Vocabulary #6

1. adroit - clever or skillful using the hands or mind
The mechanic was adroit and it made him good at his job.

2. amicable - having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor
The two parents were in an amicable divorce for the sake of the child.

3. averse - having strong dislike of or opposition to something
The former CIA operative was not averse to secrets because that was part of his job.

4. belligerent - hostile or aggressive
The father was a belligerent drunk causing many problems in the family.

5. benevolent - well meaning and kindly
When he walked into the meeting, everyone had on a benevolent smile which made him calm down.

6. cursory - hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
The victim only got a cursory glance at the robber so she could not identify him.

7. duplicity - deceitfulness; double-dealing
She described it as a scandal of financial duplicity and secrecy.

8. extol - praise enthusiastically
The sailors extolled at the sight of land.

9. feasible - possible to do easily or conveniently
The homework was a feasible task so she pushed it off until last minute.

10. grimace - an ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement
When the rookie cop found the dead body, he had a grimace look on his face that showed how new he was.

11. holocaust - destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, esp. caused by fire or nuclear war
Hitler's holocaust of the Jews during WWII was one of the worst in history.

12. impervious - not allowing fluid to pass through
The roofing on houses is supposed to be  impervious to rain.

13. impetus - the force of energy with which a body moves
The great employees of this company are the impetus behind the companies success.

14. jeopardy - danger of loss, harm, or failure
The police officer was in jeopardy of his life during the firefight.

15. meticulous - showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
The investigator was very meticulous about his work.

16. nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period of place with happy or personal associations
The nostalgia that came over me after viewing a TV show I saw when I was a child was so immense that I almost felt like I was a child again.

17. quintessence - the most perfect or typical example of quality or class
The Catcher in the Rye is the quintessential American novel.

18. retrogress - go back to an earlier state, typically a worse one
The girl sadly retrogressed to the start of her rehabilitation.

19. scrutinize - examine or inspect closely and thoroughly
The customers were warned to scrutinize the fine print of the contract.

20. tepid - showing little enthusiasm
The crowd's applause after the show was tepid.

21. Accede- to assume an office or position
The king acceded to the throne.

22. Brandish- to waive or flourish something especially a weapon
Brandishing his sword he valiantly rode into battle on horseback.

23. Comprise- to be made up of
Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities.

24. Deft- neatly skillful and quick in one's movement
The deft mechanic had our car ready in record time.

25. Destitute- without the basic necessities of life
The destitute children were a horrible sight when they were found in the woods.

26. Explicit- stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion
The instructions were so explicit that nearly anyone could understand them.

27. Extirpate- to root out or destroy completely
Extirpated mammals had to be reintroduced to the forest after the fire.

28. Inopportune- something that occurs at a bad time
Courtney's grandmother came for an inopportune visit.

29. Ironic- something that happens in the opposite way as was expected.
It was ironic when a smoker told me not to smoke.

30. Musty- a very stale or damp smell.
The inside of the shed was musty several days after in had rained.

31. Officious- assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way.
The boss was very officious and everyone hated him because of it.

32. Ominous- giving the impression that something bad is going to happen
My girlfriends cat is very ominous.

33. Pinnacle- the highest or culminating point
The pinnacle of Thomas' career was when he got a raise.

34. Premeditated- to think out or plan something
The attack strategy was premeditated and it work out to their advantage.

35. Rampant- something unpleasant flourishing or spreading unchecked
The student was running rampant and caused a lot of trouble.

36 .Solace- to comfort someone in a time of sadness or distress
The mother gave solace to the widow.

37. Stately- something majestic in manner and appearance
The Ebert's had a stately home.

38. Supple- to bend or move in a graceful way
The stick they found on the beach was supple and was easily manipulated.

29. Suppress- to forcibly put an end to
Genie was suppressed from the outside world for thirteen years and had her childhood ruined.

30. Venal- to be motivated by bribery
The judge was corrupt and venal.