Building a Better Vocabulary

Target Word
and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

torpor (noun) sluggishness; a state of mental

or physical inactivity; lethargy, apathy

19

treacle (noun) cloying, sickly-sweet speech or sentiment 4

trenchant (adjective) forceful and clear; penetrating, keen,

and incisive

32

truckle (verb) 1. to submit; to be servile and submissive

2. WRIDZQWRFXUU\IDYRUE\ÀDWWHULQJ

32

truculent (adjective) FUXHOVDYDJHEUXWDODQG¿HUFHGLVSRVHG

WR¿JKWLQJVFDWKLQJDQGEUXWDOO\KDUVK

often referring to verbal criticism

5

turbid (adjective) 1. muddy, thick, or opaque with sediment;

obscured; clouded

2. confused, muddled, disordered

19

turgid (adjective) swollen, distended, puffy 19

turpitude (noun) baseness, depravity, or debauchery 7

tyro (noun) a beginner or novice 8

unctuous (adjective) characterized by affected, exaggerated,

or insincere earnestness

12

vapid (adjective) completely lacking in zest, spirit, animation,

and liveliness

10

venal (adjective) open to corruption;

capable of being bought through bribery

7

vernacular (noun) form of a language spoken

by the common people, as opposed

to the learned and literary

27

vilify (verb) to attack someone’s reputation

with strong or abusive criticism; to malign

15

virulent (adjective) 1. extremely infectious, malignant,

poisonous, or deadly

2. bitterly hostile, antagonistic,
   or spiteful; hateful

29

vivisection (noun) the cutting of, or operation on, a living

DQLPDOXVXDOO\IRUVFLHQWL¿FUHVHDUFK

25

ZHOWVFKPHU] (noun) sadness over the evils of the world 34