vocab Flashcards
detriment
Brandi’s face tattoo may be a detriment when she goes for a job interview.
Smoking is a detriment to your health. It’s estimated that each cigarette you smoke will shorten your life by one and a half minutes.
dexterous
The juggler was so dexterous that he managed to keep five balls in motion at once.
Although he has arthritis in his hands, Phil is very dexterous. For example, he builds detailed model airplanes.
discretion
Ali wasn’t using much discretion when he passed a police car at eighty miles an hour.
Small children haven’t yet developed discretion. They ask embarrassing questions like “When will you be dead, Grandpa?”
facetious
For Father’s Day, Mia bought her dad a T-shirt with this facetious slogan: “My Favorite Child Gave Me This Shirt.”
My boss always says, “You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it helps.” I hope she’s just being facetious.
gregarious
Melissa is so gregarious that she wants to be with other people even when she’s studying.
My gregarious brother loves parties, but my shy sister prefers to be alone.
optimum
The road was so icy that the optimum driving speed was only about ten miles an hour.
For the weary traveler, optimum hotel accommodations include a quiet room, a comfortable bed, and efficient room service.
ostentatious
My show-off aunt has some ostentatious jewelry, such as a gold bracelet that’s so heavy she can hardly lift her arm.
The lobby of that hotel is ostentatious, with fancy furniture, thick rugs, and tall flower arrangements. The guest rooms upstairs, however, are extremely plain.
scrupulous
The judge was scrupulous about never accepting a bribe or allowing a personal threat to influence his decisions.
The senator promised to run a scrupulous campaign, but her ads were filled with lies about her opponent’s personal life.
sensory
Because our sensory experiences are interrelated, what we taste is greatly influenced by what we smell.
A person in a flotation tank has almost no sensory stimulation. The tank is dark and soundproof, and the person floats in water at body temperature, unable to see or hear and scarcely able to feel anything.
vicarious
I don’t like to take risks myself, but I love the vicarious thrill of watching death-defying adventures in a movie.
Reading allows people to have limitless vicarious experiences, such as traveling to other times, meeting famous people, or exploring distant worlds.
