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