# WordDuel Vocabulary — Level 6: Year 9–10 > 115 words · Australian Curriculum spelling list --- ## 1. acquiescent **Phonetic:** /ak-wee-ES-ent/ **Definition:** Ready to accept something without protest or resistance. It describes a person who agrees passively to what others want. **Example:** She was so passively agreeable that her friends often took advantage of her willingness to go along with anything. --- ## 2. acrimonious **Phonetic:** /ak-rih-moh-nee-us/ **Definition:** Describes speech or debate that is angry, bitter, and full of harsh feelings, especially during a disagreement. **Example:** The divorce proceedings were filled with bitter, angry exchanges between the two former partners. --- ## 3. amalgamation **Phonetic:** /uh-mal-guh-MAY-shun/ **Definition:** The process of combining or uniting multiple things into one; a mixture or blend of different elements. **Example:** The novel's main character was a fascinating blend of several real historical figures combined into one personality. --- ## 4. anaesthetic **Phonetic:** /an-es-thet-ik/ **Definition:** A substance that causes loss of sensation or consciousness, used especially during surgery to prevent pain. **Example:** Before the operation, the doctor administered a substance that numbed the entire area so the patient would feel no pain. --- ## 5. anthropomorphism **Phonetic:** /an-throh-poh-mor-fiz-um/ **Definition:** The attribution of human characteristics, emotions, or behaviour to animals, objects, or gods. **Example:** In the animated film, the talking animals displayed human emotions like jealousy, love, and ambition. --- ## 6. avuncular **Phonetic:** /uh-vunk-yoo-lur/ **Definition:** Resembling or characteristic of an uncle, especially in being kind, friendly, and helpful toward a younger or less experienced person. **Example:** The older mentor placed a warm, uncle-like hand on the young writer's shoulder and offered gentle advice about her manuscript. --- ## 7. belligerent **Phonetic:** /buh-LIJ-er-unt/ **Definition:** Hostile and aggressive; eager to fight or argue. **Example:** His hostile and combative tone during the debate alienated many of the audience members. --- ## 8. bibliophile **Phonetic:** /bib-lee-oh-fyle/ **Definition:** A person who loves and collects books. It comes from Greek words meaning 'book lover'. **Example:** Her bedroom was stacked floor to ceiling with novels, encyclopedias, and rare first editions she had been collecting since childhood. --- ## 9. bioluminescence **Phonetic:** /by-oh-loo-mih-NES-ens/ **Definition:** The production and emission of light by a living organism. It is the natural glow seen in certain sea creatures and insects. **Example:** The natural glow produced by tiny organisms in the waves made the entire shoreline shimmer with blue-green light. --- ## 10. bourgeois **Phonetic:** /boor-ZHWAH/ **Definition:** Relating to the middle class, especially their values and materialism. It is often used to describe conventional or overly concerned with wealth and respectability. **Example:** The revolutionary poet criticised the comfortable middle-class obsession with material possessions and social status. --- ## 11. cantankerous **Phonetic:** /kan-TANK-er-us/ **Definition:** Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative. It describes someone who is grumpy and difficult to deal with. **Example:** The grumpy, bad-tempered neighbour complained about everything from the noise of birds to the colour of nearby fences. --- ## 12. capitulation **Phonetic:** /kuh-pit-yoo-LAY-shun/ **Definition:** The act of surrendering or giving in to demands, often after resistance. It implies ceasing to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand. **Example:** After weeks of negotiation, the government's complete surrender to the protesters' demands shocked political commentators. --- ## 13. capricious **Phonetic:** /kuh-PRISH-us/ **Definition:** Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour; unpredictable and impulsive. **Example:** The manager's wildly unpredictable decisions made it impossible for employees to know what to expect from one day to the next. --- ## 14. chrysalis **Phonetic:** /KRIS-uh-lis/ **Definition:** The protective case or shell in which a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Also used figuratively to describe a transitional state of development. **Example:** Attached to the underside of the leaf was a smooth, jade-green casing where the caterpillar was undergoing its miraculous transformation. --- ## 15. circumspect **Phonetic:** /SER-kum-spekt/ **Definition:** Careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences before acting. Being