Vocab #4

accolade: (noun) praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting.
She had received many accolades during her ten year acting career.

acerbity: (noun) sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression.
Regina George was known for her acerbity in Mean Girls.

attrition: (noun) the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment.
Attrition of joints is common in senior citizens.

bromide: (noun) a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative.
He couldn’t help but feel like the bromide of the group, everyone else seemed more interesting.


chauvinist: (adj.) extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; or (noun) a person like that.
Carl’s chauvinist passion for gay rights was remarkable.

chronic: (adj.) continuing over a long period of time or recurring often.
Chronic disease is a hard thing to come to terms with when you are diagnosed.

expound: (verb) to explain in detail.

The story took an hour to tell because Layla insisted on expounding on every detail.

factionalism: (noun) party strife and intrigue.
The factionalism around my family dinner table is notable.

immaculate: (adj.) spotless; without blemish or fault.
Grounds keepers keep the White House immaculately landscaped.

imprecation: (noun) a curse; the act of cursing.
Josh was scolded for the imprecations that came out when he stubbed his toe.

ineluctable: (adj.) not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome.
After struggling for many years, Maria finally labeled her addiction ineluctable.

mercurial: (adj.) characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant.
The director’s mercurial personality caused tension on the set.

palliate: (verb) to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate.
The couple was notorious for palliating their issues but not ever solving the deeper troubles.

protocol: (noun) customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette; a type of international agreement; an official account or record.
Airport security protocol irritates some people because it is so extensive.

resplendent: (adj.) shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent.
Her resplendent smile left all the boys dazzled.

stigmatize: (verb) to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious.
Many political views and labels have been stigmatized.

sub rosa: (adv.) in secret; confidentially; privately.
The CIA needs members who are able to work sub rosa.


vainglory: (noun) excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display.
Ussain Bolt’s vainglory was a turn off for many fans.

vestige: (noun) a trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but is now lost or vanished.
The strewn glass and wood served as vestige of the houses that had been knocked out my the hurricane.

volition: (noun) the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding.
Many kids value their eighteenth birthday because they gain so much volition.