This section is also intermediate with a slight advancement from the previous section. These words are not normally used in everyday conversations between you and family, friends, or even in a career oriented atmosphere. You may feel a bit uncomfortably injecting them into your conversations, so attempt to use them in writing first. After feeling comfortable with writing the words, use them in areas of your personal conversations where you don't feel uneasy.

 

Affinity (uh-fin-uh-tee)

Affinity can be a noun or an adjective

Noun

A naturally strong attraction to a person, place, or thing.

 

She had a natural affinity for vacationing on the beach.

Adjective

Pertaining to groups that share similar interests.

 

The musicians decided to fly a charter plane with other affinity groups.

 

Emulate (ehm-yoo-layt)

Verb

To attempt to equal or be the same as another person or thing.

 

She tried to emulate her boss when learning to communicate with others.

 

Impetuous (im-pet-yoo-us)

Adjective

A rash and sudden action

 

Because the boss had a bad day, he made an impetuous decision that no one could eat lunch at their desk.

 

Innocuous (in-knock-yoo-us)

Adjective

Not significant; harmless

 

Because he didn't want to offend anyone, Joe made an innocuous statement about his friends opinions.

Propensity (pro-pen-sit-ee)

Noun

A tendency to do something.

 

When Sue got up every morning, she had a propensity to reach for a cup of coffee.

 

Recalcitrant (ree-kal-sit-runt)

Adjective

Resisting authority; rebellious; incompliant

 

The college student wanted to learn, but his recalcitrant behavior in the lecture hall disturbed his studies.

 

Redolent (red-oh-luhnt)

Adjective

Having a strong odor; fragrant

As the chef cooked up the Italian food dish, the kitchen was redolent of garlic and tomato sauce.

 

Relegate (rhel-uh-gayt)

Verb

To assign to another

 

The boss disliked much of his typing responsibilities, so he relegated the task to his secretary.

 

Remonstrate (rhem-on-strayt)

Verb

To object or protest.

 

The group of workers remonstrated their distaste for the company's employment policies in a display of protest.

 

Reprehensible (rep-ree-hen-sybil)

Adjective

Deserving of rebuke; deplorable

As the judge gave his ruling, he commented on the criminal's reprehensible behavior and sentenced him to jail.

 

Rudimentary (rood-uh-ment-uhree)

Adjective

Pertaining to elementary or simple knowledge.

 

As the college student entered the class, he realized he had rudimentary geometry skills.

 

Ubiquitous (yoo-bick-qwit-us)

Adjective

Universally existing; everywhere

 

As the storm finally blew away, the ubiquitous flood is all that remained.