1 VMIV
2 Unit 1 Lucid Superficial Obscure Scrutinized Acute
3 Lucid Very Understandable Clear ExamplesThe fireman said that the boy’s lucid directions on how to find his apartment saved the young boy’s life. Should students give lucid answers to their teachers’ questions?
4 Superficial On the surface only Not too deep Very serious Examples:The mother relaxed when the doctor told her that her son’s terrible looking cuts were only superficial. Are most superficial cuts life threatening?
5 Obscure Hard to understand Somewhat hidden Not clear Examples:The woman couldn’t believe that this obscure little restaurant could serve such great food. Are obscure singers famous?
6 Scrutinized To look at very closely To really check something outExamples: The detective scrutinized the face of every women in the line up to see if she could identify the killer. Should a hospital be scrutinized for cleanliness?
7 Acute Sharp Serious Very Important Examples:The singer sang a note acute enough to shatter glass. Should you ignore an acute message from a friend?
8 Unit 2 Belligerent Futile Inevitable Condone Recalcitrant
9 Belligerent Combative Quarrelsome Waging war Examples:The belligerent actions were one of the reasons that the fight broke out. Could belligerent protesters be thrown in jail?
10 Futile Hopeless Without effect Examples:Their efforts to retrieve the sunken car were futile. Do futile causes get a lot of help?
11 Inevitable Unavoidable Bound to happen Examples:When the dam cracked, it was inevitable that the valley would flood. Is it inevitable that the sun will rise?
12 Condone Overlook To permit to happen Examples:He could not condone the actions of the teenage vandals. Do you condone the reckless use of handguns?
13 Recalcitrant Stubbornly defiant of authority Unruly Examples:He was suspended because of his recalcitrant behavior at school. Do recalcitrant crowds cause disturbances?
14 Unit 3 Objective Indifferent Innovate Diverse Eccentric
15 Objective Without taking sides Fair Open minded Just Examples:A judge must be objective when listening to court cases. Do people need to be objective when they listen to others tell stories?
16 Indifferent Not caring one way or the other Emotionless NeutralHaving no favorite Examples: The ambassador remained indifferent when listening to the complaints of both countries. Do you sometimes feel indifferent about things?
17 Innovate To be very creative To try something new and different InventExamples: The director tried to innovate emotion into lifeless play. Do you innovate ideas in class?
18 Diverse Many different kinds Not all the same Varied Mixed Examples:The worlds wide meeting of the Girl Scouts brought in a diverse group of people. Do you diverse decorating styles create an interesting house?
19 Eccentric Strange Crazy Weird Examples:The strangely dressed man was considered eccentric by everyone who saw him. Do eccentric people get lots of attention?
20 Unit 4 Resignation Augment Repudiate Abstract Benevolent
21 Resignation Leave Give up something Examples:The president accepted the resignation of the senator because of the scandal. Does your resignation mean you give up?
22 Augment To add to Increase Make bigger Examples:We had to augment the buffet with more meat and cheeses because of all the people who came. Do some people want to augment their facial features?
23 Repudiate To reject To deny Examples:The council repudiated the suggestion with their vote of 9 to 1. Can citizens repudiate laws?
24 Abstract Existing only in theory Lacking substanceOpposite of concrete Examples: The scientist’s abstract theory proposed that time travel was possible. Does an abstract picture show things as they really are?
25 Benevolent Good Kind Caring Generous Examples:The benevolent man did a lot of good things for the community. Do benevolent people help others?
26 Unit 5 Discriminate Relevant Aesthetic Pious Servile
27 Discriminate To see the differenceTo make a clear distinction between things Examples: The poorer people were the discriminated against because of their social class. Should you discriminate fact from fiction?
28 Relevant Important Having to do with the subject at hand Examples:The meeting was relevant to the success of the project. Do relevant facts help solve a mystery?
29 Aesthetic Having to do with artistic beauty Artistic Examples:The valley and mountain towns were known for their aesthetic beauty Is a sculpture of a human body aesthetic?
30 Pious Very respectful towards Devout Examples:The monks were considered pious because of their deep faith and beliefs. Should you act pious towards your king?
31 Servile Like a servant Submissive Examples:The girl remained servile to their needs because she felt indebted to the family. Do nuns live in servile communities?
32 Unit 6 Alleviate Profound Expedite Profuse Depravity
33 Alleviate To lessen To relieve To make something more bearableExamples: We were able to alleviate unnecessary crowding by adding more chairs. Do drugs alleviate pain?
34 Profound Deep Very thoughtful Examples:There was a profound difference in the boy after he returned from military school. Do profound thoughts come easily?
