Ancillary-

auxiliary; serving
as an aid
Beleaguer-
besiege or attack
Bilious-
ill-tempered
Callous-
unfeeling;
hardened
Celerity-
speed; rapidity
Chagrin-
vexation;
disappointment
Conjecture-
surmise; guess
Connoisseur-
competent to act
as a judge of art
C u l p ab l e -
deserving blame
Curmudgeon-
bad-tempered
person
Dilapidated-
in despair, run
down
Rather than get discouraged, the architect saw great
potential in the dilapidated house.
Doleful-
sad; mournful

Looking into the doleful eyes of the lonely pony, the girl
yearned to take him home.
Edify-
instruct; correct
morally
Egregious-
notorious;
conspicuously
bad
Evince-
show clearly

When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his

ignorance of the subject matter.
Execrable-
extremely bad

The anecdote was in such execrable taste that it revolted

the audience.
Exigency-
urgent situation
Filibuster- to
block legislation
by making long
speeches
Felicitous-
Well-suited;
Appropriate
Flag-
grow feeble
Flaunt-
display
ostentatiously
Flippant-
lacking proper
seriousness
Galvanize-
stimulate by
shock; stir up
Gargantuan-
huge; enormous
Gibbering-
nonsense;
babbling
Illicit- illegal
Impeccable-
flawless; faultless
Impediment-
hindrance;
stumbling block
Impetuous-
violent; sudden
and impulsive
Inchoate-
recently begun
Innocuous-
harmless
Insidious-
gradually causing
harm
Irksome-
annoying
Lachrymose-
producing tears

His voice has a lachrymose quality which is more

appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion.
Kudos-
Honor; glory;
praise
The singer complacently received kudos from his
entourage on his performance.
Lethal- deadly
Loquacious-
talkative
Lugubrious-
mournful
Mendacious
untruthful
 Morbid
unwholesome,
diseased,
unhealthy
Nebulous-
not clear; vague
Nefarious-
very wicked
Nonplus- bring
to a halt by
confusion;
perplex
Obstreperous-
noisy and
difficult to
control
Paucity-
smallness of
number/amount
The paucity of funds caused the main problems with the
progress of the school.
Pejorative-
negative in
connotation
Instead of criticizing Clinton’s policies, the Republicans
made pejorative remarks about his character.
 Penury
severe poverty
Perfidious
treacherous;
disloyal
 Peripatetic
traveling around
to different
places
Pontificate
pompous;
pretentious
Posthumous-
after death
Prolixity-
tedious
wordiness
Promulgate-
spread a doctrine
Putrid-
decayed; rotten
 Penchant
an inclination,
a definite liking
Pecuniary
 relating to
money

Quixotic-
idealistic
but impractical

Rambunctious-
difficult to
control

Recalcitrant-
stubbornly
disobedient

Reciprocate-
to give in return

Recluse-
loner; hermit

Regale-
entertain

Repudiate-
refuse to accept
something

Rescind-
to take back;
cancel

Resilient- able
to feel better
quickly after
something bad
Respite-
interval of relief;
time for rest

Rhapsodize-
to express great
enthusiasm

Ruffian-
hooligan; bully

Sagacious-
wise; having
good judgment

Sanguine-
cheerful and
hopeful

Scanty-
meager;
insufficient

Scurrilous-
obscene;
indecent

Scuttle-
run with short,
rapid steps

Sedate-
calm and relaxed;
quiet

Succumb-
to accept defeat

Supercilious-
arrogant and
disdainful

Unctuous-
expressing false,
insincere praise

Tutelage-
guardianship;
guidance
Under the tutelage of her older sister, the young orphan
was able to persevere.

Trounce-
to beat severely,
defeat
The inexperienced young boxer was trounced in a matter
of minutes

Usurp-
to seize another’s
power

Viable-
practical or
workable

Vicissitude-
change of
fortune

Jingoistic-
Patriotic; believe
that one’s own
country is best
Jocular-
Amusing;
intended for
joking 