Vocabulary Words
Altercation: a noisy dispute
Example: The altercation between the two angry men led to a physical fight and several broken bones
Ambrosial: delicious, fragrant, devine
Example: The ambrosial aroma from the cookies made me hungry.
Amphibious: able to function on both land and water
Example: The frog is an amphibious creature.
Apparition: an unusual or unexpected sight
Example: When the apparition appeared before us, we call the Ghostbusters for help.
Appendage: something attached to a larger item
Example: The arm is an appendage to the body.
Bedlam: uproar, confusion
Example: When the babysitter fell asleep, bedlam broke out.
Bizarre: out of the ordinary, eccentric, freakish
Example: Jim had difficulties selling his bizarre invention.
Carcinogen: substance causing cancer
Example: When smoked, tobacco produces carcinogens.
Cadence: rhythm
Example: The cadence of that song is beautiful.
Carnivore: flesh eating animal
Example: A lion is a carnivore.
Celestial: Heavenly
Example: Telescopes aid astronomers in the study of celestial bodies.
Comatose: unconscious, inactive
Example: Medics rushed the comatose accident victim to the hospital.
Cuisine: food, style of cooking
Example: For many teenagers, the preferred cuisine consists of hamburgers, french
fries, and cola.
Debonair: suave, charming, lighthearted
Example: Harold looked remarkably debonair in the tuxedo he rented for his high school prom.
Decanter: A vessel used to receive liquid
Example: The milk was poured into a decanter before serving.
Circumvent: to avoid by going around
Example: The mother asked her son to circumvent the puddle.
Disheveled: untidy
Example: When Mr. Smith answered the doorbell, the newspaper boy could tell by his disheveled appearance that he had just gotten out of bed.
Dormant: sleeping, inactive
Example: Mount St. Helens had been a dormant volcano for thousands of years, but then it erupted with killing force.
Effervescent: bubbly, lively
Example: The effervescent cheerleader lead the crowd in cheers during the game.
Emaciated: painfully thin, wasted
Example: The homeless man walked the city streets looking emaciated after not eating for a few days.
Equilibrium: a state of balance
Example: When Emma and Eric balance of the seesaw, they have achieved equilibrium.
Escalate: to enlarge; to increase
Example: Even small businesses find that prices escalate.
Exodus: a mass departure
Example: The exodus of students left the building for the fire drill.
Fiasco: a failure
Example: The dinner the children made for the parents turned into a fiasco when the casserole burnt.
Flamboyant: ornate, showy
Example: The opera singer wore a flamboyant costume during the performance.
Formidable: frightened, dreadful, awe inspiring
Example: The medievel castle on the hill appeared formidable in the distance.
Germinate: to begin to grow, to sprout
Example: The plants will germinate when soaked in water.
Harbinger: a forerunner, a herald
Example: The robin is a harbinger, announcing that spring has arrived.
Impropriety: improper conduct, bad manners
Example: Children talking at the dinner table was once considered to be an impropriety.
Inclement: stormy, harsh
Example: Inclement weather hit the area last night and brought six inches of sno
Intrepid: fearless, bold
Example: The intrepid explorers defied the odds as they climbed to the top of Mt. Everest.
Itinerary: the route of a journey
Example: We included a stop in Montana in our itinerary for our trip to Alaska.
Loquacious: given to excessive talking
Example: The loquacious students were given a warning by their teacher to stop t talking during the lesson.
Ludicrous: laughable because of obvious absurdity
Example: The woman's heavy make-up she wore to the party was ludicrous.
Manacle: a handcuff, a restraint
Example: The prisoner wore manacles as he walked into his cell.
Mellifluous: smoothly flowing; sweet
Example: People were enchanted by the mellifluous voice of the opera singer.
Metamorphosis: a transformation; a marked alteration
Example: The metamorphosis of the butterfly amazed us.
Nocturnal: pertaining to the night; active at night
Example: The nocturnal animals roamed the forest at night.
Oscillate: to swing back and forth
Example: The fan began to oscillate and the room quickly cooled.
Ostracize: to exclude from a group; to banish
Example: the unruly children were ostracized from the rest of the class.