List 02 Flashcards
adulterate
verb:
damage the quality of; corrupt
Chemical runoff regularly adulterates our water supply.
Synonyms:
defile
taint
debase
advocate
verb:
support; be in favor of
The board advocated a more conservative marketing strategy.
Synonyms:
champion
back
endorse
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noun:
someone who supports a cause, organization, or person
John is an advocate for many progressive causes.
Synonyms:
proponent
champion
crusader
aggrandize
verb:
enhance one’s power or standing
Roman leading men never passed on an opportunity to aggrandize themselves.
Synonyms:
embellish
augment
magnify
alacrity
noun:
eagerness to do something
The children completed their chores with surprising alacrity.
Synonyms:
zeal
haste
ardor
ambivalent
adjective:
having conflicting emotions; unsure
It’s normal to feel ambivalent when moving to a new place.
Synonyms:
equivocal
irresolute
vacillating
ameliorate
verb:
improve a bad feeling or bad situation
Strong service and timely support can ameliorate customer anger.
Synonyms:
ease
mitigate
relieve
amenable
adjective:
(of a person) receptive to change; open
The students were amenable to less homework.
Synonyms:
acquiescent
compliant
tractable
=============================
adjective:
(of a thing) responsive to
The software is amenable to customization, and we can tailor it to our needs.
Synonyms:
susceptible
receptive
reactive
anachronistic
adjective:
of the wrong time or era
Dreams of colonial conquest are anachronistic in today’s modern world.
Synonyms:
archaic
outmoded
antiquated
audacious
adjective:
bold; unafraid of risks
Elon Musk incessantly pursues his audacious plan for a city on Mars.
Synonyms:
daring
intrepid
unflinching
=============================
adjective:
rude; exhibiting disrespect
His audacious remark during the meeting caught everyone off guard and was seen by many as downright disrespectful.
Synonyms:
impudent
presumptuous
impertinent
avaricious
adjective:
greedy; always wanting more
Free market economies not only tolerate but reward avaricious behavior.
Synonyms:
acquisitive
rapacious
grasping
banal
adjective:
unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity
The reviewer grew weary of banal, by-the-book action movies.
Synonyms:
trite
platitudinous
vapid
benign
adjective:
harmless; having little effect
Despite causing some initial discomfort, the process is benign.
Synonyms:
innocuous
benignant
gentle
=============================
adjective:
(of a person’s character) kindhearted; nice
Despite his imposing stature, he had a benign smile.
Synonyms:
amiable
congenial
cordial
brazen
adjective:
shameless and excessively forward
John’s brazen interruptions of his boss’ speech were not received well.
Synonyms:
presumptuous
brash
unabashed
calumny
noun:
slander and defamation
The tabloid had an axe to grind and thus spread calumny daily.
Synonyms:
libel
obloquy
denigration
candid
adjective:
honest; without deception
Honesty is important, but don’t be too candid in job interviews.
Synonyms:
blunt
forthright
frank
castigate
verb:
scold someone harshly
The entire country castigated the governor for his ill-timed statement.
Synonyms:
rebuke
lambast
berate
caustic
adjective:
(of speech) hostile and bitter
Reality TV thrives on conflict and caustic discourse between characters.
Synonyms:
derisive
scathing
mordant
=============================
adjective:
(of a chemical) corrosive; acidic
Care should be taken when handling the caustic substance.
Synonyms:
stinging
mordant
acrid
construe
verb:
understand something subjectively
It was difficult to construe the retreat as anything but a massive defeat.
Synonyms:
read
parse
decode
contrite
adjective:
feeling regretful or guilty
Genuinely contrite, the man accepted his sentence without protest.
Synonyms:
repentant
rueful
chastened
convoluted
adjective:
difficult to understand or follow
Rome’s roads are a convoluted mess.
Synonyms:
serpentine
tortuous
Byzantine
covet
verb:
strongly desire; yearn for
To improve our mental health, let’s try to not covet the possessions of others.
Synonyms:
long for
hanker for
ache for
craven
adjective:
lacking bravery; weak-kneed
The army surrendered but not because the soldiers were craven.
Synonyms:
quaking
timid
lily-livered
decorum
noun:
politeness and proper behavior
The mother encouraged her son to have decorum.
Synonyms:
propriety
decency
deportment
deft
adjective:
highly proficient; skilled
Jane’s deft fingers navigate the 88 piano keys effortlessly.
Synonyms:
adroit
artful
dexterous
