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Weiser AP English Vocab 7-9

Terms in this set (60)

Allay
(v.) to claim or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve
Synonyms:reduce, alleviate, moderate
Antonyms:aggravate, exacerbate, intensify
Bestial
(adj.) beast-like; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility
Synonyms:animal, depraved, loathsome
Antonyms:human, humane, clement, virtuous, upright
Convivial
(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
Synonyms:fun-loving, jovial, merry
Antonyms:dour, grim, sullen, unsociable
Coterie
(n.) a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive group of people with a common interest
Synonyms:clique, set
Counterpart
(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
Synonym: match
Demur
(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection
Synonyms:(v.) protest, object to
Antonyms:(v.) assent to, consent to, accept, agree to
Effrontery
(n.) shameless boldness, impudence
Synonyms:gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek
Antonyms:shyness, diffidence, timidity
Embellish
(v) to decorate, adorn, touch up,; to improve by adding details
Synonyms:ornament, garnish
Antonyms:strip, mar, disfigure
Ephemeral
(adj.) lasting only a short time, short lived
Synonyms:fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory
Antonyms:durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual
Felicitous
(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
Synonyms:fortunate, well-put
Antonyms:inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy
Furtive
(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
Synonyms:clandestine, covert, surreptitious
Antonyms:forthright, aboveboard, open
Garish
(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorates in a vulgar or offensive way
Synonyms:gaudy, flashy, tawdry
Antonyms:subdued, muted, understated, quiet
Illusory
(adj.)misleading, deceptive,; lacking in or not based on reality
Synonyms:specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary
Antonyms:actual, real, factual, objective
Indigent
(adj.) needy, impoverished
Synonyms:penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute
Antonyms:wealthy, affluent, prosperous
Inordinate
(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
Synonyms:exorbitant, extravagant
Antonyms:moderate, reasonable, equitable
Jettison
(v.)to cast overboard, get rid of an unnecessary or burdensome
Synonyms:cast off, discard, dump, junk, abandon
Antonyms:conserve, retain, hold on to, keep
Misanthrope
(n.) a person who hates or despises people
Synonyms:people-hater
Pertinacious
(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
Synonyms:stubborn, dogged, determined
Picayune
(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small minded
Synonyms:inconsequential, piddling, trifling
Antonyms:important, significant, huge, gigantic
Raiment
(n.) clothing, garments
Synonyms:apparel, attire
Allege
(v.) to assert without proof or confirmation
Synonyms-claim, contend
Antonyms-prove, deny
Arrant
(adj.) thoroughgoing, out and out, shameless; blatant
Synonyms-egregious, unmitigated
Badinage
(n.) light and playful conversation
Synonyms-banter, persiflage, repartee
Antonyms-sermon
Conciliate
(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent
Synonyms-placate, mollify, propitiate
Antonyms-reaffirm, reassert
Countermand
(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first
Synonyms-recall, revoke
Antonyms-reaffirm, reassert
Echelon
(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a step-like formation or arrangement
Synonyms-level, rank
Exacerbate
(v.) to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful
Synonyms-aggravate, intensify, worsen
Antonyms-alleviate, mitigate, ameliorate
Fatuous
(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
Synonyms-silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous
Antonyms-sensible, intelligent, perceptive, bright
Irrefutable
(adj.) impossible to disprove; beyond argument
Synonyms-indisputable, incontrovertible, undeniable
Antonyms-disputable, indefensible, untenable
Juggernaut
(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path
Lackadaisical
(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted
Synonyms-listless, indolent, indifferent, lax
Antonyms-energetic, vigorous, wholehearted
Litany
(n.) a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list
Synonyms-rigmarole, catalog, megillah
Macabre
(adj.) grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject
Synonyms-grotesque, grim, ghoulish
Paucity
(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth
Synonyms-lack
Antonyms-abundance, glut, plenitude, deluge
Portend
(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of
Synonyms-bode, foretell, foreshadow, suggest
Raze
(v.) to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out
Synonyms-pull down, demolish, shave off
Antonyms-build, construct, raise, erect
Recant
(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously committed, renounce, retract
Synonyms-repudiate, disavow
Antonyms-reaffirm, reassert
Saturate
(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully
Synonyms-permeate, drench, flood, imbue
Antonyms-drain
Saturnine
(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood
Synonyms-sullen, morose
Antonyms-lighthearted, cheerful, vivacious
Slough
(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression
Synonyms-(v.) shed, slog
Antonyms-(v.) take on, acquire, assume
Acclamation
(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval
Synonyms-ovation, cheering, plaudits
Antonyms-booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls
Bucolic
(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral
Synonyms-rustic
Antonyms-urban, metropolitan
Calumniate
(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously
Synonyms-defame, libel
Antonyms-flatter, whitewash, praise
Chary
(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow; reserved, diffident
Synonyms-wary, skittish
Antonyms-heedless, reckless, incautious
Collusion
(n.) secret agreement or cooperation
Synonyms-conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots
Dilettante
(n.) a dabble in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial
Synonyms- amateur, trifler
Antonym-professional
Imperturbable
(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady
Synonyms-unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled
Antonyms-excitable
Increment
(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition
Synonyms-accretion, gain
Antonyms-loss, reduction, decrease
Mandate
(n.) an authoritative command, formal order; authorization
(v.) to issue an order
Synonyms-(n.) directive
Antonyms-(v.) forbid, ban, outlaw
Paltry
(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy
Synonyms-measly, meager, piddling, trivial
Antonyms-gigantic, immense, colossal
Paroxysm
(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion
Synonyms-fit, seizure
Pedantry
(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details
Synonyms-nit-picking, hairsplitting, pettifoggery
Peregrination
(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country.
Synonyms-journey, wandering, odyssey
Redolent
(adj.) fragrant; smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura
Synonyms-evocative, reminiscent, aromatic
Antonyms-evocative, odorless
Refulgent
(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent
Synonyms-luminous, splendid
Antonyms-dim, dark, obscure, dingy, dull, murky
Shibboleth
(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism
Synonyms-catchphrase, password, slogan
Tyro
(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill
Synonyms-neophyte
Antonyms-veteran, past master, expert
Unremitting
(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up relentless
Synonyms-constant, incessant, unrelenting
Antonyms-desultory, intermittent
Vacillate
(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to weaver weakly in mind or will
Synonyms-seesaw, fluctuate, oscillate
Antonyms-perserve
Vituperative
(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding
Synonyms-abusive, scurrilous, insulting
Antonyms-complimentary, laudatory, flattering
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