Build Your Vocabulary – Part 7

Ahh !! Such diversity of words in one language !!

The extent to which the language has evolved is astonishing and at the same time intriguing. Here  I present to you the 7th edition of the vocabulary building tutorial.

Happy Learning and discovering !! 🙂

Word	Meaning	Sentence
Perspicacious	Having a ready insight into and understanding of things.	Many perspicacious investors sold their tech stocks long before the market crashed.
Magnum Opus	A work of art, music, or literature that is regarded as the most important or best work that an artist, composer, or writer has produced. Origin : Latin	This film is going to be the magnum opus of the director.
Complicity	The fact or condition of being involved with others in an activity that is unlawful or morally wrong.	They were accused of complicity in an attempt to overthrow the government.
Logjam	Situation that seems irresolvable.	The CEO of the company has a power to break any logjam in financial issues.
Truculent	Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.	The truculent attitude of students during strike was justifiable.
Opprobrium	Harsh criticism or censure.	The alleged complicity of the actor in betting brought opprobrium from his fans.
Insouciant	Showing a casual lack of concern.	Because Bill is insouciant and not concerned about his retirement, he does not worry about saving money.
Budge	Make or cause to make the slightest movement	The opposition is refusing to budge on its stand against the ruling party.
Dossier	A collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.	The government will soon release dossiers containing the evidence of a planned protest against the government by the opposition.
Tome	A book, especially a large, heavy, scholarly one.	I prefer reading novels to tomes.
Cuckold	(of a man) make (another man) a cuckold by having a sexual relationship with his wife.	In the novel, the protagonist cuckolds his employer.
Motif	A dominant or recurring idea in an artistic work.A decorative image or design, especially a repeated one forming a pattern.	Unrequited love is a frequent motif in the playwright’s works.
Duress	Threats, violence, constraints, or other action used to coerce someone into doing something against their will or better judgement.	The judge overturned the case because the defendant’s attorney proved that his client’s confession had been given under duress.
Musing	Characterized by reflection or deep thought	She was looking over the sea with sad, musing gaze. She missed him.
Beleaguer	Put in a very difficult situation	The board is supporting the beleaguered director.
Nemesis	A downfall caused by an inescapable agent. The enemy which constantly causes problems	The whole world witnessed the nemesis of the country whose sole nemesis was poor governance
Renege	Go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.	The government had reneged on its election promises.
Heteronormative	Denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.	We used to live in a heteronormative culture but things are changing now.
Churlishness	Deliberately rude behavior	Although she is a beautiful and talented actress, she has a reputation for being churlish and difficult to get along with.
Fractious	Irritable and quarrelsome.	They fight like fractious children.
Debunk	Expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief) to reveal the inaccuracies associated with a belief	The scientist hoped to debunk the genetic theory by completing his own research.
Jingoism	Extreme patriotism for one’s country that often shows itself through aggression towards other nations	The dictator’s jingoism caused him to constantly rant about his nation’s superiority while threatening his rivals with war.
Tantalize	Torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable. Excites one’s senses or desires.	Since I am on a diet, I must ignore the tantalizing smells coming from the bakery.
Desperado	A desperate or reckless person, especially a criminal.	No one could believe that the decently dressed man was a desperado.
Livid	Furiously angry	After sitting in the airport for nine hours, I was livid when I learned my flight would be delayed another six hours.
Contestation	The action or process of disputing or arguing	There is a global contestation over the distribution of natural resources.
Annulled	Declared invalid ( an official agreement, decision or result )	The elections were annulled by the general amid renewed protests.
Profligate	Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources. Licentious and dissolute	During the mayor’s campaign, he swore to put an end to profligate government spending.
Bootleg	Make, distribute, or sell (alcoholic drink or a recording) illegally.	Government has to enforce measures to curtail bootlegging.
Hooch	Alcoholic drink, especially inferior or illicit whisky.	Prohibition of liquor in a state will lead to larger number of deaths due to hooch tragedies.
Pacifist	A person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable.	She was a committed pacifist all her life.

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