Vocabulary Grade 12 — Set 3: Meanings flashcards
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The third hundred of the 300 Grade 12 words, from adherent and decry to encumber and misgiving: pronunciation, a plain definition and three example sentences, the most common use first.
Learn deck · part of Vocabulary Level 7 · Grade 12 · written against: Our own grade placement (VOCABULARY-PLAN.md): word frequency (wordfreq, CC BY-SA 4.0) and editorial review; no publisher's grade or word list is reproduced. Updated 2026-10-10.
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flippant (adj.) · FLIP-uhntnot showing the seriousness or respect a situation deserves, especially by jokingCharacter & Behavior
Diego's flippant answer about the fire drill annoyed the principal.
The senator's flippant remark about the flood victims drew swift criticism.
Don't be flippant about the deadline; the scholarship committee won't extend it. -
leery (adj.) · LEER-eesuspicious or wary of someone or somethingFeelings & Attitudes
Many voters are leery of promises that sound too good to be true.
Kenji was leery about lending his notes again.
The leery cat watched the new puppy from the top of the bookcase. -
adherent (n.) · ad-HEER-uhnta loyal supporter or follower of a person, belief, party or methodThinking & Knowing
Stoic philosophy has gained new adherents among young athletes.
The religion's adherents gather each autumn for a festival of lights.
A strict adherent of the scientific method, Dr. Park tests every claim.
Root: Latin adhaerere, “to stick to,” the source of adhere. -
decry (v.) · dih-KRIGHto speak out forcefully against something in publicSpeaking & Arguing
Environmental groups decried the plan to drill in the wildlife refuge.
Parents decried the music program cuts at the school board meeting.
Long decried as a fad, the electric car is now a common sight.
Don't confuse with: descry, an old word meaning to catch sight of. -
intercede (v.) · in-tur-SEEDto step in on someone's behalf to settle a dispute or ask for helpActions & Effort
The principal interceded to stop the argument before it got worse.
Ali's coach interceded with the dean on his behalf.
Medieval believers prayed to saints to intercede for them. -
supplant (v.) · suh-PLANTto push out and replace someone or something, often through force or by proving betterChange & Growth
Streaming has largely supplanted DVDs in most homes.
In the play, an ambitious cousin schemes to supplant the rightful heir.
Cars gradually supplanted horses on city streets in the early 1900s.
Root: Latin supplantare, “to trip up, cause to stumble,” from planta, “sole of the foot.” -
interminable (adj.) · in-TUR-muh-nuh-buhlseeming to go on forever, often in a tiresome waySize & Amount
When the DMV finally called our number, the interminable wait had left us grumpy.
The meeting felt interminable, with every speaker running over time.
Rain fell through an interminable week of indoor recess.
Root: Late Latin interminabilis, from Latin in-, “not,” + terminare, “to terminate.” -
garish (adj.) · GAIR-ishbright, colorful or flashy to the point of being uglyQuality & Judgment
The diner's garish neon sign glowed pink and green all night.
Critics found the stage costumes garish and distracting.
Under the garish gym lights, the homemade decorations looked cheap. -
incriminate (v.) · in-KRIM-uh-naytto link someone to a crime or wrongdoing, either plainly or by implicationSociety & Power
Detectives found incriminating fingerprints on the window frame.
A teammate's account incriminated the class president in the missing-trophy prank.
The leaked emails incriminated two officials in the bribery scheme. -
immemorial (adj.) · im-uh-MOR-ee-uhlreaching so far back in time that no one remembers the beginningNature & Time
Salmon have returned to this river since time immemorial.
The village keeps immemorial customs at its harvest festival.
The shepherds' songs seemed immemorial, older than any written record.
Watch out: usually in the phrase “time immemorial,” with the adjective after the noun.
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Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Senses, parts of speech and sense order checked against Merriam-Webster.com, the American Heritage Dictionary and the frequency-ordered Oxford, Longman and Cambridge learner's dictionaries; all definitions, notes and example sentences are original.
- Grade placement is our own, from wordfreq frequency data (CC BY-SA 4.0) and editorial review; no publisher's grade or word list is reproduced.
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