Word List
ambivalent(am·biv·a ̆·le ̆nt) adj.having mixed or conflicting feelings about
a person, thing, or situation; uncertain. She was ambivalent about the proposal
for the shopping center because she understood the arguments both for and against
its construction.
ephemeral(i·fem·e ̆·ra ̆l) adj.lasting only a very short time; transitory.
Numerous ephemeral ponds and pools can be found in the desert during the rainy
season.
garrulous(ar·u ̆·lu ̆s) adj.talkative. Andrew had the unfortunate luck of being
seated next to a garrulous young woman for his 12-hour flight.
inchoate(in·koh·it) adj.1. just begun; in an initial or early stage of devel-
opment; incipient. 2. not yet fully formed; undeveloped, incomplete. Dur-
ing the inchoate stage of fetal growth, it is difficult to distinguish between a cow, a
frog, and a human; it is not until they mature that the developing embryos take
on the characteristics of their own particular species.
irk(urk) v.to annoy, irritate, or vex. Teenagers are continually irked by their
parents—and vice versa.
irresolute(i·rez·o ̆·loot) adj.feeling or showing uncertainty; hesitant, inde-
cisive. Sandra is still irresolute, so if you talk to her, you might help her make up
her mind.
loquacious(loh·kway·shu ̆s) adj.talkative, garrulous. The loquacious woman
sitting next to me on the six-hour flight talked the entire time.
mitigate(mit· ̆·ayt) v.1. to make less intense or severe. 2. to moderate the
force or intensity of, soften; diminish, alleviate. The unusual extenuating cir-
cumstances mitigated her punishment.
nascent(nas·e ̆nt) adj.coming into existence, emerging. The nascent move-
ment gathered strength quickly and soon became a nationwide call to action.
noisome(noi·so ̆m) adj.1. offensive, foul, especially in odor; putrid. 2.
harmful, noxious. What a noisome odor is coming from that garbage can!
noxious(nok·shu ̆s) adj.unpleasant and harmful, unwholesome. The noxious
smell drove everyone from the room.
palliate(pal·i·ayt) v.1. to make something less intense or severe; mitigate,
alleviate; to gloss over, put a positive spin on. 2. to provide relief from pain,
relieve the symptoms of a disease or disorder. The governor tried to palliate