35 Expedite To make faster To make easier Examples:The shipping company expedited the order because of the urgent need for the package. Can you expedite office paperwork?
36 Profuse Flowing A lot of something Examples:People were asked to leave the area because of the profuse flooding from the dam. Should profuse bleeding be stopped?
37 Depravity Evil A wicked act Examples:The judge sentenced him to death because of his depravity. Could depravity come from the wicked mind?
38 Unit 7 Guile Deter Ironic Volition Deride
39 Guile Cunning CraftinessBecause of the politician’s guile, his competitors learned to watch their back. Does guile allow someone to get away with things?
40 Deter To prevent To stop To keep someone from doing somethingThe heavy downpour deterred us from holding our family reunion. Do speed limits deter people from speeding?
41 Ironic Unexpected A contrast between what was expected and what really happened It was ironic that the two teams captains should meet to discuss the game. Are ironic occurrences easy to predict?
42 Volition A conscious choice WillThe volition of the swimmer allowed him to finish the very difficult race. Is going to the doctor something you do on your own volition?
43 Deride To make fun of RidiculeBecause he had too many freckles, the children would always deride him. Do people like it when you deride them in public?
44 Unit 8 Prodigal Discernment Anarchy Apathy Provincial
45 Prodigal Extravagant Wasteful Spends too much Doesn’t save anythingBecause of his prodigal spending, he was not appointed as treasurer. Should prodigal gifts be given all the time?
46 Discernment Insight Ability to see things clearly CleverTo have a good understanding The investigator’s discernment helped him to solve the crime quickly. Is it is easy to use your discernment to solve puzzles?
47 Anarchy No government control Without law and order WildWithout a teacher present, classrooms can quickly turn into a state of anarchy. Is it a good leader who takes his followers into anarchy?
48 Apathy Lack of emotion or interest No excitement No emotionThe student’s apathy was apparent when he fell asleep during class. Should you show apathy in your school work?
49 Provincial Very small sighted NarrowCan’t see anyone’s position except their own It is very provincial to assume that all teenagers dislike classical music. Should you be provincial with your views and opinions?
50 Unit 9 Infamous Solemn Renounce Hedonistic Philanthropy
51 Infamous Having a very bad reputation Shamefully wickedThe singer was banded from the church show because of his infamous reputation. Do infamous children have plenty of friends?
52 Solemn Deeply serious GraveWe didn’t expect the doctor’s report to be so solemn concerning father’s condition. Are solemn occasions sad?
53 Renounce To give up To rejectMany people renounce their use of tobacco products during the National Smoke-Out Campaign. Should you renounce actions that are hurtful?
54 Hedonistic Pleasure seeking Giving into all wantsExpensive spas use hedonistic methods to treat their wealthy clients. Do hedonistic events appeal to pleasure seeking individuals?
55 Philanthropy Donating to charity The love of mankindThe great philanthropy of the Smythe family allowed the free animal care clinic to open more facilities. Can philanthropy help a women’s shelter?
56 Unit 10 Censure Acquiesce Arrogant Squander Advocate
57 Censure To condemn severely for doing something badTo punish for wrongful deeds The principal was censured because of his thoughtless behavior. Should censure be used to punish petty crimes?
58 Acquiesce To give in To agreeThe parent acquiesced to the children/s plea because of their non-stop nagging. Should you acquiesce to other people’s needs?
59 Arrogant Feeling superior to others SnootyVery few people liked him because of his arrogant behavior. Do arrogant people have a lot of friends?
60 Squander To waste To use upThe swimmer tried not to squander her last bit of energy in the long race. Should you squander your water in a drought?
61 Advocate To speak in favor of To supportThe families of Springfield were advocates for youth baseball. Do coaches act as an advocate for their teams?
62 Unit 11 Vacillate Uniform Elusive Ameliorate Disparaging
63 Unit 12
64 Unit 13 Conspicuous Inept Insipid Complacent Preclude
65 Conspicuous CON-SPIK-U-OUS Obvious Easy to see Not hiddenAn escaped convict does not want to be conspicuous for fear that the police would find him. Are people with nose rings conspicuous?
66 Inept IN-EPT Inappropriate Clumsy IncompetentThe young boy felt inept in dance class because he had never danced before. Would a professional actor feel inept in front of a crowd of people?
67 Insipid IN-SIP-ID Ordinary DullJumping jacks can be an insipid form of exercise. Would an insipid lecture be interesting to listen to?
68 Complacent COM-PLA-CENT Satisfied with yourself Pleased with yourselfThe new mayor acted complacent after easily winning the election. Would complacent people think that they are perfect?
