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Unit 6 Vocabulary

Terms in this set (42)

Anomalous
(adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

syn: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant
ant: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary
Vicarious
(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

syn: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand
ant: real, actual, firsthand
Ennui
(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom

syn: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
ant: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
Cajole
(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

syn: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk
ant: coerce force, strong-arm
Surreptitious
(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

syn: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
ant: open, frank, aboveboard, overt
Contrive
(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan

syn: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
Transmute
(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another

syn: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose
ant: maintain unchanged, preserve
Immutable
(adj.) not subject to change, constant

syn: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
ant: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
Megalomania
(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality

syn: delusions of grandeur
ant: humility, modesty, self-abasement
Brusque
(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

syn: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough
ant: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic
Heinous
(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

syn: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
ant: excellent, wonderful, splendid
Fetter
(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains;
(v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

syn: (n.) bond, restraint; (v.) bind, hamper
ant: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
Bizarre
(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical

syn: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
ant: normal, typical, ordinary, expected
Insurgent
(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority;
(adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

syn: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
ant: (adj.) loyalist, loyal, faithful
Aspersion
(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

syn: innuendo, calumny, denigration
ant: endorsement, testimonial, praise
Castigate
(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely

syn: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid
ant: reward, honor, praise, laud
Transgress
(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

syn: overstep, exceed, trespass, err
ant: obey, toe the line
Demagogue
(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

syn: rabble-rouser, fireband
Sinsecure
(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

syn: "no-show" job, cushy job, "plum"
Disabuse
(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

syn: undeceive, enlighten, set straight
ant: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
ANOMALOUS
Feeling protective of my friend but knowing of his difficulties placed me in an__ position.
ASPERSION
Think twice before casting__ on his honesty, for he might be telling the truth.
VICARIOUS
In search of__ excitement, we watched movies of action and adventure.
ENNUI
Some people seem to confuse sophistication with__.
CAJOLE
With a smile, a joke, and a second helping of pie, she would__ him into doing what she wanted.
SURREPTITIOUS
The movie heroine blushed when she noticed the__ glances of her admirer.
CONTRIVE
She can __ wonderful excuses; but when she tries to offer them, her uneasiness gives her away.
TRANSMUTE
To__ distrust into friendship along the war-torn border will take more than wise politicians and just laws.
IMMUTABLE
Scientists labored to discover a set of__ laws of the universe.
MEGALOMANIA
Sudden fame and admiration can make people feel unworthy-or it can bring on feeling of__.
BRUSQUE
His request for a large loan for an indefinite length of time was met with a__ refusal.
HEINOUS
A town so peaceful, quiet, and law-abiding was bound to be horrified by so__ a crime.
FETTER
The old phrase "chain gang" refers to prisoners made to work, each joined to the next by linked__
FETTER
It is said that good inventors do not__ themselves with conventional thinking.
BIZARRE
Years from now I will look at this picture and wonder what sort of__ costume I was wearing.
INSURGENT
George Washington and his contemporaries were__ against Britain.
INSURGENT
The army was confident that they could crush the__ forces.
CASTIGATED
After he __ the unruly children, they settled down to study quietly.
TRANSGRESS
The penitent citizens promised to never again__ the laws of the land.
DEMAGOGUE
Often a show of angry concern conceals the self-serving tactics of a__.
SINECURE
The office of Vice President of the United States was once considered little more than a __.
DISABUSE
He thinks that all women adore him, but my sister will probably__ him of that idea.
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