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English unit 4 vocab

Terms in this set (20)

(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away
The atrophy of the downtown business district began when two huge malls opened
The patient's muscles have atrophy
Synonyms: (n.) degeneration, deterioration; (v.) wither
Antonyms: (n.) growth; (v.) mature
Atrophy
(n.) a fortified place, stronghold
Contrary to popular belief, the military is not always a bastion of political conservatism
Synonyms: citadel, rampart, parapet
Bastion
(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant
A spirit of concord was restored when the company compensated its employees
Antonyms: disagreement, strife, discord
Concord
(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection
"Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican are works of consummate artistry"
"The lawyers could not consummate the settlement until the two parties met face to face"
Synonyms: (adj.) masterful; (v.) clinch, conclude
Antonyms: (v.) launch; initiate, begin, kick off
Consummate
(n.) disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder
"The burgled home was in a state of disarray"
"If you leave the window open, a breeze may disarray the papers on the desktop"
Synonyms: (n.) disorganization; (v.) dishevel, mess up
Antonyms: (n.) organization, order, tidiness
Disarray
(n., often pl.) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
"He emphasized the exigency of the situation by requesting the immediate dispatch of rescue teams"
Synonyms: requirement, crisis
Exigency
(n.) floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
"After the two ships collided, the survivors clung to various pieces of flotsam and hoped for rescue"
Synonym: floating wreckage
Flotsam
(adj.) frenzied, highly agitated
"When a court order was issued, the social services department made a frenetic search for the missing report"
Synonyms: frantic, overwrought
Antonyms: calm, controlled, relaxed, leisurely
Frenetic
(v.) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left by a field by the reapers
"By means of painstaking investigation, the detective will eventually glean the truth"
Synonyms: cull, pick up
Glean
(n.) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble
"The patient's latest grouse was that he didn't get any dessert with his dinner the night before"
"Those who just stand around and grouse about their low salaries are not likely to get a raise"
Synonyms: (v.) kvetch, bellyache
Grouse
(v.) to imprison, confine, jail
"They will incarcerate the convicted felon at the state penitentiary"
Synonym: intern
Antonyms: liberate, free
Incarcerate
(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
"Voting on election day is a duty incumbent on all Americans who value a democratic government"
"The incumbent has the advantage when standing for reelection but does not have a guarantee victory"
Synonyms: (adj.) mandatory, necessary
Antonyms: (adj.) optional, unnecessary
Incumbent
(adj.) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
"After receiving the news that she was ahead in the polls, the candidate was in a delightfully jocular mood"
Synonyms: waggish, facetious, droll
Antonyms: solemn, grave, earnest, grim
Jocular
(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd
"Her comment was so ludicrous that we finally understood that she was joking"
Synonyms: risible, preposterous
Antonyms: heartrending, poignant, pathetic
Ludicrous
(adj.) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
"The actor was upset by the mordant criticism of the gossip columnist who seemed out to ruin his reputation"
Synonyms: acrimonious, acidulous, sardonic, scathing
Antonyms: bland, mild, gentle, soothing
Mordant
(n.) a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
"If you are pricked by a nettle, aloe cream will soothe and reduce the sting"
"The principal was nettled by the student's disrespectful behavior"
Synonyms: (v.) peeve, annoy, incense, gail
Antonyms: (v.) please, delight, soothe, pacify
Nettle
(adj.) consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money
"The couple was forced by pecuniary considerations to sell their large home and buy a smaller one"
Synonym: monetary
Pecuniary
(adj.) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited
"It is often said that bullied, when tested, are the most pusillanimous people of all"
Synonym: lily-livered
Antonyms: stouthearted, courageous
Pusillanimous
(adj.) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
"The tired toddlers were recumbent on the couch after playing all afternoon in the yard"
Synonyms: prone, supine, inactive
Antonyms: erect, energetic, dynamic
Recumbent
(n.) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end
"The defense attorney used a clever stratagem to curry sympathy for her client"
Synonyms: trick, ploy, subterfuge
Stratagem
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