LEARNING VOCABULARY

Capricious: Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

Sentence: The capricious weather made it difficult to plan a picnic, as it could be sunny one moment and raining the next.

Exacerbate: To make a situation worse or more intense.

Sentence: The new regulations only served to exacerbate the traffic problems in the city.

Ineffable: Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

Sentence: The beauty of the sunset over the mountains was ineffable, leaving us all in awe.

Juxtapose: To place two things side by side for comparison or contrast.

Sentence: The artist chose to juxtapose the bright colors of the flowers with the dark shades of the sky to create a striking contrast.

Nefarious: Wicked or criminal.

Sentence: The nefarious actions of the corrupt politician were eventually uncovered by the media.

Perfunctory: Done with minimal effort or interest, often as a routine or habit.

Sentence: His perfunctory response to the email showed he wasn’t really engaged in the conversation.

Recalcitrant: Stubbornly refusing to obey rules or orders.

Sentence: The recalcitrant student repeatedly ignored the teacher’s instructions, causing frustration in the classroom.

Sycophant: A person who acts excessively obedient or submissive toward someone important to gain advantage.

Sentence: The CEO surrounded himself with sycophants who praised his every decision, no matter how questionable.

Ubiquitous: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Sentence: Smartphones have become so ubiquitous that it’s rare to see someone without one.

Voracious: Having a strong desire or appetite for something, often food, but also knowledge or activity.

Sentence: She had a voracious appetite for books and read several novels every week.

Quixotic: Extremely idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical.

Sentence: His quixotic quest to save the world single-handedly often led him into risky and pointless situations.

Sagacious: Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.

Sentence: The sagacious leader was able to make wise decisions even in the face of uncertainty.

Trepidation: A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.

Sentence: There was trepidation in the air as the students awaited their final exam results.