List 9 Flashcards
Pejorative (adj.)
Having a negative effect; insulting
Lenny resigned after overhearing his coworkers’ pejorative remarks.
Syn: disparaging, derogatory
Ant: complimentary
Machination (n.)
An evil design or plan
Once again, the superhero foiled the machinations of the evil scientist.
Syn: scheme, plot
Harbinger (n.)
An omen or sign
To many, the black cat is a harbinger of bad luck.
Syn: warning, portent
Nubile (adj.)
Suitable for marriage in age and physical development, referring to a female
In six years, she grew from a skinny twelve-year-old to a nubile young woman.
Sapient (adj.)
Wise; full of knowledge
Everyone sought advice from the sapient monk who lived on the mountain.
Syn: sagacious
Ant: fatuous; inane
Chimerical (adj.)
Imaginary; fantastic
Little Tina had a chimerical notion that rabbits lived in trees.
Syn: absurd, illusionary
Ant: practical
Masochist (n.)
One who enjoys his or her own pain and suffering
Sue accused her friend of being a masochist because he refused to go to the doctor despite his broken toes.
Finesse (n.)
Diplomacy; tact; artful management
The diplomat had the finesse to deal with the troublesome nation.
Syn: skill, cunning
Ant: tactless
Heterogeneous (adj.)
Different; dissimilar
The platoon was a heterogeneous group of young men from various backgrounds.
Syn: diverse, varied
Ant: homogeneous; similar
Eclectic (adj.)
Choosing from various sources
The eclectic furnishings were from many different nations and historical periods.
Syn: selective
Ant: narrow
Grandiose (adj.)
Impressive; showy; magnificent
The young couple could not afford the grandiose home, so they found a smaller house.
Syn: stately, imposing
Ant: humble
Raiment (n.)
Clothing; garments
The royal raiment of the princess is copied by the fashion industry for the department-store market.
Blanch (n.)
To whiten; to make pale
Sue’s face blanched when she saw the charred remains of her house.
Hybrid (n.)
Anything of mixed origin
The hybrid roses had the best traits of two different species.
Idiosyncrasy (n.)
A peculiar personality trait
Hiding money in tin cans was the only one of the old man’s idiosyncrasies.
Syn: eccentricity, quirk
