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Vocab F Units 9 and 10

Terms in this set (40)

abate
verb
to make less in amount, degree; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

SYN: diminish, decrease, subside, let up
ANT: intensify, increase, magnify, wax
adulation
noun
praise of flattery that is excessive

SYN: adoration, idolization, hero-worship
ANT: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium
anathema
noun
an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

SYN: malediction, imprecation, abomination
ANT: benediction, blessing
astute
adjective
shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

SYN: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily
ANT: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb
avarice
noun
a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

SYN: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness
culpable
adjective
deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

SYN: guilty delinquent, peccant, blameworthy
ANT: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious
dilatory
adjective
tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

SYN: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard
ANT: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious
egregious
adjective
conspicuous, standing out from the mass

SYN: glaring, flagrant, blatant
ANT: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling
equivocate
verb
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
adjective
vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

SYN: ephemeral, transient, transitory
ANT: everlasting, immortal, imperishable
irresolute
adjective
unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

SYN: indecisive, vacillating, wavering
ANT: determined, decisive, unwavering
nebulous
adjective
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
noun (adj)
one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience

SYN: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice
ANT: veteran, past master, pro, expert
penury
noun
extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

SYN: destitution, want, indigence
ANT: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence
pretentious
adjective
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
verb
to review a series of facts; to sum up

SYN: review, summarize, sum up, go over
resuscitate
verb
to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

SYN: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate
slovenly
adjective
untidy, dirty, careless

SYN: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax
ANT: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous
supposition
noun
something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

SYN: assumption, presumption, hypothesis
torpid
adjective
inactive, sluggish, dull

SYN: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid
ANT: energetic, dynamic, vigorous
accrue
verb
to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result

SYN: collect, accumulate, proceed from
ANT: dwindle, decrease, diminish, lessen
annotation
noun
a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work
bedlam
noun
a state or scene of uproar and confusion

SYN: commotion, pandemonium, chaos, anarchy
ANT: peace and quiet, order, tranquility
covert
adjective
hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded
noun
a sheltered place, a hiding place

SYN: undercover, clandestine, sub-rosa
ANT: open, overt, undisguised
debonair
adjective
pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

SYN: carefree, jaunty, gracious, suave, urbane
ANT: distraught, agitated, boorish, churlish
dun
verb
to demand insistently, especially in payment of a debt
noun
a creditor
adjective
dark, dull, drab, dingy

SYN: hound, pester, harass, nag
efficacious
adjective
effective, producing results

SYN: effectual, efficient, potent, powerful
ANT: ineffective, worthless, useless
equanimity
noun
calmness, composure, refusal to panic

SYN: tranquility ,imperturbability
ANT: excitability, flappability, agitation
fortuitous
adjective
accidental, occurring by a happy chance

SYN: unintentional, unplanned, random, lucky
ANT: intentional, deliberate, premeditated
gist
noun
the essential part, main point, or essence

SYN: substance, core, nucleus
gratuitous
adjective
freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

SYN: voluntary, unjustified, uncalled for
ANT: justified, warranted
imperious
adjective
overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

SYN: domineering, magisterial, urgent, imperative
ANT: fawning, obsequious, humble, unassuming
invective
noun
a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language
adjective
abusive, vituperative

SYN: vituperation, abuse, diatribe, philippic
ANT: tribute, panegyric, encomium
motley
adjective
showing great variety; composed of different elements or many colors
noun
a jester's costume; a jester

SYN: variegated, heterogeneous, diverse; fool
ANT: uniform, homogenous, monochromatic
munificent
adjective
extremely generous, lavish

SYN: bounteous, liberal
ANT: stingy, miserly, tightfisted, parsimonious
procrastinate
verb
to delay, put off until later

SYN: stall, temporize, dillydally
provocative
adjective
tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying

SYN: stimulating, arousing, vexing, galling
ANT: dull, insipid, bland, unstimulating
recondite
adjective
exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

SYN: esoteric, arcane, profound, abstruse
ANT: simple, uncomplicated
reprobate
noun
a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel
adjective
wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled
verb
to disapprove of, condemn

SYN: scoundrel, blackguard; immoral, corrupt
ANT: saint; upright, virtuous, moral
sedentary
adjective
characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place

SYN: seated, stationary, static
ANT: active, peripatetic, migratory
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...