cautious and unwilling to take risks. **Example:** After being burned by hasty decisions before, the manager became extremely cautious and considered every possible outcome before proceeding. --- ## 16. clandestine **Phonetic:** /klan-DES-tin/ **Definition:** Done secretly or kept hidden, often because it would not be approved of. **Example:** The resistance fighters conducted their secret operations under the cover of darkness, away from prying eyes. --- ## 17. confabulation **Phonetic:** /kon-fab-yoo-LAY-shun/ **Definition:** An informal conversation, or in psychology, the production of fabricated or distorted memories without the intention to deceive. It means casual chatting or unconscious false remembering. **Example:** The two old friends settled into a long, relaxed, and meandering chat about their shared experiences from decades past. --- ## 18. connoisseur **Phonetic:** /kon-uh-SUR/ **Definition:** An expert who has superior knowledge and refined taste in a particular area, especially the fine arts or food and drink. **Example:** With years of training, the expert could distinguish between hundreds of varieties of cheese based on taste and texture alone. --- ## 19. consanguinity **Phonetic:** /kon-san-GWIN-ih-tee/ **Definition:** The state of being related to someone by blood or having a common ancestor. It refers to family relationships through descent. **Example:** The genealogist traced the blood relationship between the two families back to a shared ancestor in the eighteenth century. --- ## 20. convalescence **Phonetic:** /kon-vuh-LES-ens/ **Definition:** The gradual recovery of health and strength after illness, injury, or surgery. It refers to the period of time spent getting better. **Example:** After his serious illness, the doctor insisted on a long period of rest and gradual recovery before returning to work. --- ## 21. deleterious **Phonetic:** /del-uh-teer-ee-us/ **Definition:** Causing harm or damage, often in a subtle or unexpected way. It describes something that has a damaging effect on health, the environment, or wellbeing. **Example:** Scientists warned that the harmful chemicals in the water supply could have damaging consequences for the entire community. --- ## 22. desideratum **Phonetic:** /deh-sid-uh-RAH-tum/ **Definition:** Something that is needed or wanted; an essential requirement. It refers to a thing considered highly desirable. **Example:** For the committee, finding a candidate with both experience and creativity was the one essential requirement that could not be compromised. --- ## 23. diffidence **Phonetic:** /DIF-ih-dense/ **Definition:** A lack of self-confidence; modesty or shyness. It describes a reluctance to draw attention to oneself. **Example:** Although she was brilliant, her natural shyness and lack of confidence meant she rarely volunteered her ideas during group discussions. --- ## 24. disenfranchisement **Phonetic:** /dis-en-FRAN-chyz-ment/ **Definition:** The state of being deprived of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote. It refers to the removal of someone's power or rights in society. **Example:** The history essay examined how certain communities were systematically stripped of their voting rights and political power for generations. --- ## 25. doppelganger **Phonetic:** /dop-ul-gang-er/ **Definition:** A look-alike or double of a living person. In literature, it often represents a ghostly or mysterious twin. **Example:** The protagonist was terrified to discover that an identical copy of herself had been seen wandering the streets at night. --- ## 26. dysphoria **Phonetic:** /dis-FOR-ee-uh/ **Definition:** A state of unease, dissatisfaction, or general unhappiness. It is the opposite of euphoria and describes deep emotional discomfort. **Example:** After weeks of isolation, she experienced a deep and persistent feeling of unease and emotional discomfort. --- ## 27. ebullience **Phonetic:** /ih-BUL-ee-ents/ **Definition:** The quality of being cheerful and full of energy; enthusiastic excitement that bubbles over. **Example:** The team's bubbling enthusiasm after winning the championship could be felt throughout the entire stadium. --- ## 28. efflorescence **Phonetic:** /ef-lor-ES-ens/ **Definition:** The process of flowering or blooming, or a period of great development and productivity. It can also refer to a powdery deposit on surfaces. **Example:** The sudden blooming of creative talent in the small town produced three acclaimed novelists in a single decade. --- ## 29. ephemeron **Phonetic:** /eh-FEM-er-on/ **Definition:** Something that lasts for a very short time, or a creature with an extremely brief lifespan. It