504 Words Flashcards
Abject
Adj, existing to the highest amount, extreme. (Used to describe something bad). Lacking dignity or pride, despicable (used to describe a person/behavior)
Synonyms: hopeless, contemptible, worthless, pathetic, low, wretched
Antonyms: noble, proud, worthy
Some people in developing countries live in abject poverty.
The accused criminal sat alone, an abject figure.
Abjure
To relinquish or give up.
She abjured her inheritance and asked that it be donated to her favorite charity.
The new dictator forced the citizens to abjure their political beliefs.
Synonym: recant, withdraw, retract, renounce, deny, forswear
Antonym: allow, emphasize , adhere
Latin roots: abjure (away), ab (away), swear (jurare)
Used as a legal term meaning to formally renounce
Abnegation
The act of rejecting or renouncing something; self-denial
Her abnegation of sweets happened because she us in a strict diet.
The father’s abnegation of responsibility for his daughter’s behavior shocked the principal.
Synonym: denial, refusal, abandonment, abstinence, disavowal, temperance
Antonym: approval, allowance, acquiescence
Latin root: negare “to deny”
Abrogate
To formally abolish or repeal
Outdated laws should be abrogated
The King abrogated slavery across his kingdom.
Synonym: annul, invalidate, revoke, cancel, nullify, repeal
Antonym: sanction, permit, approve
Latin root: “to annul or repeal”
Not to confuse with abdicate: renounce one’s throne or duty
Abrogation, abrogater
Abstemious
Adj, moderate or sparing, especially in eating and drinking
She was abstemious with her meals as she was trying to lose weight.
His regional requires him to be abstemious and avoid eating meat.
Synonym: frugal, restrained, temperate, ascetic, austere, moderate
Antonym: greedy, gluttonous, hungry
Latin root: temetum, “strong drink”, ab meaning “from”
Not to be confused with abstinent meaning “refraining from excess indulgence.”
Abstemiously, abstemiousness
Accost
To approach and address someone in an aggressive manner
The person who accosted me stole my purse.
The celebrity was accosted by fans and photographers when she left her home.
Synonym: annoy, confront, bother, propose, address, solicit
Antonym: help, avoid, evade, dodge
Accosted, accosting
Achilles
Adj/noun, in Greek mythology, a great warrior and Trojan War leader (n.)
May aslo be used to describe a weakness (such as in Achilles’ heel). (Adj.)
According to Greek mythology, Achilles killed hector in the Trojan War. (n.)
The country’s Achilles’ heel is its lack of a robust military. (Adj.)
Synonym: weakness
Antonym: strength
Acumen
Having the kneenness of mind to make good judgements and quick decisions.
His business acumen made him very successful as a Wall Street trader.
Candidates must have political acumen to win an election.
Synonym: shrewdness, expertise, discernment, perception, intelligence, discrimination
Antonym: ignorance, ineptness, insanity
Latin word “acuere” meaning “to sharpen”
Related words: acuminous
Adulterate
To corrupt or make impure, v.
Their water supply had been adulterated with chemicals.
The man complained that his cola had been adulterated with water.
Synonym: pollute, contaminate, dilute, debase, corrupt, pervert
Antonym: clean, purify, clarify
Related words: adulteration (noun), adulterator
Adumbrate
To foreshadow in a vague way; to indicate faintly.
The book summary is designed to adumbrate the plot of the novel.
The dim light adumbrated the woman, creating a ghostly outline of her.
Synonym: suggest, foretell, outline, sketch, intimate, foreshadow
Antonym: illuminates, bare, light
Related words: adumbrated and adumbrating
Aggrandize
To make greater or enhance the reputation, power or wealth of someone or something
The ruler tried to aggrandize his position without thinking of the good of his people
He donates to charities only to aggrandize himself in the perception of others
Synonym: increase, heighten, magnify, acclaim, extend, augment
Antonym: disgrace, dishonor, belittle
Self-aggrandizing: an egotistical person
Commonly used words: Aggrandizer and aggrandizement
Alacrity
Promptness, cheerful readiness (noun)
David took the exam with alacrity because she had studied hard for it.
His alacrity to learn French grew after visiting the French countryside.
Synonym: willingness, eagerness, promptness, readiness, preparedness, forwardness
Antonym: apathy, indifference, reluctance
Latin word “alacer” meaning brisk
Allegro: at a brisk and lively tempo
abstruse
/ebstroos/
Difficult to understand, obscure
I found deep learning an abstruse subject.
Alias
An assumed or additional identity.
He used an alias when he posted online.
Synonyms: pseudonym, moniker, otherwise, nickname, sobriquet
Antonym: none
