1. Vocabulary Words World Literature
Week 3

2. Urbane
Cinderella felt very urbane at the party in her expensive ball gown.

3. Urbane Definition: adj.—refined in manner or style
Synonym: suave, refined, cultured, sophisticated
Antonym: unsophisticated, crude, primitive

4. Cogent
Heidi’s cogent anecdote about hypocrisy helped several student’s understanding of The Scarlet Letter.

5. Cogent Definition: adj.—forceful, relevant, to the point
Synonym: logical, coherent, convincing
Antonym: unconvincing, ineffective, vain

6. Expunge
My teacher promised to expunge the failing grade on my essay, if I submitted a new and improved version.

7. Expunge Definition: v.—to delete or blot out something unwanted
Synonym: erase, delete, wipe out, destroy
Antonym: uphold, maintain, sustain

8. Omniscient
Most religions have an omniscient deity.

9. Omniscient Definition: adj.—knowing or seeming to know everything
Synonym: all-knowing, all-seeing, wise
Antonym: naïve, oblivious, clueless

10. Panacea
Aspirin was considered to be a panacea when it was first developed.

11. Panacea Definition: n.—a supposed cure for all diseases or problems
Synonym: cure-all, solution, remedy
Antonym: aggravate, worsen, exacerbate

12. Diffident
Suzy had a hard time making friends because she is so diffident.

13. Diffident
Definition: v.—lacking self-confidence and rather shy, reserved or restrained in behavior
Synonym: shy, timid, insecure
Antonym: outgoing, extrovert, brash, aggressive

14. Pungent
Blue cheese has a pungent aroma and flavor.

15. Pungent
Definition: adj.—having a strong smell or a powerfully sharp or bitter taste
Synonym: overpowering, strong,
Antonym: bland, mild, weak

16. Temerity
Despite the lifeguard’s warning, the surfer had the temerity to enter the water in the middle of a tropical storm.

17. Temerity Definition: v.— rashness or boldness
Synonym: nerve, audacity, impudence
Antonym: reserve, discretion

18. Truculent
The terrorist’s truculent attack on September 1, 2001 shocked the world.

19. Truculent Definition: adj.—fierce and cruel, aggressive and deadly
Synonym: defiant, hostile, surly, quarrelsome
Antonym: polite, courteous

20. Unfeigned
Mothers express an unfeigned love for their children.

21. Unfeigned
Definition: v.—genuine, honest, not hypocritical, without pretense
Synonym: sincere, real, authentic
Antonym: corrupt, false, unfair