Lesson 9
Freshmen Vocabulary

1. blatant adj. unpleasantly loud; glaringly obvious or conspicious
   His blatant, sexist remark offended the women who worked in the same office.
   syn: flagrant      ant: subtle, inconspicuous
   
   
2. bludgeon noun  a short heavy club with one end loaded or thicker than the other;
                  verb  to beat or strike with a club
   He used a bludgeon to beat up his victim.
   He bludgeoned the man to death.
   
   
3. bravado noun a show or pretense of defiance or courage
   The women were not impressed with Jack's bravado.
   syn: braggadocio      ant: modesty
   
   
4. buffoon noun a clown or jester; a person who is always trying to be funny
   His bad jokes led others to believe he was a buffoon who could not be trusted with a high office.
   
   
5. ghastly adj. terrifying; dreadful; horrible to look at
   Although ghastly scenes were not new for the policeman, even he was surprised by the carnage.
   syn: hideous       ant: attractive
   
   
6. gibe noun a derisive remark; verb a jeer or taunt
   Jenny didn't like Susan's constant gibes.
   syn: scoff       ant: compliment
   
   
7. glutton noun a person who eats to excess
   When depressed, she became a glutton for chocolate.
   
   
8. paucity noun in short supply; scaricity of ideas or objects; small number
   The paucity of medical equipment makes it difficult to help the refugees.
   syn: shortage, dearth       ant: abundance, surfeit
   
   
9. peerless adj. without equal; matchless
   Jennifer's peerless performance won her an award from the critics.
   syn: unsurpassed        ant: ordinary, pedestrian
   
   
10. perceptive adj. keen, accurate understanding
    Peter is very perceptive when it comes to dealing with customer needs.
    
    
11. sporadic adj. having no pattern or order; happening from time to time
    His sporadic irrational behavior became a cause for concern for all of us.
    syn: irregular, spasmodic      ant: continuous, uninterrupted
    
    
12. squalid adj. sordid, miserable; very poor and run-down
    The fledgling actors lived in squalid conditions.
    ant: splendid
    
    
13. stoic adj. seemingly indifferent to pain, grief, or pleasure
    From his stoic expression, one never got a clue as to what he was thinking.
    
    
14. stupor noun a daze; mental dullness or apathy
    After he got the news, he appeared to be in a stupor.
    
    
15. stymie verb to block or stop; to hinder
    The math problem had him stymied until Carl explained it.