Vocab 8 Flashcards
Bashful
Adjective
Shy, excessively timid (Frankie’s mother told him not to be bashful when he refused to attend a birthday party.)
Abject
Adjective
Wretched, pitiful (after losing all of her money, falling into a puddle, and breaking her ankle, Lauren was abject.)
Canny
Adjective
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.)
Defer
Verb
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.)
Egregious
Adjective
Extremely bae (the student who threw sloppy he’s across the cafeteria was punished for his egregious behavior.)
Fetid
Adjective
Having a foul odor (I can tell from the fetid smell in your refrigerator that your milk had spoiled.)
Gourmand
Noun
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.)
Imperious
Adjective
Commanding, domineering (the imperious nature of your manner led me to dislike you at once.)
Laudatory
Adjective
Expressing admiration or praise (such laudatory comments are unusual from someone who is usually so reserved in his opinions.)
Maverick
Noun
An independent, nonconformist person (Andreas is a real maverick and always does things his own way.)
Nocturnal
Adjective
Relating to or occurring during the night ( Jackie was a nocturnal person; she would study until dawn and sleep until the evening.)
Obtuse
Adjective
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.)
Paradigm
Noun
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.)
Raucous
Adjective
Loud, boisterous (Sarah’s neighbors called the cops when her house party hot too raucous.)
Quandary
Noun
A perplexed state (Carlos found himself in a quandary: should he chose mint, chocolate chip, or cookie dough?)
