literary vocab Flashcards
paradigm
noun
a typical example or pattern of something; a model.
“there is a new paradigm for public art in this country”
synonyms: model, pattern, example, standard, prototype, archetype;
assignation
noun
an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers.
“his assignation with an older woman”
synonyms: rendezvous, date, appointment, meeting, tweetup; literarytryst
“he and Jane arranged a secret assignation in town”
eulogize
verb
praise highly in speech or writing.
“a plaque that eulogizes the workers”
the police eulogized the positive effect of speed cameras”
synonyms: praise enthusiastically, acclaim, extol;
austere
adjective
severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
“an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook”
synonyms: severe, stern, strict, harsh, unfeeling, stony, steely, flinty, dour, grim, cold, frosty, frigid, icy, chilly, unemotional, unfriendly, formal, stiff, stuffy, reserved, remote, distant, aloof, forbidding, mean-looking, grave, solemn, serious, unsmiling, unsympathetic, unforgiving, uncharitable;
(of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic.
synonyms: strict, self-denying, self-abnegating, moderate, temperate, sober, simple, frugal, spartan, restrained, self-restrained, self-disciplined, nonindulgent,
“the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity”
synonyms: plain, simple, basic, functional, modest, unadorned, undecorated, unornamented, unembellished, unostentatious, unfurnished, uncluttered, unfussy, without frills, subdued, muted, restrained
loquacious
adjective
tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
“never loquacious, Sarah was now totally lost for words”
synonyms: talkative, garrulous, voluble, over-talkative, long-winded, wordy, verbose, profuse, prolix, effusive, gushing, rambling;
Taciturn
adjective
(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
“after such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose”
synonyms: untalkative, uncommunicative, reticent, unforthcoming, quiet, unresponsive, secretive, silent, tight-lipped, close-mouthed, mute, dumb, inarticulate;
compunction
noun
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.
“spend the money without compunction”
synonyms: scruples, misgivings, qualms, worries, unease, uneasiness, hesitation, hesitancy, doubts, reluctance, reservations;
abrade
crape or wear away by friction or erosion.
“a landscape slowly abraded by a fine, stinging dust”
synonyms: wear away/down, wear, erode, scrape away, corrode, eat away at, gnaw away at, bite into, scour, rasp, strip, flay
“the paintwork had been abraded over the years by the weather”
hubris
noun
excessive pride or self-confidence.
“the self-assured hubris among economists was shaken in the late 1980s”
synonyms: arrogance, conceit, conceitedness, haughtiness, pride, vanity, self-importance, self-conceit, pomposity, superciliousness, feeling of superiority;
antipathy
noun
a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion.
“his fundamental antipathy to capitalism”
synonyms: hostility, antagonism, animosity, aversion, animus, opposition, enmity, dislike, distaste, ill will, ill feeling, hatred, hate, abhorrence, loathing, repugnance, odium
seditious
adjective
inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
“the letter was declared seditious”
synonyms: rabble-rousing, inciting, agitating, fomenting, troublemaking, provocative, inflammatory, agitational
propriety
noun
the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.
“he always behaved with the utmost propriety”
synonyms: decorum, respectability, decency, correctness, appropriateness, good manners, courtesy, politeness, rectitude, civility, modesty, demureness; More
the details or rules of behavior conventionally considered to be correct.
plural noun: proprieties
“she’s a great one for the proprieties”
the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting.
“they questioned the propriety of certain investments made by the council”
synonyms: correctness, rightness, fitness, suitability, suitableness, appropriateness, appropriacy, aptness, morality, ethicality
subvert
verb
undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).
“an attempt to subvert democratic government”
synonyms: destabilize, unsettle, overthrow, overturn;
innocuous
adjective
not harmful or offensive.
“it was an innocuous question”
synonyms: harmless, safe, nondangerous, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, nonirritant, noninjurious, innocent;
clemency
noun
mercy; lenience.
“an appeal for clemency”
synonyms: mercy, mercifulness, leniency, lenience, mildness, indulgence, forbearance, quarter;
