Gatsby Novel Vocabulary Practice

Match the following words to their definitions.

• occurring irregularly; not predictable

• feigned

• showing careful attention to detail

• vehemently

• pretended; faked enthusiam

• epigram

• witty or amusing quote or saying

• punctilious

• forcefully, passionately, intensely

• intermittent

The insincere job applicant spoke with ____________.

Match the following words to their definitions.

• not observing the limits of what's appropriate; assuming too much

• presumptuous

• unhurried, weak, lazy, without much effort

• simultaneous

• friendly, lively, enjoyable

• languid

• concurrent, at the same time

• impetuously

• suddenly done, without much forethought; on a whim

• convivial

The detective was eager to _____________ the motivation for the crime.

Match the following words to their definitions.

• quality of being easily upset or annoyed; a state of complaining

• fractiousness

• large and bulky; fat

• corpulent

• unsettling; troubling

• abstracted

• showing a lack of concentration with things happening around oneself

• disconcerting

• excessively talking, especially about meaningless things

• garrulous

Match the following words to their definitions.

• deeply upset or agitated

• sinister

• behavior that shows one thinks their superior; arrogant

• abyss

• deep or bottomless pit or chasm

• supercilious

• showing no interest, no enthusiasm, no concern

• distraught

• evil, harmful

• apathetic

Match the following words to their definitions.

• deserted, blank, empty, bare

• desolate

• easily accepting something as true; being willing to accept the truth quickly

• pervaded

• lightness; the treatment of something serious in a lighthearted way

• ascertain

• spread through every part; infiltrated

• credulity

• figure out; make sure of

• levity

After the performer fell on stage, he wished he could enter a state of ______________.

Match the following words to their definitions.

• wastefulness, extravagance, spending large amounts of money unwisely or unthinkingly

• labyrinth

• unnecessary, extra, more than needed

• juxtaposition

• placement of two things together to show contrast

• defunct

• no longer working or existing; not functional

• superfluous

• maze-like; something hard to navigate or full of hidden obstacles or traps

• prodigality

Match the following words to their definitions.

• sharing a common border; touching

• affectation

• a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

• complacency

• behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress

• contiguous

• believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity

• intimation

• an indication or hint

• cynical