oration n. a speech given in a formal or ceremonious manner

oriental adj. of or relating to the East

ornate adj. highly elaborate, excessively decorated

ornery adj. disagreeable, difficult, contrarian

orthodox adj. conventional; conforming to established, traditional values or views, especially in religion

oscillate v. 1. to sway or swing back and forth; 2. to vibrate

ostensible adj. seemingly; appearing as such

ostentatious adj. excessively showy, glitzy

ostracize v. to exclude or banish from a group

 

P

palatable adj. agreeable to the taste or sensibilities

palette n. a range of colors or qualities

palliate v. to reduce the severity of

pallid adj. 1. very pale, colorless; 2. dull

paltry adj. 1. trivial, unimportant; 2. meager, measly

panacea n. a cure-all, remedy for all problems or diseases

panache n. distinctive style, flair, elegance, verve

pandemic adj. general, widespread, existing everywhere

pandemonium n. a state of total confusion or uproar

pander v. to play on the weaknesses or low desires of others

panoply n. a large, complete, or impressive array

paradigm n. an pattern, model, or framework

paradox n. a seemingly contradictory or nonsensical statement that may actually hold truth

paramount adj. greatest in importance, rank, or character

parody n. a satirical imitation

parsimonious adj. frugal, stingy

partisan n. a follower, adherent; adj. biased toward a group or cause

patent adj. readily seen or understood, clear

pathology n. a deviation from the normal

pathos n. an emotion of sympathy, pity

paucity n. a lack, scarcity, dearth

pedagogy n. 1. the art and science of teaching; 2. the method by which something is taught

pedantic adj. overly concerned with trivial rules or details

pejorative adj. negative, disparaging, belittling

pellucid adj. easily intelligible, clear

penchant n. a liking, inclination, predilection

penultimate adj. next to last

penurious adj. miserly, stingy

peremptory adj. 1. commanding, absolute, not allowing contradiction or questioning; 2. haughty, arrogant

perfidious adj. disloyal, unfaithful

perfunctory adj. showing little interest or enthusiasm

peripatetic adj. wandering about or traveling on foot

peripheral adj. on the side, supplementary, auxiliary

permeate v. to spread throughout, saturate

pernicious adj. disloyal, unfaithful

perplex v. to confuse, puzzle

persevere v. to persist despite hindrance or adversity

perspicacity n. shrewdness, perceptiveness

perspicuity n. clarity, transparency, lucidity

pertinacious adj. stubbornly persistent

peruse v. to examine or review carefully

pervasive adj. having the tendency to spread throughout

petulant adj. rude, irritable

philander v. to engage in numerous casual sexual affairs

philistine n. one who is ignorant, boorish, or uncultured

phlegmatic adj. uninterested, unresponsive

piquant adj. agreeably tart, zesty, or pungent to the taste

pique v. to arouse, provoke

pithy adj. concisely meaningful

pittance n. a very small amount, especially relating to money

placebo n. something inert or valueless that nonetheless satisfies or acts as a remedy

platitude n. an uninspired remark, cliché

plaudits n. enthusiastic approval, applause

plausible adj. believable, reasonable

plethora n. an extreme excess or abundance

pliant adj. easily altered or bent, pliable, adaptable

poignant adj. deeply affecting, moving

polemic n. an aggressive argument against a specific opinion

polyglot adj. multilingual; n. a multilingual person

pompous adj. 1. showily grand; 2. pretentious, boastful

porous adj. 1. absorbent of fluids; 2. easy to cross, penetrate

portent n. an omen, sign

posit v. to propose, suggest, hypothesize

potable adj. suitable for drinking; n. a drink, beverage

pragmatic adj. practical in approach or outlook

preclude v. to prevent, exclude

precocious adj. advanced for its age, developing early

predilection n. a preference or inclination for something

premonition n. a forewarning, foreboding, presentiment

preponderance n. superiority in importance or quantity

preposterous adj. absurd, foolish, nonsensical

prescient adj. having foresight or ability to predict events

pretense n. an appearance or action intended to deceive

pretentious adj. ostentatious, showy, or affected

preternatural adj. extraordinary, exceeding or surpassing the natural or normal (but usually not to a supernatural degree)

primeval adj. ancient, existing from the beginning

primordial adj. ancient, existing from the beginning

privation n. deprivation, poverty

probity n. virtue, integrity

proclivity n. a strong inclination toward something

procure v. to obtain, acquire

prodigal adj. recklessly wasteful, lavish, extravagant

profane adj. lewd, indecent

profligate adj. unprincipled, undisciplined, immoral, reckless

prognosticate v. to predict, foretell, read omens or signs

prolix adj. wordy, prolonged, tedious

promiscuous adj. overly or indiscriminately sexually active

promulgate v. to proclaim, make known

propagate v. to multiply, spread out

propensity n. an inclination, preference

propitious adj. favorable

prosaic adj. plain, lacking liveliness

proscribe v. to condemn, outlaw

protean adj. able to change shape; displaying great variety

protocol n. a set of rules governing conduct or procedure

provocative adj. tending to excite, stimulate, provoke

prudent adj. cautious, circumspect

prurient adj. overly interested in sex, lascivious

puerile adj. juvenile, immature

pugnacious adj. quarrelsome, combative

pulchritude n. physical beauty

punctilious adj. eager to follow rules or conventions

punctual adj. on time, prompt

pundit n. 1. a critic, public figure of opinion; 2. a teacher

punitive adj. meant to punish

pusillanimous adj. cowardly, fearful

 

Q

quagmire n. a messy, difficult situation

quaint adj. charming, unique, pleasingly old-fashioned

quandary n. a perplexing, unresolvable state

quell v. to control, suppress, pacify, quiet

querulous adj. whiny, complaining

queue n. a line or sequence of people, vehicles, or tasks waiting for something

quixotic adj. idealistic, impractical

quorum n. the minimum number of members of a group (usually political or business) who must be in attendance for a valid transaction or vote to take place

quota n. an allotted number of something; a specific, targeted minimum or maximum

quotidian adj. 1. commonplace, ordinary; 2. occurring daily