On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous Vocabulary 2

Able to burn or destroy material by chemical action; also used to describe remarks that are harsh and hurtful

His caustic comments about her work made her feel embarrassed in front of the whole class.

Responsible for doing something wrong or harmful; deserving blame

The manager was held culpable for the accident because he had ignored safety warnings.

Extremely thin and weak, usually because of illness or not eating enough food

The rescue workers found an emaciated dog that had been without food for several weeks.

A word or short phrase used to describe someone or something, often expressing a quality or characteristic

The coach earned the epithet 'Iron Mike' because of his strict training methods.

A strong feeling of frustration or annoyance, especially when something happens repeatedly

She sighed in exasperation when her computer crashed for the third time that morning.

The quality of being dishonest or intended to trick people for personal gain

The fraudulence of the company was discovered when investigators found that its financial reports were completely false.

The central point on which a lever balances; also used to mean the most important part of a situation

Education is often described as the fulcrum of a successful and equal society.

The quality of not lasting forever; the state of being temporary

The Buddhist teacher spoke about the impermanence of life and how everything changes over time.

Unable to be stopped, changed, or satisfied; refusing to be calmed or persuaded

The implacable storm continued for three days, preventing anyone from leaving the village.

Impossible to remove or forget; leaving a permanent mark or memory

The kindness of her first teacher left an indelible impression on her for the rest of her life.

Too important to be broken, ignored, or harmed; must always be respected

Freedom of speech is considered an inviolable right in many democratic countries.

Showing many bright colors that seem to change when seen from different angles

The iridescent wings of the butterfly shimmered with green and blue in the sunlight.

Placed two things side by side in order to show how they are different or similar

The photographer juxtaposed images of wealthy neighborhoods next to areas of poverty to highlight inequality.

The quality of being easily shaped, changed, or influenced

The malleability of gold makes it ideal for creating detailed jewelry.

A writing style where clauses or phrases are placed one after another without connecting words like 'because' or 'although'

The author used parataxis in the sentence 'I came, I saw, I conquered' to create a strong, direct effect.

The partly shaded outer areas around a shadow, where light is only partially blocked; also used to mean the unclear edges of an idea or topic

During the solar eclipse, we could clearly see the dark center and the lighter penumbras surrounding it.

Spreading through and present in every part of something

The smell of fresh bread was pervasive throughout the entire building.

A soft glow of light produced by something without heat, continuing even after the light source is removed

We were amazed by the phosphorescence of the ocean water as it glowed blue in the dark.

A new word made by combining parts of two different words, such as 'brunch' from 'breakfast' and 'lunch'

The word 'smog' is a portmanteau created from 'smoke' and 'fog.'

A very steep cliff face; also used to describe a dangerous situation where something bad is about to happen

The hikers carefully avoided the edge of the precipice as they climbed the mountain.