Advanced English Vocabulary - The Letter "J"

Jovial

If you describe someone as jovial, you mean that person is fun, cheerful, and generally happy. It is nice to spend time around jovial people. As I said mentioned in the introduction of this post, I think that my guest this week, Searle, is a jovial guy.    

Jaded

If you feel jaded about something, you don't feel excited about a certain thing that you're doing (perhaps you even feel bitter about it). This is usually because that thing is too familiar to you. 

Searle gives an example in this podcast: Imagine a rock star who is signing autographs after a show. He is not excited at all to meet any of his fans. He is jaded.   

Jeopardize

If you jeopardize a certain situation, you do something that might ruin that situation. If you lie to your partner continuously, for example, you are probably jeopardizing your relationship. 

You can also put things in jeopardy. Searle gives the example of insulting your boss at work. If you insult your boss, you are putting your job in jeopardy!  

Jest

To say something in jest means to say something in a joking and playful way. Another verb for this is to kid. 

Jest sounds a little bit more formal. 

Justify

If you are trying to justify something, you're trying to defend that thing or prove that it is necessary. 

You can justify things to other people, and you can justify things to yourself!