Vocab Video Contest (2016) - List 5

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. plasticity
    the property of being physically malleable
  2. pliable
    capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
  3. plutocracy
    a political system governed by the wealthy people
  4. poignancy
    a quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrow
  5. polarize
    cause to concentrate about two conflicting positions
  6. polemical
    of or involving dispute or controversy
  7. politic
    marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness
  8. polity
    the form of government of a social organization
  9. pontifical
    proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope
  10. poseur
    a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
  11. potable
    suitable for drinking
  12. potent
    having or wielding force or authority
  13. potentate
    a powerful ruler, especially one who is unconstrained by law
  14. potion
    a medicinal or magical or poisonous beverage
  15. potpourri
    a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
  16. pragmatist
    an adherent of a theory of observable practical consequences
  17. prate
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
  18. prattle
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
  19. preamble
    a preliminary introduction, as to a statute or constitution
  20. precipitate
    bring about abruptly
  21. precipitous
    extremely steep
  22. predetermine
    establish beforehand
  23. predispose
    make susceptible
  24. preeminent
    greatest in importance, degree, or significance
  25. pre-empt
    a high bid that is intended to prevent the opposing players from bidding
  26. preen
    clean with one's bill
  27. prefatory
    serving as an introduction or preface
  28. premise
    a statement that is held to be true
  29. premonition
    an early warning about a future event
  30. premonitory
    warning of future misfortune
  31. prevaricate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  32. prim
    affectedly dainty or refined
  33. primogeniture
    right of inheritance belonging exclusively to the eldest son
  34. privy
    informed about something secret or not generally known
  35. procurement
    the act of getting possession of something
  36. prod
    push against gently
  37. profligate
    unrestrained by convention or morality
  38. progeny
    the immediate descendants of a person
  39. prognosis
    a prediction of the course of a disease
  40. prognosticate
    make a prediction about; tell in advance
  41. prolixity
    boring verbosity
  42. prologue
    an introductory section of a novel or other literary work
  43. prophetic
    foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention
  44. propulsive
    having the power to move forward with force
  45. protean
    taking on different forms
  46. protuberance
    something that bulges out or projects from its surroundings
  47. provender
    food for domestic livestock
  48. provident
    giving something useful for the future
  49. provisional
    under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
  50. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
  51. proxy
    a person authorized to act for another
  52. prude
    a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
  53. pry
    be nosey
  54. psyche
    that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings
  55. psychosis
    severe mental disorder in which contact with reality is lost
  56. puerile
    displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
  57. pugilist
    someone who fights with fists for sport
  58. pugnacity
    a natural disposition to be hostile
  59. pulchritude
    physical beauty, especially of a woman
  60. pulmonary
    relating to or affecting the lungs
  61. purge
    rid of impurities
  62. pusillanimous
    lacking in courage, strength, and resolution
  63. putrid
    of or relating to the process of decay
  64. pyromaniac
    a person with a mania for setting things on fire
  65. quack
    the sound made by a duck
  66. quaff
    swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
  67. quail
    a small game bird
  68. quay
    wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
  69. quell
    suppress or crush completely
  70. quibble
    evade the truth of a point by raising irrelevant objections
  71. quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
  72. quietude
    a state of peace and quiet
  73. quip
    a witty saying
  74. quorum
    a gathering of the minimal number of members of a group
  75. rabid
    marked by excessive enthusiasm for a cause or idea
  76. ragamuffin
    a dirty shabbily clothed urchin
  77. raiment
    especially fine or decorative clothing
  78. rakish
    marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
  79. ramble
    move about aimlessly or without any destination
  80. ramify
    have or develop complicating consequences
  81. rampart
    an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
  82. random
    lacking any definite plan or order or purpose
  83. rant
    talk at length in a noisy, excited, or angry manner
  84. rarefied
    of high moral or intellectual value
  85. raspy
    unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
  86. rationalize
    employ logic or reason
  87. ravage
    cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
  88. rave
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
  89. reactionary
    extremely conservative or resistant to change
  90. realm
    a domain in which something is dominant
  91. rebate
    a refund of some fraction of the amount paid
  92. rebus
    a puzzle consisting of pictures representing words
  93. rebut
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
  94. recapitulate
    summarize briefly
  95. recession
    the act of returning control
  96. reciprocal
    concerning each of two or more persons or things
  97. reconnaissance
    the act of scouting, especially to gain information
  98. recrimination
    mutual accusations
  99. recumbent
    lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
  100. redolent
    having a strong pleasant odor
  101. redundant
    more than is needed, desired, or required
  102. reek
    give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.