refers to anything fleeting or transient. **Example:** The delicate insect that emerged at dawn and perished by sunset was a perfect example of life's brevity. --- ## 30. equivocate **Phonetic:** /ih-kwiv-uh-kayt/ **Definition:** To use ambiguous or unclear language in order to avoid committing to a position or to mislead someone. It means to be deliberately vague. **Example:** When asked directly about the budget cuts, the manager spoke in deliberately vague and evasive terms. --- ## 31. ethereal **Phonetic:** /ih-theer-ee-ul/ **Definition:** Extremely delicate, light, and beautiful in a way that seems too perfect for this world. It can also mean heavenly or otherworldly. **Example:** The morning mist gave the landscape an otherworldly, almost heavenly beauty that took their breath away. --- ## 32. fastidious **Phonetic:** /fas-TID-ee-us/ **Definition:** Very attentive to accuracy and detail; excessively particular about cleanliness or neatness. **Example:** Her extremely meticulous approach to organising her bookshelf meant every volume was arranged by colour, size, and author. --- ## 33. genuflection **Phonetic:** /jen-yoo-FLEK-shun/ **Definition:** The act of bending one knee to the ground as a sign of reverence or worship. Figuratively, it means showing excessive respect or deference. **Example:** The worshippers lowered themselves to one knee in a gesture of deep reverence before entering the cathedral. --- ## 34. grandeur **Phonetic:** /GRAN-jur/ **Definition:** Splendour and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style. It describes the quality of being magnificent or majestic. **Example:** Nothing could have prepared them for the sheer _______ of the mountain range, with its snow-capped peaks stretching endlessly across the horizon. --- ## 35. hemorrhage **Phonetic:** /HEM-uh-rij/ **Definition:** A severe and uncontrolled loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel. It can also mean a rapid and uncontrollable loss of something valuable. **Example:** The doctors rushed to stop the dangerous and uncontrolled bleeding before the patient's condition worsened. --- ## 36. idiosyncrasy **Phonetic:** /id-ee-oh-SINK-ruh-see/ **Definition:** An unusual habit, behaviour, or characteristic that is peculiar to a particular person. It refers to a distinctive personal quirk. **Example:** Her peculiar habit of arranging all her books by colour rather than author was just one of her many personal quirks. --- ## 37. ignominy **Phonetic:** /IG-noh-min-ee/ **Definition:** Public shame, disgrace, or dishonour. It describes a deeply humiliating experience or situation. **Example:** The fallen hero suffered the deep public disgrace of being stripped of all his medals and titles. --- ## 38. impecunious **Phonetic:** /im-peh-KYOO-nee-us/ **Definition:** Having little or no money; poor or penniless. It is a formal way of describing someone in a state of poverty. **Example:** Despite his brilliant talent, the penniless musician could not afford to replace his broken instrument. --- ## 39. imprimatur **Phonetic:** /im-prih-MAH-ter/ **Definition:** An official licence or approval to do something, especially to publish a book. It implies authoritative endorsement or sanction. **Example:** The young scientist's research finally received the official stamp of approval from the university's most respected review committee. --- ## 40. incandescence **Phonetic:** /in-kan-DES-ens/ **Definition:** The emission of light by a body that has been heated to a high temperature. It can also refer to a passionate or brilliant quality. **Example:** The white-hot glow produced by the heated metal filament inside the old light bulb lit the entire room warmly. --- ## 41. incorrigible **Phonetic:** /in-KOR-ij-uh-bul/ **Definition:** Not able to be corrected or reformed; describing someone whose bad behaviour cannot be changed. **Example:** No matter how many detentions he received, the hopelessly misbehaving student refused to change his ways. --- ## 42. inefficacious **Phonetic:** /in-ef-ih-KAY-shus/ **Definition:** Not producing the desired effect or result. It describes something that fails to achieve what it was intended to do. **Example:** The government's attempts to control inflation proved _______, as prices continued to rise despite multiple interventions. --- ## 43. inexplicable **Phonetic:** /in-EKS-plik-uh-bul/ **Definition:** Unable to be explained or accounted for. It describes something so strange or mysterious that no reason can be found for it. **Example:** The scientist could find absolutely no rational explanation for the bizarre results of her experiment. --- ## 44. inimitable **Phonetic:** /in-im-it-uh-bul/ **Definition:** So good or unique that it is impossible to copy or imitate. It describes something that stands alone in its excellence. **Example:** No matter how many artists tried to replicate her painting technique, none could capture the same magic. --- ## 45. inscrutable **Phonetic:** /in-SKROO-tuh-bul/ **Definition:** Impossible to understand or interpret. Describes someone whose thoughts or expressions cannot be read or figured out. **Example:** The detective could not decipher the suspect's completely unreadable facial expression during the intense interrogation. --- ## 46. iridescent **Phonetic:** /ir-ih-DES-ent/ **Definition:** Showing luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles. It describes a shimmering, rainbow-like quality. **Example:** The soap bubble floated upward, its surface displaying shifting, rainbow-coloured patterns as it caught the light. --- ## 47. juxtaposition **Phonetic:** /juk-stuh-puh-ZIH-shun/ **Definition:** The act of placing two things close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. It highlights differences between them. **Example:** The photographer placed images of extreme wealth directly alongside scenes of poverty to highlight the sharp contrast between them. --- ## 48. lascivious **Phonetic:** /lah-SIV-ee-us/ **Definition:** Showing or expressing excessive interest in matters of a sensual nature. It describes behaviour that is inappropriately suggestive. **Example:** The Victorian-era critics found the painting's suggestive imagery deeply inappropriate for public display. --- ## 49. loquacity **Phonetic:** /loh-kwas-uh-tee/ **Definition:** The quality of being very talkative or chatty. It refers to someone who talks a great deal. **Example:** The teacher gently reminded the student that his excessive chattiness was disrupting the class discussion. --- ## 50. lugubriously **Phonetic:** /loo-GOO-bree-us-lee/ **Definition:** In a way that looks or sounds sad and dismal. It describes doing something with an exaggerated mournfulness. **Example:** The cellist played so _______ that several audience members were moved to tears by the sorrowful melody. --- ## 51. machiavellian **Phonetic:** /mak-ee-uh-VEL-ee-un/ **Definition:** Cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics. Named after Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote about using ruthless tactics to gain and keep power. **Example:** The villain in the novel used cunning, deceitful schemes to manipulate everyone around her and seize control of the company. --- ## 52. magnanimously **Phonetic:** /mag-NAN-ih-mus-lee/ **Definition:** In a way that shows generosity and nobility of spirit, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful. It means acting with gracious forgiveness. **Example:** Despite winning the bitter dispute, he generously and nobly chose to forgive his rival and offer a hand of friendship. --- ## 53. magniloquence **Phonetic:** /mag-NIL-oh-kwens/ **Definition:** The use of high-flown, extravagant, or grandiose language. It often implies speech that is pompous or boastful. **Example:** The speaker's bombastic and overly grand style of expression seemed designed to impress rather than inform. --- ## 54. melancholy **Phonetic:** /MEL-un-kol-ee/ **Definition:** A deep, lingering feeling of sadness or gloom, often without an obvious cause. It can also describe something that evokes such sadness. **Example:** The slow, sorrowful music filled the empty room with a sense of deep and persistent sadness. --- ## 55. milquetoast **Phonetic:** /MILK-toast/ **Definition:** A very timid, meek, or unassertive person. Someone who is easily intimidated and lacks courage or backbone. **Example:** The new manager was so timid and spineless that every employee walked all over him without consequence. --- ## 56. misanthrope **Phonetic:** /mis-an-throhp/ **Definition:** A person who dislikes and distrusts other people in general. It comes from Greek words meaning 'hater of people'. **Example:** The reclusive character in the novel despised humanity and chose to live alone in a remote cabin in the mountains. --- ## 57. mordant **Phonetic:** /MOR-dant/ **Definition:** Having or showing a sharp or critical quality, especially in humour. Biting or cutting in a witty way. Also a substance used to fix dyes. **Example:** The critic's biting, sharply cutting humour spared no one, reducing even confident performers to self-doubt. --- ## 58. munificent **Phonetic:** /myoo-NIF-ih-sent/ **Definition:** Extremely generous, especially with money or gifts. It describes someone or something characterised by great generosity. **Example:** The billionaire's