A Flashcards
Apostate
One who renounces a religious faith
- defector, deserter, traitor
Articulate
Able to speak clearly and expressively
-eloquent, fluent
Austere
Severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
-bleak, grim, harsh, severe, hard
Amulet
Ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
-talisman
Attenuate
To reduce in force or degree; weaken
-enervate, weaken
Arbitrate
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
-intermediate, intervene, moderate
Assail
to attack; to assault
-strike
Archaic
ancient; old fashioned
-antique, passe, vintage, outdated
Approbation
Approval and praise
-acclaim, compliments, extolment, kudos
Ardor
intense and passionate feeling
-enthusiasm, zeal, devotion, fervor
Apathy
lack of interest or emotion
-indifference, lethargy, phlegm, unconcern
Audacious
fearless and daring
-agressive, assertive, bold, brave, valiant
Apocryphal
of questionable authority or authenticity
-fake, doubtful
Antipathy
extreme dislike
-animosity, antagonism, hatred, repulsion, hostility
Arrogate
to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
-take, presume, appropriate
Analgesia
a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
Anomaly
deviation from what is normal
-aberration, abnormality, irregular
Analogous
similar or alike in some way; equivalent
-comparable, homogeneous, parallel
Assuage
to make something unpleasant less severe
-alleviate, appease, comfort, ease, pacify
Arbitrary
determined by chance or impulse
-random, changeable, erratic
August
dignified; grandiose
-admirable, awesome, majestic
Augury
a prophecy; a prediction of events
- omen, harbinger, portent
Antagonize
to annoy or provoke to anger
-irritate, oppose, pester, vex
Axiom
premise; self-evident truth
- law, rule, principle, adage, maxim
Anachronism
something out of place
- incongruity
Abjure
to reject; to abandon formally
-recall, forswear, recant, retract
Aggrandize
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
- amplify, dignify, elevate, exalt, ennoble, magnify
Accretion
a gradual growth in size; an increase in amount
- accumulation, buildup
Abase
to humble; to disgrace
- demean; humiliate
Amortize
to diminish by installment payments
- decrease, reduce
Acidulous
sour in taste or manner
- acerbic, biting, pungent, tart
Affected
phony; artificial
- fake, pretentious, insincere, put-on
Abeyance
temporary suppression or suspension
- delay, dormancy, remission, postponement
Abate
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
- lapse, moderate, relent, wane, subside
Ambiguous
doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways
- doubtful, dubious, equivocal, unclear, vague, obscure
Aesthetic
concerning the appreciation of beauty
- tasteful; artistic
Ameliorate
to make better; to improve
-pacify, upgrade, amend
Amalgamate
to combine; to mix together
-blend, commingle, fuse, merge, unite
Advocate
to speak in favor of
- back, support
Abstain
to choose not to do something
-forbear, refrain, withhold
Acme
the highest point; the summit; the highest level or degree attainable
-apex; peak
Aerie
a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
-perch, stronghold
Adulterate
to make impure
-doctor, load, corrupt, falsify
Abyss
an extremely deep hole
- void, chasm
Abdicate
to give up a position, right, or power
-cede, quit, resign, yield
Abscond
to leave secretly
-decamp, escape, flee
Abstemious
moderate in appetite
-self-restraining, temperate, abstinent
Alleviate
to make more bearable
- assuage, comfort, ease, mitigate, relieve
Anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
- narcotic, opiate
Alacrity
speed or quickness
- celerity, haste, swiftness, dispatch
Aberrant
deviating from what is normal or expected
-abnormal, anomalous, errant, irregular
