Junior Vocabulary Words
frowzy (adj.) dirty, unkempt
frugal (adj.) not wasteful; thrifty
Lesson #9
Lesson #11
emulate (verb) to try to be equal to or better than; to
imitate
enamored (verb) to be in love with
enhance (verb) to increase the value or beauty of
something
enigma (noun) a puzzling or seemingly inexplicable
situation, person, etc.
enraptured (verb) to be delighted beyond measure
enunciate (verb) to pronounce words clearly and
distinctly
erudite (adj.) scholarly; having or showing a wide
knowledge gained from reading
ethnic (adj.) of or having to do with races or classes or
people and their language, culture, history, etc.
evince (verb) to show clearly
evoke (verb) to call forth; to draw forth
exhort (verb) to use words or arguments to incite one to
good deeds
exodus (noun) a departure, especially in a large group
expatriate (noun) one who chooses to leave his native
country
expedient (adj.) the best means to do something under a
given set of circumstances, especially if with it bring about
personal gain
explicit (adj.) clearly stated
Lesson # 10
expound (verb) to explain; to set forth point by point; to
interpret
expunge (verb) to erase
extol (verb) to praise highly
extradite (verb) to turn a prisoner over to the jurisdiction
of another country or state where the crime was allegedly
committed
extraneous (adj.) not belonging; foreign; nonessential
extrovert (noun) one who is outgoing, friendly; one who is
more interested in what is going on around him than in his
own inner being or thoughts
exult (verb) to rejoice over a success or victory
fallacy (noun) a false or mistaken idea
feasible (adj.) reasonable, likely; capable of being carried
out
fiasco (noun) a complete, ridiculous failure
fickle (adj.) likely to change without reason
fluctuate (verb) to move up and down; to vary irregularly
formidable (adj.) hard to overcome or deal with; causing
fear or awe
frustrate (verb) to bring to nothing: to thwart, to
baffle
furtive (adj.) done in a stealthy or secretive
manner
gadfly (noun) a person who annoys others, esp.
by rousing them from complacency
galvanize (verb) to startle into sudden activity
gamut (noun) the whole range or extent
gargantuan (adj.) of huge or extraordinary size
and power
gauche (noun) lacking social grace
genial (adj.) warm, friendly
grandiloquent (adj.) speaking in a pompous
style
gregarious (adj.) fond of the company of others;
belonging to a flock
grimace (verb) a facial expression of fear
disapproval, or pain
harangue (noun) a long, noisy speech or lecture
harry (verb) to torment another
hearth (noun) a fireplace
heinous (adj.) hatefully or shockingly evil
Lesson #12
heresy (noun) a religious belief opposed to the established
doctrine
hoax (noun) a practical joke
hue (noun) that quality which makes one color differ from other
colors; a particular shade or tint of a given color
humility (noun) absence of vanity
hurtle (verb) to dash; to move swiftly and with great force
hyperbole (noun) extreme exaggeration for effect and not meant
to be taken literally
hypercritical (adj.) over critical; too severe in judgment
ignominy (noun) public shame, disgrace or dishonor
impeccable (adj.) faultless; without sin or blemish
implacable (adj.) cannot be appeased or pacified
inane (adj.) without sense or meaning; silly; empty
incarcerate (verb) to put into prison; to confine
incisive (adj.) sharp; keen; penetrating
incognito (adj.) hiding one's name, rank, position; disguised
indiscreet (adj.) not wise or judicious; imprudent, as in speech or
action
Lesson #13
inert (adj.) having no power to act or move;
inactive
inexorable (adj.) cannot be moved or influenced
by persuasion or entreaty; unrelenting
inscrutable (adj.) cannot be easily understood;
mysterious
insipid (adj.) without flavor; tasteless; dull;
lifeless
intrepid (adj.) without fear; brave
irascible (adj.) easily angered
jaundiced (adj.) prejudiced
jaunty (adj.) fashionable, stylish; carefree
jettison (verb) to throw goods overboard
jingoism (noun) extreme patriotism; favoring an
aggressive, warlike foreign policy
jocose (adj.) joking, humorous
juggernaut (noun) a terrible destructive or
irresistible force
latent (adj.) present, but not active; hidden
laudable (adj.) worthy of praise; commendable
lethargy (noun) lack of energy; drowsiness,
disinterest
parsimonious (adj.) too economical; stingy
penitent (adj.) expressing sorrow for having sinned or done wrong
pernicious (adj.) causing injury; evil or wicked
pertinent (adj.) having to do with what is being considered
Lesson #14
predatory (adj.) inclined to rob or prey on others
levity (noun) lightness or gaiety of disposition; lack of
seriousness
lexicon (noun) a dictionary; a special vocabulary
libation (noun) an alcoholic drink
liege (noun) a lord, master, or sovereign
magnanimous (adj.) noble; generous in forgiving; free
from petty feeling or acts
marital (adj.) having to do with marriage
mercenary (noun/adj.) one who works only for money,
especially a hired soldier
meticulous (adj.) extremely careful about small details
motley (adj.) made up of different, dissimilar parts; being
of many colors
mundane (adj.) of this world and not of heaven; common,
worldly; not spiritual
murky (adj.) gloomy, dark, cloudy
myriad (adj.) a very large number; of a highly varied
nature
naive (adj.) simple in nature; not affected; innocent
simplicity; childlike
nocturnal (adj.) having to do with the night
novice (noun) a beginner; one who is new or
inexperienced
Lesson #15
noxious (adj.) harmful to the health
nuance (noun) a delicate variation in tone, color, meaning, expression
obese (adj.) extremely fat
obstreperous (adj.) boisterous; unruly
odium (noun) hatred; the state of being hated
officious (adj.) offering unnecessary and unwanted advice or service
ominous (adj.) threatening; predicting evil
omniscient (adj.) having unlimited knowledge; knowing everything
ostensible (adj.) apparent; pretended; professed
ostracize (verb) to banish; to shut out from a group by common consent
pandemonium (noun) a wild disorder, noise or confusion
Lesson #16
pique (verb) 1. to cause another's pride to be wounded 2.
to excite curiosity or interest
plagiarism (noun) taking another's thoughts or words and
using them as one's own
plebian (noun/adj.) one of the common people; common
or vulgar
precocious (adj.) developed earlier than usual, especially
mentally
prowess (noun) unusual skill or ability; heroism in battle
pugnacious (adj.) eager and ready to fight; quarrelsome
purloin (verb) to steal
pusillanimous (adj.) cowardly, fearful
quell (verb) to put an end to ; to allay or quiet
quixotic (adj.) extremely idealistic; not practical
rabble (noun) a disorderly crowd, a mob; the lowest class
of people
rabid (adj.) intense; furious or raging, mad
raconteur (noun) a person skilled at telling stories or
anecdotes
raillery (noun) good-humored ridicule
Lesson #17
rancor (noun) extreme hatred or ill will
remorse (noun) deep regret for a sin or wrongdoing
renegade (noun) one who deserts a cause and goes over to the
other side; a traitor
retribution (noun) a just or deserved punishment
sanction (noun/verb) permission, support; to give approval to
scourge (noun) a person or thing which causes great trouble or
misfortune; to inflict severe punishment or pain
strident (adj.) harsh sounding
taciturn (adj.) not fond of talking; usually silent
temerity (noun) reckless boldness
terse (adj.) brief, to the point
uncanny (adj.) weird, strange; mysterious; acute
unctuous (adj.) excessively polite; oily
verbose (adj.) using more words than are needed; wordy
vindicate (verb) to clear of guilt or blame
vindictive (adj.) seeking revenge; bearing a grudge