69 Preclude PRE-KLUDE To prevent from happening To make impossibleThe road blocks and police cruisers preclude traffic from passing by the wreck. Can an empty gas tank preclude a car from traveling any farther?
70 Unit 14
71 Unit 15
72 Unit 16 Trepidation Bastion Zealous Indomitable Pugnacity
73 Trepidation Fear Nervous about what might happenWe sensed trepidation in the young boys as they went away to camp for the first time. Do fearful people feel trepidation?
74 Bastion A castle-like building FortThe ruler’s bastion was well guarded and hard to get into. Can the White House be thought of as our President’s bastion?
75 Zealous Crazily devoted to something Really ferventSome people are zealous about football and others about baseball. Would a zealous teacher be interesting to listen to?
76 Indomitable Being unwilling to listen to the lawActs out against authority Defiant The gang’s indomitable actions caused the police to arrest them. Would indomitable people be peace keepers?
77 Pugnacity Readiness to fight over something Waging warThe boys showed their pugnacity by pushing one another. Can an angry person show his pugnacity?
78 Unit 17 Revere Denounce Candid Impartial Disdain
79 Revere RA-VERE To worship To honor ExamplesMost people revere the elders in their church because they are older and more experienced. Do most people revere their parents?
80 Denounce DE-NOUNCE To speak out against To condemn ExamplesOur youth group denounces drugs, alcohol, and casual sex. Would a men’s only club denounce women’s admission?
81 Candid KAN-DID Truthful Honest ExamplesThe President made a candid speech about how the war started. Why do you think candid would be a good word to describe children?
82 Impartial IM-PAR-TIAL Not taking sides Neutral ExamplesIt is important that a judge remain impartial until all evidence is presented. What are some other professions that would require the professional to be impartial?
83 Disdain DI-STAIN A feeling of great hate Abhor Despise ExamplesAs the suspect entered, a great feeling of disdain filled the victim’s parents. Would you want to do something kind for someone you disdain?
84 Unit 18 Extol Pragmatic Novel Proponent Rigorous
85 Extol To praise To say great things aboutThe people of our parish wanted to extol the good works of our women’s group. Would you extol the actions of a boy scout?
86 Pragmatic Practical Based on experienceI think that a blue suit, white shirt, and blue tie is a very pragmatic way to dress for an interview. Is it pragmatic to visit a doctor once a year?
87 Novel New Unique OriginalThe new gym teacher’s novel way for us to warm up before class was dancing. Would a novel idea have been used before?
88 Proponent To speak in favor of SupporterThe doctor was a proponent of exercise and good eating habits. Are bankers proponent of putting your money in the bank?
89 Rigorous Hard DemandingThe soldier’s rigorous training prepared him for war. Does rigorous exercise make for a good workout?
90 Unit 19 Compliant Reprehensible Fallacious Condescending Audacious
91 Compliant COM-PLI-ANT Obedient Giving in to something ExamplesThe child was compliant for his parents because he knew he should behave. Are compliant people going to do illegal things?
92 Reprehensible RE-PRE-HEN-SI-BLE Deserving of blame Finding fault withExamples The reprehensible actions of the teen caused him to be grounded for a week. Is it reprehensible to steal from a poor person?
93 Fallacious FA-LA-CIOUS False Lie ExamplesThe fallacious stories that the girl told only got her in more trouble. Do news magazines sometimes print fallacious stories?
94 Condescending CON-DE-SEN-DING Looking down on someone or somethingActing like you are superior Examples The unpopular teacher was always being condescending with her students. Would condescending actions make someone popular?
95 Audacious AU-DA-CIOUS Shocking Very bad ExamplesThe audacious stage show was banned from the community theater building. Can an audacious picture upset people?
96 Unit 20 Discord Diligent Contempt Innocuous Jeopardy
97 Discord DIS-CORD Disagreement To not get along ExamplesThe discord between the teachers and the principal was evident in their disagreements. Are feuding families in discord?
98 Diligent DI-LI-GENT Hardworking Done with care ExamplesSusan was rewarded with a raise because she was so diligent on the job. What would be an example of being diligent on the job?
99 Contempt CON-TEMPT Showing must dislike Hatred ExamplesThe people showed their contempt for the murder by demanding he be put to death. Could contempt between people cause disagreements?
100 Innocuous IN-OK-UOUS Harmless Dull ExamplesThe man made innocuous comments about how the man looked in his tuxedo. Would an innocuous joke offend someone?
101 Jeopardy JE-PER-DY Danger In a bad position ExamplesThe man was in jeopardy of falling off the edge when the railing broke. Can a wild animal put you in jeopardy?