Vocabulary Journal

  1. Flat-footed
    Unable to react quickly; unprepared

    The newproduct caught their competitors flat-footed.
  2. Malaise
    A general sense of depression or unease

    One year after the crash, the markets remain mired in a deep malaise
  3. Upper/Lower Echelon
    A level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank: (from French “rung of ladder”)
  4. Substantiate
    To support with proof or evidence; verify
  5. Flashpoint
    The point at which eruption into significant action, creation, or violence occurs

    The shootdown did not increase international tensions to the flash point.
  6. Vehemence
    Marked by or full of vigor or energy; strong

    a vehement storm.
  7. Hotfoot
    To go in haste. Often used with it

    hotfoot it out of town
  8. Malefactors
    One that has committed a crime; a criminal.
  9. Marginalize
    To relegate or confine to a lower or outer limit or edge, as of social standing
  10. Miscreant
    An evildoer; a villain. An infidel; a heretic
  11. Downtrodden
    Oppressed; tyrannized
  12. Soft-pedal
    To make less emphatic or obvious; play down

    soft-pedal a potentially explosive issue.
  13. Rescind
    To make void; repeal or annul.
  14. Annus horribilis (Latin)
    A terrible year
  15. Terse
    Brief and to the point; effectively concise

    a terse one-word answer.
  16. Eminent
    1) Towering or standing out above others; prominent; 2) of higher rank; outstanding

    an eminent peak.
  17. Grandstand
    To perform ostentatiously so as to impress an audience
  18. Apportioned
    To divide and assign according to a plan; allot:

    The tendency persists to apportion blame as suits the circumstances
  19. Stymie
    To thwart; stump:

    a problem in thermodynamics that stymied half the class.
  20. Recrimination
    to accuse one’s accuser; pass blame
  21. Commodious
    Spacious; roomy.
  22. Discursive
    passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive
  23. Ethos
    The disposition, character,or fundamental values peculiar to a specific person, people, culture, or movement:

    They cultivated a subversive alternative ethos
  24. Conduits
    A means by which something is transmitted
  25. Vociferous
    Making, given to, or marked by noisy and vehement outcry.
  26. Strident
    Loud, harsh, grating, or shrill; discordant.
  27. Populous
    Having a large population; densely populated
  28. Coalesce
    to grow together; to unite into a whole : fuse

    separate townships havecoalesced into a single, sprawling colony
  29. Subsonic
    of, relating to, or being a speed less than that of sound in air
  30. Nascent:
    coming or having recently come into existence

    a nascent middle class or her nascent singing career
  31. Consortium
    an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member
  32. Latent
    present and capable of emerging or developing but not now visible, obvious,active, or symptomatic

    a latent infection
  33. Divisive
    creating disunity or dissension

    a divisive issue
  34. Malign
    evil in nature, influence, or effect :injurious

    the malign effects of illicit drugs
  35. Caveat
    a modifying or cautionary detail to be considered when evaluating, interpreting, or doing something
  36. Throng
    a multitude of assembled persons
  37. Impede
    to interfere with or slow the progress of
  38. Inexorable
    not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless
  39. Commensurate
    Corresponding in size or degree; in proportion; Salary is commensurate with experience.
  40. Indwelling
    Be permanently present in (someone's soul or mind); possess spiritually; (of a catheter, needle, etc.) Fixed in a person's body for a long period of time.
  41. Jubilant
    Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph
  42. Impetus
    The force or energy or momentum with which abody moves; The force that makes something happen or happen more quickly

