Vocab 8

Question 0

Bashful

Adjective

Answer 0

Shy, excessively timid (Frankie’s mother told him not to be bashful when he refused to attend a birthday party.)

Question 1

Abject

Adjective

Answer 1

Wretched, pitiful (after losing all of her money, falling into a puddle, and breaking her ankle, Lauren was abject.)

Question 2

Canny

Adjective

Answer 2

Shrewd, careful (the canny runner hung at the back of the pack through much of the race to watch the other runners, and then sprinted past them at the end.)

Question 3

Defer

Verb

Answer 3

To postpone something, to yield to another’s wisdom (Ron deferred to Diane, the expert on musical instruments, when he was asked about buying a piano.)

Question 4

Egregious

Adjective

Answer 4

Extremely bae (the student who threw sloppy he’s across the cafeteria was punished for his egregious behavior.)

Question 5

Fetid

Adjective

Answer 5

Having a foul odor (I can tell from the fetid smell in your refrigerator that your milk had spoiled.)

Question 6

Gourmand

Noun

Answer 6

Someone fond of eating and drinking (my parents, who used to eat little more than crackers and salad, have become real gourmands in their old age.)

Question 7

Imperious

Adjective

Answer 7

Commanding, domineering (the imperious nature of your manner led me to dislike you at once.)

Question 8

Laudatory

Adjective

Answer 8

Expressing admiration or praise (such laudatory comments are unusual from someone who is usually so reserved in his opinions.)

Question 9

Maverick

Noun

Answer 9

An independent, nonconformist person (Andreas is a real maverick and always does things his own way.)

Question 10

Nocturnal

Adjective

Answer 10

Relating to or occurring during the night ( Jackie was a nocturnal person; she would study until dawn and sleep until the evening.)

Question 11

Obtuse

Adjective

Answer 11

Lacking quickness of the sensibility or intellect (political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)

Question 12

Paradigm

Noun

Answer 12

An example that is a perfect pattern or model (because the new SUV was so popular, it became the paradigm upon which all others were modeled.)

Question 13

Raucous

Adjective

Answer 13

Loud, boisterous (Sarah’s neighbors called the cops when her house party hot too raucous.)

Question 14

Quandary

Noun

Answer 14

A perplexed state (Carlos found himself in a quandary: should he chose mint, chocolate chip, or cookie dough?)