extraordinarily generous gift of ten million dollars transformed the small hospital into a world-class medical facility. --- ## 59. obfuscation **Phonetic:** /ob-fuh-skay-shun/ **Definition:** The action of making something obscure, unclear, or difficult to understand. It involves deliberately confusing or muddying an issue. **Example:** The politician's response was a masterclass in deliberate confusion, burying the truth under layers of complex jargon. --- ## 60. obstreperously **Phonetic:** /ob-STREP-er-us-lee/ **Definition:** In a noisy, unruly, and difficult to control manner. It describes behaviour that is loudly defiant or disruptive. **Example:** The crowd protested loudly and unruly outside the council chambers, refusing to quiet down despite repeated requests. --- ## 61. ossify **Phonetic:** /OS-ih-fy/ **Definition:** To turn into bone, or to become rigid, fixed, and resistant to change. It describes the process of becoming inflexible. **Example:** The once-innovative company had become so rigid and set in its ways that it could no longer adapt to the changing market. --- ## 62. ostentatious **Phonetic:** /os-ten-TAY-shus/ **Definition:** Designed to impress or attract notice; showy in a way meant to display wealth or importance. **Example:** The flashy sports car and enormous diamond rings seemed like an excessive display of wealth meant to impress everyone. --- ## 63. palindrome **Phonetic:** /PAL-in-drohm/ **Definition:** A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backwards as forwards, such as 'madam' or 'racecar.' **Example:** In English class, students were challenged to find words and phrases that spell exactly the same thing when reversed. --- ## 64. paroxysm **Phonetic:** /PAIR-ok-siz-um/ **Definition:** A sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity. A violent fit or spasm of feeling. **Example:** The tragic news sent her into a sudden, uncontrollable fit of grief that left her shaking on the floor. --- ## 65. pentatonic **Phonetic:** /pen-tah-TON-ik/ **Definition:** Relating to a musical scale consisting of five notes per octave. Many folk and traditional songs around the world use this type of scale. **Example:** The guitarist explained that the five-note scale she was demonstrating forms the basis of many blues and rock solos. --- ## 66. perfidious **Phonetic:** /per-FID-ee-us/ **Definition:** Deliberately unfaithful or treacherous. It describes someone who betrays trust in a deceitful way. **Example:** The supposedly loyal advisor had been treacherous all along, secretly passing information to the enemy. --- ## 67. perfidiousness **Phonetic:** /per-FID-ee-us-ness/ **Definition:** The quality of being deceitful and untrustworthy, especially through betrayal. It describes deliberate treachery or disloyalty. **Example:** The sheer treachery and betrayal shown by the trusted advisor left the entire kingdom in a state of disbelief. --- ## 68. perspicaciously **Phonetic:** /per-spih-KAY-shus-lee/ **Definition:** In a way that shows keen mental perception and understanding. It means acting with sharp insight and the ability to notice things others miss. **Example:** The detective shrewdly and insightfully noticed the one tiny detail that everyone else had completely overlooked. --- ## 69. perspicaciousness **Phonetic:** /per-spih-KAY-shus-nes/ **Definition:** The quality of having keen mental perception and understanding; shrewdness. It describes the ability to notice and understand things that are not obvious. **Example:** The detective's remarkable mental sharpness and keen insight allowed her to notice clues that everyone else had completely overlooked. --- ## 70. perspicuously **Phonetic:** /per-SPIK-yoo-us-lee/ **Definition:** In a way that is clearly expressed and easily understood. Communicating with transparency and lucidity. **Example:** The scientist communicated her findings with such remarkable clarity that even non-experts could follow her reasoning perfectly. --- ## 71. perspicuousness **Phonetic:** /per-SPIK-yoo-us-nes/ **Definition:** The quality of being clearly expressed and easily understood. It refers to lucidity and transparency in communication or writing. **Example:** The professor was celebrated for the exceptional clarity and crystal-clear transparency with which she explained difficult philosophical concepts. --- ## 72. phantasmagorical **Phonetic:** /fan-taz-muh-GOR-ih-kul/ **Definition:** Having a dreamlike, fantastical, or surreal quality with rapidly shifting and bizarre imagery. It describes something that seems like a strange dream or hallucination. **Example:** The fever dream produced a bizarre, constantly shifting sequence