Vocabulary Mastery: Essential Word Definitions

Essential Vocabulary Terms

• Adamant: Not giving in; stubborn.
• Amoral: Lacking a moral sense; without principles.
• Eccentric: Differing from what is customary; odd.
• Absolve: To find innocent or blameless.
• Encounter: A brief or unexpected meeting.
• Epitome: A perfect or typical example.
• Antagonist: An opponent; one who opposes or competes.
• Animosity: Bitter hostility.
• Malign: To make evil and often untrue statements about; speak evil of.
• Amiable: Good-natured; friendly and pleasant.
• Inclination: A tendency, or preference, to think, act, or behave in a certain way; a leaning.
• Curt: Rudely brief when speaking to someone; abrupt.
• Wary: Cautious; on guard.
• Retort: To reply in a quick, sharp, or witty way.
• Demoralize: To lower the spirits of; weaken the confidence or cheerfulness of.
• Dilemma: A situation involving a difficult choice.
• Subsequent: Following in time or order; next; later.
• Zeal: Enthusiastic devotion; intense enthusiasm.
• Sabotage: To deliberately destroy or damage.
• Irate: Very angry.
• Acclaim: Great praise or applause; enthusiastic approval.
• Adjacent: Close; near to something.
• Elicit: To draw forth.
• Engross: To hold the full attention of; absorb.
• Escalate: To increase or intensify.
• Exploit: To use selfishly or unethically; take unfair advantage of.
• Methodical: Orderly; systematic.

Additional Terms

• Obsolete: No longer active or in use; out of date.
• Tangible: Able to be touched; having form and matter.
• Terminate: To stop; bring to an end.
• Inequity: Injustice; unfairness; an instance of injustice.
• Innovation: A new custom, method, or invention; something newly introduced.
• Subjective: Based on personal opinions, feelings, and attitudes; not objective.
• Deterrent: Something that discourages or prevents a certain action.
• Succinct: Expressed clearly in a few words; to the point; concise.
• Revitalize: To renew the strength and energy of; restore to a vigorous, active condition.
• Infirmity: A physical weakness or defect; ailment.
• Sparse: Distributed thinly; not thick or crowded.
• Infringe: To intrude or trespass on; to go beyond the limits considered proper.
• Implication: An idea that is communicated indirectly, through a suggestion or hint.

Repetitions Noted

The following terms were repeated in the original text:

• Irate: Very angry.
• Acclaim: Great praise or applause; enthusiastic approval.
• Adjacent: Close; near to something.
• Elicit: To draw forth.
• Engross: To hold the full attention of; absorb.
• Escalate: To increase or intensify.
• Exploit: To use selfishly or unethically; take unfair advantage of.
• Methodical: Orderly; systematic.