Malapropism Flashcards
ingenuous <> ingenious
> ingenuous : adjective
1 obsolete : noble, honorable
2 a : showing innocent or childlike simplicity and candidness
b : lacking craft or subtlety
synonyms see natural
in·gen·u·ous·ly adverb
in·gen·u·ous·ness noun
Origin: Latin ingenuus native, freeborn, from in- + gignere to beget — more at kin.
> ingenious : adjective
: very smart or clever : having or showing ingenuity
inequity <> iniquity
in·eq·ui·ty(ˌ)i-ˈne-kwə-tē\
noun
: lack of fairness : unfair treatment
: something that is unfair
in·iq·ui·ty-kwə-tē\
noun
: the quality of being unfair or evil
: something that is unfair or evil
Full Definition
1 : gross injustice : wickedness
2 : a wicked act or thing : sin
Other forms: plural in·iq·ui·ties
Examples
the use of illegal narcotics is not only a destroyer of personal health but also an iniquity that undermines our society
a nation still struggling with the aftereffects of the iniquity of slavery
Origin: Middle English iniquite, from Anglo-French iniquité, from Latin iniquitat-, iniquitas, from iniquus uneven, from in- + aequus equal.
Synonyms: corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquitousness, vice, libertinage, libertinism, licentiousness, profligacy, sin
Antonyms: morality, virtue
founder flounder
1.
found·er\ˈfau̇n-dər\
noun
: one that founds or establishes
Origin: 4found.
Synonyms: bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, fail, miss, strike out, tank, wash out
Antonyms: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
foun·der\ˈfau̇n-dər\
: to experience failure : to be unsuccessful
of a boat or ship : to fill with water and sink
Full Definition intransitive verb 1 : to become disabled; especially : to go lame 2 : to give way : collapse 3 : to become submerged : sink 4 : to come to grief : fail
transitive verb
: to disable (an animal) especially by excessive feeding
Other forms: foun·dered; foun·der·ing -d(ə-)riŋ\
Origin: Middle English foundren to fall to the ground, sink, from Anglo-French fondrer, alteration of fondre, from Latin fundere to pour, cast, disperse, lay low, slay — more at found.
Synonyms: bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, fail, miss, strike out, tank, wash out
Antonyms: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
- foun·der
noun
: laminitis
Synonyms: bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, fail, miss, strike out, tank, wash out
Antonyms: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
4.
found·er
noun
: one that founds metal; especially : typefounder
Synonyms: bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, fail, miss, strike out, tank, wash out
> flounder
: to move in an awkward way with a lot of difficulty and effort
: to be unsure about what to do or say
: to have a lot of problems and difficulties
Full Definition
intransitive verb
1 : to struggle to move or obtain footing : thrash about wildly
2 : to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
Other forms: floun·dered; floun·der·ing -d(ə-)riŋ\
Examples
The horses were floundering through the deep snow.
He was floundering around in the pool like an amateur.
After watching me flounder for a few minutes, my instructor took over.
Origin: probably alteration of founder.
First use: 1592
Synonyms: blunder, bumble, flog [British], limp, lumber, plod, struggle, stumble, trudge
Antonyms: breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk
exacerbate<>exasperate
> ex·ac·er·bate\ig-ˈza-sər-ˌbāt\
: to make (a bad situation, a problem, etc.) worse
Full Definition
transitive verb
: to make more violent, bitter, or severe
> ex·as·per·ate\ig-ˈzas-pə-ˌrāt\
: to make (someone) very angry or annoyed
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 a : to excite the anger of : enrage
b : to cause irritation or annoyance to
2 obsolete : to make more grievous : aggravate
synonyms see irritate
Other forms: ex·as·per·at·ed; ex·as·per·at·ing
ex·as·per·at·ed·ly adverb
ex·as·per·at·ing·ly -ˌrā-tiŋ-lē\ adverb
Origin: Latin exasperatus, past participle of exasperare, from ex- + asper rough — more at asperity.
First use: 1534
Synonyms: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, irritate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, itch, nark [British], nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex
indigent<>indignant
> in·di·gent\ˈin-di-jənt\
adjective
: lacking money : very poor
Full Definition
1 : suffering from extreme poverty : impoverished
2 a archaic : deficient
b archaic : totally lacking in something specified
indigent noun
Examples
indigent people who require some outside assistance
Origin: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from Latin indigent-, indigens, present participle of indigēre to need, from Old Latin indu + Latin egēre to need; perhaps akin to Old High German echerode poor.
