Print › Lesson Three Vocabulary

adventitious: adj. accidental; nonessential - syn: incidental
ambiguous: adj. open to more than one interpretation - syn: unclear; uncertain; vague - ant: explicit; definite
bona fide: adj. in good faith - syn: legitimate; genuine - ant: fraudulent; phony
cataclysm: n. a violent change - syn: disaster; catastrophe - ant: triumph; boon
deviate: v. to turn aside from a course; to stray - syn: digress
edify: v. improve someone morally
extenuate: v. to lessen seriousness by providing partial excuses
fecund: adj. fertile; productive - syn: prolific - ant: sterile
glower: v. to stare angrily - syn: frown; scowl - ant: grin
impale: v. to pierce with a sharp stake through the body
importune: v. to ask persistently; to beg - syn: appeal; badger
obfuscate: v. to confuse; to bewilder - syn: muddle; obscure - ant: clarify; elucidate
optimum: adj. best; most favorable; ideal
parochial: adj. local; narrow; limited - syn: provincial; narrow-minded - ant: universal; catholic
pedestrian: adj. ordinary or dull - syn: commonplace; mediocre - ant: imaginative; compelling