Vocabulary Flashcards

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Abject

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Adj. Allowing no hope of improvement or relief. In a state of hopelessness, destitution, or resignation. Describes the most miserable kind of situation; the most wretched or degraded person or thing. Example: Many spring break partiers are not aware that in many Caribbean countries, abject poverty is often found side-by-side with luxury hotels, spas, and resort properties.

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Egocentric

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Adj. Selfish; interested only in oneself, and not in the needs or feelings of others. Narrow-mindedly focused on self rather than other people. Example: Not surprisingly, the egocentric author's greatest achievement was an autobiography.

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Fastidious

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Adj. Concerned over the perfection of even the smallest detail. Meticulous and exacting; compulsive in terms of cleanliness. Example: Robbie's mom is known as a fastidious housekeeper, so we all took our shoes off at the door.

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Garner

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Verb. To earn, acquire, collect, amass, gather, or accumulate something by effort. To gather something into storage. Example: Jamie, always a good student, garnered many honors at commencement, including that of valedictorian.

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Heinous

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Adj. Shockingly wicked, evil, or reprehensible. Far exceeding the norms of morality. Example: Because of the heinous nature of terrorist attacks, the world has united against those committing these evil acts.

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Plethora

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Noun. A very large amount or number, vast quantity, oversupply, especially an excessive amount. Example: The plethora of students enrolled in drivers' education classes revealed how important these co-curricular offerings were.

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Pugnacious

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Adj. Inclined to fight or be aggressive. Prone to quarrels or fights; given to conflict or dispute. Example: On occasion, the coaches thought Kathy's pugnacious attitude was detrimental to her play on the soccer field.

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Rapport

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Noun. A positive bond or friendly relationship based on friendship, trust, and a sense of shared concerns. Also, an established pattern of communication. Example: The substitute teacher developed a good rapport with the students to ensure his own survival.

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Regress

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Verb. To return or revert to an earlier, less advanced, and generally worse state. To move backwards. To cause someone to reenact an earlier emotional state or related behavior. Example: After she worked hard to raise her grades, a sudden illness caused Mary to regress in her study habits.

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Skullduggery

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Noun. Practices carried out in a secretive way in order to trick people. Example: The skullduggery of the Watergate burglars has become infamous, for it forced a President to resign.