of surreal and nightmarish images that felt impossibly strange. --- ## 73. phosphorescent **Phonetic:** /fos-for-ES-ent/ **Definition:** Giving off a soft glow of light without burning or producing heat. It describes something that shines faintly, especially in the dark. **Example:** The beach was magical after sunset, as tiny organisms in the waves emitted an eerie, glowing light. --- ## 74. portmanteau **Phonetic:** /port-MAN-toe/ **Definition:** A word that blends the sounds and meanings of two other words, such as 'brunch' from breakfast and lunch. Also refers to a large travelling bag. **Example:** Lewis Carroll was famous for inventing words that cleverly combined two existing terms into a single new one with a blended meaning. --- ## 75. prepossessing **Phonetic:** /pree-puh-ZES-ing/ **Definition:** Attractive or appealing in appearance, creating a favourable first impression. It describes someone or something that is immediately likeable. **Example:** The new teacher made such an attractive and charming first impression that students immediately looked forward to her classes. --- ## 76. prerogative **Phonetic:** /prih-ROG-uh-tiv/ **Definition:** A right or privilege that belongs to a particular person or group because of their position or role. **Example:** As the eldest sibling, she believed it was her exclusive right to decide where the family went on holiday. --- ## 77. preternatural **Phonetic:** /pree-ter-NATCH-er-ul/ **Definition:** Beyond what is normal or natural; extraordinary in a way that seems to go beyond ordinary human ability or experience. **Example:** The young musician possessed an almost supernatural ability to play complex pieces after hearing them only once. --- ## 78. profligacy **Phonetic:** /PROF-lih-guh-see/ **Definition:** Reckless extravagance or wastefulness, especially with money. It can also refer to shamelessly immoral behaviour. **Example:** The young heir's reckless extravagance and wasteful spending habits saw him burn through his entire inheritance in less than two years. --- ## 79. pusillanimity **Phonetic:** /pyoo-sil-uh-NIM-ih-tee/ **Definition:** The quality of being timid and cowardly; a lack of courage or determination. It describes spineless behaviour in the face of challenge. **Example:** The general accused his officers of shameful cowardice and spinelessness for retreating without engaging the enemy. --- ## 80. pusillanimously **Phonetic:** /pyoo-sih-LAN-ih-mus-lee/ **Definition:** In a cowardly or timid manner, showing a lack of courage or determination when facing difficulty. **Example:** The politician acted in a cowardly and spineless manner by refusing to stand up for the policy she had championed. --- ## 81. queueing **Phonetic:** /KYOO-ing/ **Definition:** The act of waiting in a line or forming an orderly line of people. It is the present participle of 'queue'. **Example:** Dozens of customers were standing in an orderly line outside the shop, waiting patiently for it to open. --- ## 82. quiescence **Phonetic:** /kwee-ES-ense/ **Definition:** A state of inactivity or dormancy; quiet stillness. It describes something that is temporarily calm or inactive. **Example:** After months of political turmoil, the nation finally entered a period of calm dormancy in which nothing much seemed to happen. --- ## 83. quintessence **Phonetic:** /kwin-TES-ens/ **Definition:** The most perfect or typical example of a quality or type. It represents the purest and most concentrated essence of something. **Example:** The little café on the corner was considered the most perfect embodiment of everything a neighbourhood gathering place should be. --- ## 84. recalcitrance **Phonetic:** /rih-KAL-sih-trans/ **Definition:** The quality of being stubbornly uncooperative and resistant to authority or discipline. It describes defiant and obstinate behaviour. **Example:** The committee was exhausted by the member's stubborn refusal to cooperate with any of the proposed reforms. --- ## 85. recrimination **Phonetic:** /reh-krim-ih-NAY-shun/ **Definition:** An accusation made in response to being accused by someone else. It refers to mutual blame or counter-accusations between people. **Example:** After the project failed, the team members descended into mutual blame, each pointing fingers at the other. --- ## 86. recrudescent **Phonetic:** /ree-kroo-DES-ent/ **Definition:** Breaking out again or recurring after a period of inactivity. Describes something, often unpleasant, that returns after seeming to have ended. **Example:** After months of calm, the conflict flared up again with renewed intensity, catching international observers off guard. --- ## 87. recusant **Phonetic:** /REK-yoo-zunt/ **Definition:** A person who refuses to submit to an authority or comply with a regulation. Historically, it referred to English Catholics who refused to attend Anglican services. **Example:** During the Reformation, many _______ families practised their Catholic faith in secret, hiding priests in specially built rooms within their homes. --- ## 88. redolent **Phonetic:** /RED-uh-lent/ **Definition:** Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something, or having a strong pleasant smell. It evokes vivid memories or associations. **Example:** The kitchen was powerfully fragrant with the aroma of freshly baked bread and cinnamon, reminding her of Sunday mornings at her grandmother's house. --- ## 89. remuneration **Phonetic:** /reh-myoo-nuh-RAY-shun/ **Definition:** Payment or compensation received for work or services. It refers to the total reward someone receives for their labour. **Example:** The financial compensation offered for the position was among the most generous in the entire industry. --- ## 90. resplendent **Phonetic:** /reh-SPLEN-dent/ **Definition:** Impressively beautiful and attractive; dazzling and brilliant in appearance. It describes something that shines with magnificent splendour. **Example:** The bride entered the cathedral looking absolutely dazzling and magnificent in her elaborately embroidered gown. --- ## 91. rhapsodic **Phonetic:** /rap-SOD-ik/ **Definition:** Expressing great enthusiasm, delight, or ecstasy. It describes speech or writing that is extravagantly emotional and passionate. **Example:** The author's ecstatically enthusiastic description of the sunset made readers feel as though they were witnessing it themselves. --- ## 92. risorgimento **Phonetic:** /ree-zor-jih-MEN-toh/ **Definition:** A period or movement of revival or renewal. Originally, it refers to the 19th-century movement for Italian political unity and independence. **Example:** Students studied the _______ as a pivotal chapter in European history, when fragmented states were forged into a single country. --- ## 93. sacrosanct **Phonetic:** /SAK-roh-sankt/ **Definition:** Regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with or changed. Something considered sacred and beyond criticism. **Example:** The tradition of afternoon tea was treated as utterly inviolable by the elderly couple, who never allowed anything to disrupt it. --- ## 94. sanguinary **Phonetic:** /sang-gwin-air-ee/ **Definition:** Involving or causing much bloodshed. It describes events, battles, or conflicts that are violent and bloody. **Example:** The medieval conflict was one of the most violent and blood-soaked encounters in European history. --- ## 95. sanguinolent **Phonetic:** /sang-GWIN-oh-lent/ **Definition:** Tinged or mixed with blood; relating to or involving blood. It is used in both medical and literary contexts. **Example:** The Gothic novel's most disturbing passage described wounds in vivid, blood-tinged imagery that unsettled readers. --- ## 96. sartorial **Phonetic:** /sar-tor-ee-ul/ **Definition:** Relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress. It is used to describe matters of fashion and clothing choices. **Example:** Her impeccable fashion choices and perfectly tailored outfits always drew admiring glances at every event. --- ## 97. scintillating **Phonetic:** /SIN-tih-lay-ting/ **Definition:** Sparkling or shining brightly, or brilliantly clever and entertaining. It describes something that dazzles either visually or intellectually. **Example:** The dinner party conversation was so brilliantly witty and intellectually dazzling that nobody wanted the evening to end. --- ## 98. sepulchral **Phonetic:** /seh-PUL-krul/ **Definition:** Relating to a tomb or burial. Having a gloomy, hollow, or dismal quality that suggests death or the grave. **Example:** The abandoned mansion had a deathly, tomb-like silence that made every visitor feel deeply unsettled. --- ## 99. seraphic **Phonetic:** /seh-RAF-ik/ **Definition:** Resembling or characteristic of an angel, especially in being beautiful, pure, or sublime. It describes something heavenly or blissfully serene. **Example:** The soprano's voice had a _______ quality that seemed to float above the orchestra, filling the concert hall with otherworldly beauty. --- ## 100. serendipity **Phonetic:** /ser-en-DIP-ih-tee/ **Definition:** The occurrence of finding pleasant or valuable things by chance, without looking for them. **Example:** The scientist wasn't searching for a cure, but a fortunate accident in the lab led to a groundbreaking discovery. --- ## 101. solicitous **Phonetic:** /soh-LIS-ih-tus/ **Definition:** Showing