BK_50_Shades_of_Grey

Barun K. (Germany)
42 words 2 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. scowl
    a facial expression of dislike or displeasure
    I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror.
  2. exasperation
    a feeling of annoyance
    He walked out of the room in exasperation. Seattle Times (Jan 27, 2013)
    I roll my eyes in exasperation and gaze at the pale, brown-haired girl.
  3. gamine
    a girl of impish appeal
    With her piercing blue eyes and gamine appearance, she quickly found work.
  4. galling
    causing irritation or annoyance
    It was particularly galling for Liverpool given Cole had wasted a glorious chance after being released by Suso moments earlier. BBC (Nov 22, 2012)
  5. fidget
    move restlessly
    He fidgeted with the mike stand in front of him.
    The uncertainty is galling, and my nerves resurface, making me fidget. I’ve never been comfortable with one-on-one interviews, preferring the anonymity of a group discussion where I can sit inconspicuously at the back of the room.
  6. inconspicuously
    in a manner intended to avoid attracting attention
    And unlike the board book it fits inconspicuously in your handbag.
  7. twitching
    a sudden muscle spasm
    I found that my right eye would not stop twitching. Salon (Oct 1, 2012)
    Not sitting twitching nervously in a colossal glass and stone edifice.
  8. exhilarating
    making lively and joyful
    Despite the pain of saying goodbye to friends, he found the recent shows in Japan exhilarating. Seattle Times (Feb 4, 2013)
  9. badger
    persuade through constant efforts
    In the end, badgered out of all patience, he had delivered a curt lecture on banking. Weyman, Stanley J.
    She badgered and badgered my PR people, and I admire that kind of tenacity.
  10. squirm
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    "Armstrong's suffering and squirming now is sowing the seeds for his later redemption."
  11. shrewd
    good at tricking people to get something
    This is yet another shrewd chess move on his part. Forbes (Jan 20, 2013)
    It’s shrewd business,” he murmurs. It doesn’t make sense – feeding the world’s poor? I can’t see the financial benefits of this, only the virtue of the ideal.
  12. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    His brow furrows.
  13. terse
    brief and to the point
    His answer was a terse “No.” Interview over.
    His tone is stern
  14. frown
    a facial expression of dislike or displeasure
    He frowned, several times, when the 49ers fell behind by 17 points early.
  15. confounded
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    Conservatives are confounded by today’s stories, but not convinced. Slate (Mar 6, 2013)
  16. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
    His tone is stern, authoritative.
  17. satchel
    luggage consisting of a small case with a flat bottom
    Just then an urchin with a satchel on his back came along. Bindloss, Harold
  18. coaxing
    flattery designed to gain favor
    If she needs some coaxing, promise her a hot chocolate afterwards.
  19. besieged
    surrounded by hostile forces
    The agency has been besieged by organized Google critics, including top tier legal talent. Forbes (Dec 12, 2012)
  20. spruce up
    make neat, smart, or trim
    Hotel and restaurant interiors have been spruced up and modernized. New York Times (Jul 27, 2012)
  21. nonchalance
    the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care
    Investors are more relaxed, but their nonchalance may prove misplaced.
    I try for nonchalance as I come out from behind the counter, but really I’m concentrating hard on not falling over my own feet.
  22. beguiling
    highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
    Twenty-five years on, the story is still charming and beguiling.
    Those fingers on that face are so beguiling.
  23. cavalier
    showing a lack of concern or seriousness
    The Cavaliers tried to battle back, drawing to within six at one point.
    Kate is irritatingly cavalier about José
  24. consternation
    sudden shock or dismay that causes confusion
    Use of cell phones, however, has caused some consternation among educators.
  25. surreptitious
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    You are not going to be able to have any kind of surreptitious life. New York Times (Jun 27, 2011)
  26. penny
    a coin worth one-hundredth of the value of the basic unit
    "Penny for your thought"
    "I wish I knew what you're thinking right now." It is not impolite. It also means "I'll pay you a penny if you tell me what you are thinking." That's all.
  27. bewilder
    cause to be confused emotionally
    South Africans appear bewildered by this turn of events. Salon (Feb 15, 2013)
  28. taciturn
    habitually reserved and uncommunicative
    He has been his usual taciturn, modest self.
  29. sobbing
    convulsive gasp made while weeping
  30. tirade
    a speech of violent denunciation
    The key word in Frank's tirade is "kindness." Seattle Times (Jun 28, 2012)
  31. domineering
    tending to rule in a cruel manner
    Man was violent and domineering; society needed a strong hand.
  32. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    One sports commentator struck a notably sardonic tone.
  33. overzealous
    marked by excessive enthusiasm for a cause or idea
    "A lot of it was overzealous guys trying to make the big hit in open field," he said. Seattle Times (Oct 19, 2010)
  34. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    The man facing him remains still, seemingly impassive.
  35. entranced
    filled with wonder and delight
    When I first clapped eyes on it, I was entranced.
    I am entranced, and it’s because his smile is so rare.
  36. antagonistic
    arousing animosity or hostility
    He stressed that his own relationship with Diamond was not antagonistic.
  37. spattered
    covered with bright patches (often used in combination)
    Blood was spattered on the bricks that littered the area.
    They were spattered with your vomit.
  38. sentient
    endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
    Another sentient human being in the same room would do. New York Times (Aug 13, 2011)
    He said he likes his women sentient.
  39. profligate
    unrestrained by convention or morality
    Their supporters are expecting them to cut profligate government spending.
    That’s very profligate of you.
  40. smirk
    a smile expressing smugness or scorn instead of pleasure
    Small smiles were followed by smirks and then outright hilarity.
    Are you smirking at me, Miss Steele?
  41. castigate
    inflict severe punishment on
    The documents also castigates U.S. for research into biological weapons and smallpox.
  42. severe
    very strong or vigorous
Created on Wed Mar 06 05:16:52 EST 2013 (updated Mon Mar 11 03:44:20 EDT 2013)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.