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Unit 9 Vocab

Terms in this set (20)

abate
(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit
Syn: diminish, decrease, subside, let up
Ant: intensify, increase, magnify, wax
adulation
(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive
Syn: adoration, idolization, hero-worship
Ant: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium
anathema
(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)
Syn: malediction, imprecation, abomination
Ant: benediction, blessing
astute
(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom
Syn: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily
Ant: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb
avarice
(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth
Syn: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness
culpable
(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation
Syn: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy
Ant: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious
dilatory
(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone
Syn: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard
Ant: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious
egregious
(adj.) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)
Syn: glaring, flagrant, blatant
Ant: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling
equivocate
(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous
Syn: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge
Ant: to speak one's mind plainly
evanescent
(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy
Syn: ephemeral, transient, transitory
Ant: everlasting, immortal, imperishable
irresolute
(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating
Syn: indecisive, vacillating, wavering
Ant: determined, decisive, unwavering
nebulous
(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct
Syn: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate
Ant: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused
novice
(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)
Syn: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice
Ant: veteran, past master, pro, expert
penury
(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency
Syn: destitution, want, indigence
Ant: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence
pretentious
(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious
Syn: inflated, ostentatious, affected
Ant: unassuming, unaffected, modest
recapitulate
(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up
Syn: review, summarize, sum up, go over
resuscitate
(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence
Syn: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate
slovenly
(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless
Syn: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax
Ant: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous
supposition
(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence
Syn: assumption, presumption, hypothesis
torpid
(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull
Syn: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid
Ant: energetic, dynamic, vigorous
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