Vocabulary words with definitions

• These notes cover vocabulary words with definitions, synonyms/antonyms, and example sentences.

Infamy (n) / Infamous (adj)

• Means being known for negative actions.
• Adolf Hitler is infamous for cruelty and killing millions.
• Example: Jeffery Dahmer was infamous for being a serial killer.

Esoteric (adj)

• Means obscure, understood by few, cultish.
• Example: John had an esoteric belief that good people go to a paradise island when they die.
• The cult had an esoteric belief that life is a simulation.

Imminent (adj)

• Means about to happen.
• Example: To prepare for the imminent storm, Avinashi bought supplies.
• A boy calmed his mind to recall study material for the imminent test.

Clemency (n)

• Means forgiveness and leniency.
• Judge Tribulski granted clemency due to the criminal's difficult childhood and repentance.
• A teacher provided clemency to a student who cheated due to his genuine apology.

Amicable (adj)

• Synonym is agreeable.
• Describes a divorce that was amicable, which the children appreciated.
• The kings’ amicable decision to be at peace with each other’s kingdoms pleased the people greatly.

Anachronism (n)

• Means something out of its time period.
• Example: A Samsung Smart TV in a knight’s castle is an anachronism.
• The TV producer’s script was closely examined in order to find anachronisms.

Prodigal (adj)

• Synonyms include wasteful and extravagant.
• The prodigal son lived a lavish lifestyle before repenting.
• The prodigal millionaire spent all of his money on gambling and partying.

Vindicate (v)

• Associated with defend and innocence.
• Means to prove innocence.
• After the secret files were made public, the informant was vindicated and set free.
• Frank was vindicated after realizing that Frank was sleeping during the time of the murder.

Formidable (adj)

• Means respectable through fear.
• Mrs. Dolly was a formidable opponent due to her strength and karate skills.
• The 2016 Golden State Warriors were a formidable team who struck fear upon their opponents.

Meander (v)

• Means to stroll.
• The young couple meandered through the amusement park.
• The meandering students were instructed by the teachers to go to homeroom since they were always late.

Dubious (adj)

• Means doubtful, unsure, uncertain.
• Ms. Rubin was dubious and refused to step off the platform.
• The dubious student was encouraged to take the penalty, and he scored the winning goal.

Prescient (adj)

• Means to know something ahead of time.
• The fortune teller was prescient in predicting lottery winnings.
• The weatherman was prescient and reported the forecast for the next week.

Debacle (n)

• Synonyms include calamity and fiasco.
• The wedding turned into a complete debacle.
• The graduation ceremony was a debacle; all of the students were dressed informally and pranked the teachers.

Baroque (adj)

• Synonym is elaborate; antonym is simple.
• The baroque castle was decorated with gargoyles, statues, and gold-leaf pictures.
• The baroque castle design pleased the king and amazed tourists.

Vestige (n)

• Synonyms include remains and trace.
• Joshua held onto vestiges of his relationship, including a poem and a faded picture.
• The victims of the tsunamis searched for vestiges of their belongings.

Ineluctable (adj)

• Means inescapable, unavoidable.
• After high school graduation, students must go to college or find employment.
• It is an ineluctable fact that if one commits a crime, they will go to jail.

Relic (n)

• Associated with ancient, historical, sacred, religious.
• A historical artifact.
• Millions of people journey to Rome to see ancient relics of past times.
• The European museum contains many stolen relics that they refuse to give back.

Arbiter (n)

• Synonyms: mediator, moderator, judge
• The company called in a professional arbiter to help the warring vice presidents.
• An arbiter was called to settle the heated dispute since the debaters could not resolve their argument.

Stoic (n)

• Synonyms: indifferent, unemotional
• Salva was stoic in the face of the terrible heat in the vast desert.
• The soldier was stoic in war despite losing his comrades.

Rescind (v)

• Synonyms: cancel, repeal
• The citizens persuaded the city council to rescind the ban on chewing gum in public.
• The rescinded ban on Tiktok greatly pleased the teenagers who were addicted to scrolling on the app.

Maverick (n) / (adj)

• Definitions: nonconformist, dissenter
• The maverick police officer often caught criminals but was never promoted.
• The maverick rioters helped push the government to provide equal rights to all races.

Circumlocution (n)

• Ramble about a different topic in an attempt to evade the topic.
• Nish used circumlocution, making a speech about Lincoln’s childhood.
• When his mother asked him how he got in trouble at school, he employed circumlocution in hopes of not getting punished.

Vapid (adj)

• Definitions: dull, lifeless
• The vapid actress had nothing to talk about so they resorted to many commercials to fill the time.
• Despite winning the championship and the Finals MVP title, the vapid player did not show any emotion which shocked the crowd.

Demagogue (n)

• Character traits: compelling, passionate, charismatic (possibly narcissist).
• A person who mesmerizes the audience in their speeches.
• Adolf Hitler is considered a demagogue because he conveyed strong emotion and justified the persecution of Jews by asserting them to be Germany’s enemy.

Veracious (adj)

• Synonyms: honest, truthful.
• The young child was veracious when he stole candy from the store and handed it back to his mother.
• Due to the pressure from his teacher, the boy was veracious and confessed to cheating on his geometry test.