acumen: Sharp judgment, especially in business
alacrity: Quick, cheerful eagerness
ambiguity: Uncertainty of meaning
ameliorate: To make better
anomalous: Not following the usual pattern
antediluvian: Extremely old-fashioned
apotheosis: The perfect example or highest point
approbation: Approval
ascertain: To find out for certain
assuage: To make less severe
attenuate: To make thinner or weaker
axiom: A statement accepted as true
bellwether: A leader or indicator of trends
byzantine: Very complicated
cacophonous: Harsh-sounding
canonical: Accepted as a standard
capitulate: To give in
cathartic: Bringing emotional release
circuitous: Taking a long, roundabout way
cognizant: Aware
commensurate: In proportion to
conflagration: A large destructive fire
connotation: An idea suggested by a word beyond its literal meaning
consternation: Dismay or alarm
cynosure: A center of attention
dearth: A scarcity
debacle: A total failure
decry: To publicly condemn
dichotomy: A division into two opposite parts
diffident: Shy and lacking confidence
dilettante: A person with shallow interest in a subject
discursive: Wandering from topic to topic
disingenuous: Not sincere
dissonance: Harsh clash of sounds or ideas
ebullient: Overflowing with enthusiasm
effrontery: Shameless boldness
elegy: A sad poem for someone who died
empirical: Based on evidence
epitome: A perfect example
equitable: Fair
erroneous: Wrong
evanescent: Quickly fading
exacerbate: To make worse
exhaustive: Complete in every detail
exigency: An urgent need
fastidious: Hard to please
fortitude: Strength of mind in hard times
gratuitous: Given without good reason
harbinger: A sign of what is coming
idyllic: Peaceful and charming
imperturbable: Unable to be upset
indefatigable: Never tiring
ingenuous: Innocent and open
inimical: Harmful or hostile
insurmountable: Too great to overcome
juxtapose: To place side by side for contrast
lassitude: Weariness
magnanimity: Generosity of spirit
perfunctory: Done with little care
pernicious: Very harmful
perspicacious: Having keen insight
pithy: Short and full of meaning
quixotic: Idealistic but impractical
recalcitrant: Stubbornly resisting
sanguine: Cheerfully hopeful
sycophant: A person who flatters for gain
taciturn: Saying very little
tenuous: Weak or thin
trepidation: Fearful worry
vicissitude: A change of circumstances
vociferous: Loud and forceful
zealous: Full of eager energy

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/la-vocab-grade-12