> in·dig·nant\in-ˈdig-nənt\
adjective
: feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong : very angry
Full Definition
: feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy : filled with or marked by indignation
in·dig·nant·ly adverb
Examples
the poker player became indignant at the accusation of cheating
Origin: Latin indignant-, indignans, present participle of indignari to be indignant, from indignus unworthy, from in- + dignus worthy — more at decent.
Synonyms: angered, apoplectic, ballistic, cheesed off [chiefly British], choleric, enraged, foaming, fuming, furious, hopping, horn-mad, hot, incensed, angry, inflamed (also enflamed), infuriate, infuriated, irate, ireful, livid, mad, outraged, rabid, rankled, riled, riley, roiled, shirty [chiefly British], sore, steamed up, steaming, teed off, ticked, wrathful, wroth
Antonyms: angerless, delighted, pleased
Illicit<>elicit
> il·lic·it(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-sət\
adjective
: not allowed by law : unlawful or illegal
: involving activities that are not considered morally acceptable
Full Definition
: not permitted : unlawful
il·lic·it·ly adverb
Examples
had a long history of using illicit drugs
Origin: Latin illicitus, from in- + licitus lawful — more at licit.
First use: 1506
Synonyms: criminal, felonious, illegitimate, illegal, lawless, unlawful, wrongful
Antonyms: lawful, legal, legitimate
> elic·it\i-ˈli-sət\
: to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential)
2 : to call forth or draw out (as information or a response)
synonyms see educe
elic·i·ta·tion \i-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən, ˌē-\ noun
elic·i·tor \i-ˈli-sə-tər\ noun
Examples
the role elicited the actress’s flair for comedy that previous directors had overlooked
Origin: Latin elicitus, past participle of elicere, from e- + lacere to allure.
First use: 1605
Synonyms: educe, evoke, inspire, raise
protein<>protean
pro·tein\ˈprō-ˌtēn also ˈprō-tē-ən\
noun
: a substance found in foods (such as meat, milk, eggs, and beans) that is an important part of the human diet
Full Definition
Usage: often attributive
1 : any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usually sulfur, and occasionally other elements (as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies)
2 : the total nitrogenous material in plant or animal substances
Origin: French protéine, from Late Greek prōteios primary, from Greek prōtos first — more at prot-.
First use: circa 1844
pro·te·an\ˈprō-tē-ən, prō-ˈtē-\
adjective
: able to change into many different forms or able to do many different things
Full Definition
1 : of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms
2 : displaying great diversity or variety : versatile
Examples
a protean actor who is equally comfortable with light comedy and serious drama
First use: 1598
Synonyms: adaptable, all-around (also all-round), versatile, universal
invidious<>insidious
in·vid·i·ous\in-ˈvi-dē-əs\
adjective
: unpleasant and likely to cause bad feelings in other people
Full Definition
1 : tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy
2 : envious
3 a : of an unpleasant or objectionable nature : obnoxious
b : of a kind to cause harm or resentment
in·vid·i·ous·ly adverb
in·vid·i·ous·ness noun
Examples
inevitably, his remarkable success attracted the invidious attention of the other sales representatives
Origin: Latin invidiosus envious, invidious, from invidia envy — more at envy.
Synonyms: covetous, green-eyed, envious, jaundiced, jealous, resentful
Antonyms: unenvious
in·sid·i·ous\in-ˈsi-dē-əs\
adjective
: causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed
Full Definition
1 a : awaiting a chance to entrap : treacherous
b : harmful but enticing : seductive
2 a : having a gradual and cumulative effect : subtle
b of a disease : developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent
in·sid·i·ous·ly adverb
in·sid·i·ous·ness noun
Origin: Latin insidiosus, from insidiae ambush, from insidēre to sit in, sit on, from in- + sedēre to sit — more at sit.
