TOEFL Vocabulary #4

(adj.)—tending to meekness, to submit to the will of others, servile

He was looking for a quiet, submissive wife who would obey his every word.
In the presence of older birds, the younger eagles tend to be submissive.

submissive: /səbˈmɪs.ɪv/ (adj)

submissively (adv) - submissiveness (n)

(n.)—impulsive action, unplanned events

You should not plan out the entire mock interview beforehand or you will lose the element of spontaneity.
The script has a refreshing spontaneity and sparkle.

spontaneity: /ˌspɑːn.tənˈeɪ.ə.t̬i/ (n)

spontaneous (adj) - spontaneously (adv)

(adj.)—relating to the beginning or seeds of something, containing important new ideas, and having a great influence on later work:
She wrote a seminal article on the subject while she was still a student.

(adj.)—full of or exhibiting servile compliance; too eager to praise or obey someone

She is obsequious to anyone in authority.
Complimenting someone can be effective, but can appear obsequious if you overdo it

(adj.)—calm, seemingly unexcited, carefree, careless casual, happy-go-lucky

a nonchalant manner/shrug
She waited her turn to audition, trying to look nonchalant.
Her nonchalant manner became her defense.

nonchalant:  /ˌnɑːn.ʃəˈlɑːnt/ (adj) 

nonchalantly (adv) - nonchalance (n)

(adj.)—fearless, brave, courageous, dauntless, valiant

a team of intrepid explorers
They discovered that there are thousands of differences in gene activity between the brains of the intrepid and the timid bees.

intrepid: /ɪnˈtrep.ɪd/ (adj)

intrepidly (adv)

(adj.)—controlled, repressed, restricted

I was expecting him to be furious but he was very restrained.
a more restrained policy on mortgage lending
The tone of his poetry is restrained and unemotional.

restrained:  /rɪˈstreɪnd/ (adj)

restraining order (n) (Law) -  restraint (n)

(adj.)—hardened against feeling; hardhearted, impenitent

The president remains obdurate on immigration.
Union leaders remain obdurate that working conditions and pay improve.

(n.)—one who breaks away from group conformity and forges a new course

a political maverick
He was considered as something of a maverick in the publishing world.

maverick: /ˈmæv.ɚ.ɪk/ (n)

maverick (adj)

(adj.)—central, indispensable

He's an integral part of the team and we can't do without him.
Bars and terrace cafés are integral to the social life of the city.