    the crisis provided the impetus for change
  43. Cogent
    Clear, logical, and convincing
  44. Doctrinaire
    Seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations: "a doctrinaire socialist"
  45. Ignominiously
    disgracefully: in a dishonorable manner or to a dishonorable degree
  46. Acolytes
    A person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession; An assistant or follower.
  47. Prowess
    Skill or expertise in an activity or field; bravery in battle.
  48. Rancorous
    Showing deep-seated resentment
  49. Cacophony
    A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds; a cacophony of deafening alarm bells
  50. Indignant
    Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.
  51. Interlocutor:
    A person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation
  52. Fraught
    Filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable): marketing any new product is fraught withdanger
  53. Shrillness
    the quality of being sharp or harsh to the senses; "the shrillness of her hair color".
  54. Kerfuffle
    A commotion or fuss
  55. Imperialism
    A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
  56. Plutocrat
    a person whose power derives from their wealth
  57. Listless
    Lacking energy
  58. Countenanced
    Admitted as acceptable or possible.
  59. Accede
    to agree to a demand
  60. Preclude
    Prevent from happening
  61. Fractious
    difficult to control; irritable
  62. Retribution
    Punishment that is considered to be morallyright and fully deserved
  63. Rubicon
    A point of no return: "on the way to political union we are now crossing the Rubicon"
  64. Calamitous
    (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin; "the stock market crashed on Black Friday";"a calamitous defeat";
  65. Intractable
    Hard to control or deal with. (of a person)Difficult; stubborn
  66. Ideologue
    An advocate of a particular ideology,especially an official exponent of that ideology
  67. Boon
    A benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request; A timely blessing or benefit: A brisk breeze is a boon to sailors.
  68. Incantation
    A conventionalized utterance repeated without thought or aptness; a formula: the pious incantations of the administration.
  69. Alpinist
    climber of high mountains, especially theAlpes.
  70. Parson
    any member of the clergy
  71. Subsist
    Maintain or support oneself, esp. at a minimal level; Remain in being, force, or effect
  72. Dell
    a small valley, usually among trees
  73. Redolent
    Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something): "names redolent of history and tradition"; Stronglysmelling of something: "the church was old, dark, and redolent of incense".
  74. Waxen
    Having a smooth, pale, translucent surface orappearance like that of wax: "a canopy of waxen, creamy blooms"
  75. Potentate
    monarch, or ruler
  76. Filch
    steal
  77. Primly
    recise or proper to the point of affectation;excessively decorous. b. Strait-laced; prudish. 2. Neat and trim: a prim hedgerow
  78. Solipsism
    The view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist
  79. Imbibe
    to receive into the mind and retain imbibe moral principles
  80. Paroxysm
    A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity.
  81. Opalescent
    Showing varying colors as an opal does
  82. Rampart
    A defensive wall of a castle or walled city,having a broad top with a walkway and typically a stone parapet; A defensive or protective barrier.
  83. Beetle-brow
    sullen or unfriendly in appearance
  84. Pretext
    a fake reason for an occurrence
  85. Desolate
    Deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness.
  86. Ribald
    Referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way
  87. Tryst
    A private, romantic rendezvous between lovers: "a moonlight tryst"
  88. Arabesque
    An ornamental design of intertwined flowinglines, originally found in Arabic or Moorish decoration
  89. Woeful
    Characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery.
  90. Acrid/acridity
    Having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell.
  91. Sibilant
    Of, characterized by, or producing a hissing sound like that of (s) or (sh): the sibilant consonants; a sibilant bird call.n. A sibilant speech sound,
  92. Scepter
    An ornamented staff carried by rulers on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of sovereignty
  93. Ardent
    enthusiastic or passionate
  94. Brisk
    active, fast, energetic
  95. Pastiche
    An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
  96. Impunity
    Exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
  97. Fey
    Giving an impression of vague unworldliness:"a strange, fey woman"; Having supernatural powers of clairvoyance.
  98. Insidious
    Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects: "the insidious effects of stress"; Treacherous; crafty: "an insidious alliance"
  99. Coeval
    same date or age – a contemporary
  100. Comeliness
    quality of being attractive
  101. Ineffable
    too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words: "ineffable beauty"; Too sacred to be uttered.
  102. Poltroon
    a coward
  103. Palliate
    Make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause.; Allay or moderate (fears or suspicions).
  104. Descry
    catch sight of
  105. Espy
    catch sight of
  106. Atoll
    A ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.
  107. Diminutive
    A smaller or shorter thing, in particular; Extremely or unusually small.
  108. Banal
    trite, commonplace
  109. Insolent
    Showing a rude or arrogant lack of respect
  110. Wistful
    pensive, sad, yearning
  111. Taciturn
    habitually silent, reserved, oruncommunicative; not inclined to conversation
  112. Sordid
    Involving ignoble actions and motives; arousingmoral distaste and contempt. Dirty
  113. Lewd
    Crude and offensive in a sexual way.
  114. Condescend
    Do something in a haughty way, as though itis below one's dignity or level of importance.
  115. Garrulous
    Excessively talkative, especially abouttrivial matters
  116. Farcical
    broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce;

    the wild farcical exuberance of a clown

    ludicrous green hair
  117. Perfunctorily
    Done routinely and with little interest or care: The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting
  118. Swarthy
    Dark-skinned
  119. Begrimed
    To smear or soil with or as if with dirt.
  120. Spate
    A large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession:

    a spate of attacks on travelers
  121. Infantilize
    Treat (someone) as a child or in a way thatdenies their maturity
  122. Dubious
    hesitant or doubtful; not to be relied upon,suspect
Author
jhahl
ID
97344
Card Set
Vocabulary Journal
Description
Words found in The Economist, NY Times, Scientific American, and Lolita
Updated