great care, concern, or attention for someone's comfort or wellbeing. Eager and attentive in looking after others. **Example:** After the accident, her friends were extremely attentive and caring, constantly checking whether she needed anything at all. --- ## 102. somnambulism **Phonetic:** /som-NAM-byoo-lizm/ **Definition:** The condition of walking or performing other actions while asleep. It is the formal term for sleepwalking. **Example:** The family installed safety locks on all the doors after discovering their daughter had been walking around the house while completely asleep. --- ## 103. spurious **Phonetic:** /SPYOOR-ee-us/ **Definition:** Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake. It describes something that appears to be valid but is actually based on flawed reasoning. **Example:** The politician's argument sounded convincing at first, but closer examination revealed it was based entirely on false and misleading claims. --- ## 104. superlative **Phonetic:** /soo-per-luh-tiv/ **Definition:** Of the highest quality or degree; surpassing all others. In grammar, it refers to the form of an adjective expressing the highest degree. **Example:** The critics praised the performance as being of the absolute highest quality they had ever witnessed on stage. --- ## 105. sybaritic **Phonetic:** /sib-uh-RIT-ik/ **Definition:** Fond of luxury and sensuous pleasure. It describes a lifestyle devoted to comfort, indulgence, and extravagance. **Example:** The billionaire's lavishly indulgent habits included silk sheets, private chefs, and daily spa treatments. --- ## 106. sycophancy **Phonetic:** /sik-oh-fun-see/ **Definition:** The behaviour of praising someone in authority excessively and insincerely in order to gain an advantage. **Example:** The new employee's excessive and insincere flattery of the boss made the rest of the office deeply uncomfortable. --- ## 107. sycophantically **Phonetic:** /sik-oh-FAN-tik-lee/ **Definition:** In a manner that involves excessive flattery or praise toward someone in power, usually to gain an advantage. **Example:** The courtier nodded and smiled in an excessively flattering way whenever the king spoke, hoping to win favour. --- ## 108. timorous **Phonetic:** /TIM-er-us/ **Definition:** Showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of courage; timid and easily frightened. **Example:** The shy, easily frightened child clung to her mother's hand and refused to enter the noisy, crowded playground. --- ## 109. translucent **Phonetic:** /trans-LOO-sent/ **Definition:** Allowing light to pass through but not transparent; objects behind it can be seen but not clearly or sharply. **Example:** The frosted glass in the bathroom window let light filter through while keeping the interior private from outside view. --- ## 110. trepidation **Phonetic:** /trep-ih-DAY-shun/ **Definition:** A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen. It describes nervous uncertainty about a future event. **Example:** As the students waited outside the examination hall, a palpable sense of nervous anxiety filled the corridor. --- ## 111. turbidity **Phonetic:** /ter-BID-ih-tee/ **Definition:** The quality of being cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter. It is used in science to measure water clarity and in literature to suggest confusion. **Example:** After the flooding, the cloudiness and murkiness of the drinking water supply raised serious health concerns for the community. --- ## 112. unequivocal **Phonetic:** /un-ih-KWIV-uh-kul/ **Definition:** Leaving no doubt; completely clear and certain in meaning. **Example:** The prime minister's statement was absolutely clear and left no room whatsoever for misinterpretation. --- ## 113. veracious **Phonetic:** /veh-RAY-shus/ **Definition:** Habitually truthful and honest. It describes a person or statement that is accurate and speaks the truth. **Example:** The witness gave a completely truthful and accurate account of everything that had happened that evening. --- ## 114. vitriolic **Phonetic:** /vit-ree-ol-ik/ **Definition:** Filled with bitter criticism or malice; extremely harsh and cruel in tone. It describes speech or writing that is deliberately hurtful and caustic. **Example:** The editorial was so harshly bitter and caustic that several readers wrote in to complain about its poisonous tone. --- ## 115. vituperation **Phonetic:** /vy-too-puh-ray-shun/ **Definition:** Bitter and abusive language directed at someone. It refers to harsh, sustained verbal criticism or condemnation. **Example:** The stream of bitter, abusive criticism hurled at the referee shocked everyone in the stadium. ---