  103. refrain
    resist doing something
  104. refulgent
    radiating or as if radiating light
  105. regal
    belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
  106. regatta
    a series of boat races
  107. regeneration
    the act of forming again; renewing and reconstituting
  108. regicide
    the act of killing a king
  109. rehabilitate
    help to readapt, as to a former state of health or repute
  110. reimburse
    pay back for some expense incurred
  111. rejuvenate
    make younger or more youthful
  112. relic
    an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
  113. relish
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
  114. reminiscence
    a mental impression retained and recalled from the past
  115. remission
    an abatement in intensity or degree
  116. remorse
    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
  117. remunerative
    for which money is paid
  118. rendezvous
    a meeting planned at a certain time and place
  119. renege
    fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
  120. reparable
    capable of being rectified
  121. repeal
    cancel officially
  122. replicate
    reproduce or make an exact copy of
  123. repository
    a facility where things can be deposited for safekeeping
  124. reprobate
    a person without moral scruples
  125. reprove
    reprimand, scold, or express dissatisfaction with
  126. repugnance
    intense aversion
  127. reputable
    held in high esteem and honor
  128. repute
    the state of being held in high esteem and honor
  129. requite
    make repayment for or return something
  130. resignation
    the act of giving up, as a claim or office or possession
  131. resonant
    characterized by a loud deep sound
  132. restraint
    the act of controlling by holding someone or something back
  133. resumption
    beginning again
  134. retinue
    the group following and attending to some important person
  135. retract
    formally reject or disavow
  136. retrench
    tighten one's belt; use resources carefully
  137. retrograde
    moving or directed or tending in a backward direction
  138. retrospective
    concerned with or related to the past
  139. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
  140. revile
    spread negative information about
  141. revoke
    cancel officially
  142. revulsion
    intense aversion
  143. rhapsodize
    say with great enthusiasm
  144. riddle
    pierce with many holes
  145. rife
    excessively abundant
  146. riveting
    capable of arousing and holding the attention
  147. roil
    make turbid by stirring up the sediments of
  148. roseate
    of something having a dusty purplish pink color
  149. rotunda
    a building having a circular plan and a dome
  150. ruffian
    a cruel and brutal fellow
  151. rummage
    search haphazardly
  152. runic
    relating to characters from an ancient alphabet
  153. ruse
    a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture
  154. rusticate
    live in the country and lead a pastoral life
  155. saboteur
    someone who deliberately destroys or disrupts something
  156. sacrilegious
    grossly irreverent toward what is considered holy
  157. salient
    conspicuous, prominent, or important
  158. saline
    containing salt
  159. sallow
    unhealthy looking
  160. sanctimonious
    excessively or hypocritically pious
  161. sap
    a watery fluid that circulates in a plant
  162. sarcasm
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
  163. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
  164. sate
    fill to contentment
  165. satellite
    any celestial body orbiting around a planet or star
  166. satiate
    fill to satisfaction
  167. satire
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
  168. satirical
    exposing human folly to ridicule
  169. saturate
    infuse or fill completely
  170. saturnine
    bitter or scornful
  171. savor
    a particular taste or smell, especially an appealing one
  172. scaffold
    a temporary arrangement erected around a building
  173. scenario
    a postulated sequence of possible events
  174. scintilla
    a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
  175. scuffle
    fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
  176. scuttle
    move about or proceed hurriedly
  177. seclusion
    the act of isolating oneself from others
  178. sect
    a subdivision of a larger religious group
  179. sedate
    characterized by dignity and propriety
  180. sedition
    an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
  181. seedy
    shabby and untidy
  182. seemly
    according with custom or propriety
  183. seep
    pass gradually or leak or as if through small openings
  184. seethe
    foam as if boiling
  185. seminal
    influential and providing a basis for later development
  186. senility
    the state of being infirm with age
  187. sensual
    marked by the appetites and passions of the body
  188. sententious
    concise and full of meaning
  189. serendipity
    good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
  190. serpentine
    resembling a snake in form
  191. severity
    excessive sternness
  192. shard
    a broken piece of a brittle artifact
  193. sheaf
    a package of several things tied together
  194. shimmer
    shine with a weak or fitful light
  195. shoddy
    of inferior workmanship and materials
  196. shrew
    small mouselike mammal with a long snout; related to moles
  197. sidereal
    of or relating to the stars or constellations
  198. simian
    relating to or resembling an ape or a monkey
  199. simplistic
    characterized by extreme and misleading lack of complexity
  200. sinecure
    a job that involves minimal duties
  201. sinewy
    consisting of tendons or resembling a tendon
  202. sinuous
    curved or curving in and out
  203. skinflint
    a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend
  204. skulk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
  205. skullduggery
    verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
  206. slacken
    become slow or slower
  207. slake
    satisfy, as thirst
  208. slander
    words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
  209. slapdash
    marked by great carelessness
  210. sleazy
    morally degraded
  211. slew
    a large number or amount or extent
  212. sloth
    a disinclination to work or exert yourself
  213. sluggard
    an idle slothful person
  214. sluice
    conduit that carries a rapid flow of water
  215. slur
    utter indistinctly
  216. smelt
    extract by heating, as a metal
  217. smirk
    smile in a mocking or condescending way
  218. snicker
    laugh quietly
  219. snivel
    cry or whine with snuffling
  220. sobriety
    the state of being unaffected or not intoxicated by alcohol
  221. solder
    join or fuse with an alloy
  222. solemnity
    a trait of dignified seriousness
  223. solstice
    when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator
  224. solvent
    capable of meeting financial obligations
  225. somatic
    characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit
  226. somnambulist
    someone who walks about in their sleep
  227. sonorous
    full and loud and deep
  228. sophistry
    a deliberately invalid argument in the hope of deceiving
  229. spangle
    adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material
  230. spasmodic
    occurring in spells and often abruptly
  231. spat
    a quarrel about petty points
  232. spate
    a sudden forceful flow
  233. spatial
    pertaining to the expanse in which things are located
  234. specious
    plausible but false
  235. spontaneity
    the quality of coming from feelings without constraint
  236. sportive
    given to merry frolicking
  237. spruce
    a tall evergreen tree that produces cones
  238. squabble
    a quarrel about petty points
  239. squander
    spend thoughtlessly; throw away
  240. squat
    sit on one's heels
  241. stagnant
    not growing or changing; without force or vitality
  242. stanch
    stop the flow of a liquid
  243. stanza
    a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
  244. static
    not in physical motion
  245. statutory
    relating to or created by regulations
  246. stealth
    avoiding detection by moving carefully
  247. stem
    cylinder forming a long narrow part of something
  248. stickler
    someone who insists on something
  249. stipple
    engrave by means of dots and flicks
  250. stodgy
    excessively conventional and unimaginative and hence dull
Created on January 20, 2016 (updated January 25, 2016)

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