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The Great Gatsby vocabulary word list

This list highlights vocabulary that appears throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, useful for students reading the novel for class or preparing for a vocabulary quiz. Review each word's meaning, then look for it the next time you reread a chapter to see how Fitzgerald uses it.

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The Great Gatsby vocabulary word list

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
incandescentadjective	Emitting light as a result of being heated to a high temperature; glowing brightly.	The blacksmith pulled an incandescent bar of iron from the forge and began to hammer it.
languidadjective	Lacking energy or vitality; moving or acting in a slow, relaxed way.	They spent a languid afternoon lying in hammocks by the lake.
superciliousadjective	Behaving as though one is superior to others; arrogantly contemptuous.	The waiter's supercilious tone made the diners feel quite unwelcome.
contemptnoun	A feeling that someone or something deserves no respect at all, often mixed with disgust.	He viewed the dishonest politician's promises with open contempt.
riotousadjective	Wildly disorderly, unruly, or violently uncontrolled, or extremely lively and unrestrained in a fun way.	The riotous crowd smashed shop windows before police finally restored order.
gaudyadjective	Extremely showy or bright in a tasteless, overdone way.	The hotel lobby was decorated with gaudy gold fixtures and flashing neon lights.
vestibulenoun	A small entrance hall or lobby that leads from the outside door into the main part of a building.	We stamped the snow off our boots in the vestibule before entering the apartment.
ceaselessadjective	Continuing without any pause or stop; never-ending.	The ceaseless noise from the construction site made it impossible to concentrate.
malicenoun	The intention or desire to cause harm, suffering, or injury to another person.	There was no malice behind the comment; he simply spoke without thinking.
opulentadjective	Displaying great wealth through luxury, richness, or abundance.	The hotel's opulent lobby featured marble floors, gold trim, and a sweeping crystal chandelier.
portentousadjective	Seeming to warn of a significant, often ominous, event about to happen.	A portentous silence fell over the crowd just before the storm broke.
prodigaladjective	Spending money or resources in a recklessly wasteful and extravagant way.	The prodigal heir spent his entire inheritance on parties within a single year.
sinisteradjective	Giving the impression that something harmful, evil, or threatening is about to happen.	A sinister figure lurked in the shadows near the entrance to the alley.
obstinateadjective	Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion, decision, or course of action despite good reasons to do so.	Despite everyone's advice, he remained obstinate and refused to see a doctor.
haughtyadjective	Showing arrogant superiority and disdain for others.	The haughty waiter sneered at customers who asked too many questions about the menu.
grotesqueadjective	Strange, distorted, or exaggerated in a way that is comically or repulsively ugly.	The carnival mirror twisted his reflection into a grotesque, elongated shape.
incoherentadjective	Unclear or impossible to understand because ideas are not connected logically or expressed clearly.	The witness gave an incoherent account of the accident, jumping between unrelated details.
incredulousadjective	Unwilling or unable to believe something; showing that one doubts what is being said.	She gave an incredulous stare when he claimed to have run a marathon overnight.
disconcertingadjective	Causing a feeling of unease, confusion, or embarrassment.	It was disconcerting to see the usually confident speaker stumble over his words.
denizennoun	An inhabitant or regular occupant of a particular place, especially one considered distinctive there.	Owls and bats are common denizens of the old church tower.
connoisseurnoun	A person with expert knowledge and refined taste in a particular field, especially food, art, or wine.	As a connoisseur of fine wine, she could name the vineyard from a single sip.
clamornoun	A loud, confused noise, or a strong, insistent public demand for something.	The clamor of the crowd grew louder as the election results were announced.
aloofadjective	Distant and not friendly or forthcoming, keeping oneself apart from others physically or emotionally.	The new manager seemed aloof at first, but he warmed up after the first project ended.
ardentadjective	Showing or feeling great enthusiasm, passion, or devotion for something or someone.	She has been an ardent supporter of the local library since childhood.
eludeverb	To skillfully escape or avoid someone or something, such as capture or understanding.	The suspect eluded police for nearly three days before being caught.
fastidiousadjective	Very attentive to detail and difficult to please, especially about accuracy, cleanliness, or correctness.	The fastidious editor caught every small typo before the article went to print.
feignverb	To pretend to feel or experience something that is not genuinely true.	He feigned surprise when they announced the promotion, though he had known for weeks.
labyrinthnoun	A complicated network of winding passages that is difficult to navigate; a maze.	Tourists wandered for an hour through the palace's labyrinth of narrow corridors.
reproachverb	To express disapproval or disappointment toward someone for something they have done.	She reproached her brother for forgetting their mother's birthday again.
wanadjective	Pale and looking tired, weak, or unwell, especially in the face.	After the long illness, her wan face slowly regained its usual color.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of vocabulary appears in The Great Gatsby?

Fitzgerald's prose leans on descriptive, sensory language, including words about wealth, appearance, and mood, which is reflected in this list.