First use: 1545
trench<>tranche
trench\ˈtrench\
noun
: a long, narrow hole that is dug in the ground
: a deep, narrow hole in the ground that is used as protection for soldiers
: a long, narrow hole in the ocean floor
Synonyms: dike, fosse (or foss), gutter, sheugh [chiefly Scottish], ditch, trough
tranche\ˈträⁿsh\
noun
: a division or portion of a pool or whole;
specifically : an issue of bonds derived from a pooling of like obligations (as securitized mortgage debt) that is differentiated from other issues especially by maturity or rate of return
Origin: French, literally, slice, from Old French, from trenchier, trancher to cut — more at trench.
pair<>pare
pare\ˈper\
: to carefully cut off the outside or the ends of (something)
: to make (something) smaller : to reduce (something) in size, amount, or number
pair
noun
: two things that are the same and are meant to be used together
: a thing that has two parts which are joined
: two people who are related in some way or who do something together
pale<>pail
> pale\ˈpāl\
noun
: a space or field having bounds : enclosure
: a territory or district within certain bounds or under a particular jurisdiction
Examples
the pale wood of the table
The walls were painted a pale blue.
She has a pale complexion.
Synonyms: dull, dulled, faded, light, pastel, washed-out, washy
Antonyms: dark, deep, gay, rich
3pale adjective \: light in color \: having a skin color that is closer to white than is usual or normal of light : not bright or intense Full Definition 1 : deficient in color or intensity of color : pallid <a> 2 : not bright or brilliant : dim <a> 3 : feeble, faint <a> 4 : deficient in chroma <a> Other forms: pal·er; pal·est pale·ly \ˈpāl-lē\ adverb pale·ness \-nəs\ noun pal·ish \ˈpā-lish\ adjective Examples conduct that was beyond the pale Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pallidus, from pallēre to be pale — more at fallow. First use: 14th century Synonyms: dull, dulled, faded, light, pastel, washed-out, washy Antonyms: dark, deep, gay, rich 4pale intransitive verb \: to become paletransitive verb \: to make pale Other forms: paled; pal·ing First use: 14th century Synonyms: dull, dulled, faded, light, pastel, washed-out, washy Antonyms: dark, deep, gay, rich
>pail\ˈpāl\ noun \: a round container that is open at the top and usually has a handle \: the amount held by a pail Full Definition 1 : a usually cylindrical container with a handle : bucket 2 : the quantity that a pail contains pail·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun Examples a garbage pail A plastic beach pail was lying on the sand. Fill up that pail with water. Origin: Middle English payle, paille. First use: 14th century Synonyms: bucket
extant<>extinct
ex·tant\ˈek-stənt; ek-ˈstant, ˈek-ˌ\
adjective
: in existence : still existing : not destroyed or lost
ex·tinct\ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t, ˈek-ˌ\
adjective
: no longer existing
: no longer active
secede<>cede
se·cede\si-ˈsēd\
intransitive verb
: to separate from a nation or state and become independent
Full Definition
: to withdraw from an organization (as a religious communion or political party or federation)
Other forms: se·ced·ed; se·ced·ing
se·ced·er noun
Origin: Latin secedere, from sed-, se- apart (from sed, se without) + cedere to go — more at suicide.
cede\ˈsēd\
: to give control of (something) to another person, group, government, etc.
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to yield or grant typically by treaty
2 : assign, transfer
Other forms: ced·ed; ced·ing
ced·er noun
Examples
Russia ceded Alaska to the U.S. in 1867.
The state had to cede part of their territory.
The country had no choice but to cede control of the canal.
Origin: French or Latin; French céder, from Latin cedere to go, withdraw, yield.
First use: 1749
Synonyms: surrender, cough up, deliver, give up, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, turn in, turn over, yield
venial < > venal
ve·nial\ˈvē-nē-əl, -nyəl\
adjective
: not serious
: of a kind that can be remitted : forgivable, pardonable; also : meriting no particular censure or notice : excusable
ve·nal\ˈvē-nəl\
adjective
: willing to do dishonest things in return for money
1 : capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : purchasable; especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery : mercenary <a>
2 : originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery <a></a></a>
debauch <> debouch
1 de·bauch\di-ˈbȯch, -ˈbäch, dē-\
transitive verb
1 a archaic : to make disloyal
b : to seduce from chastity
2 a : to lead away from virtue or excellence
b : to corrupt by intemperance or sensuality
synonyms see debase
de·bauch·er noun
Origin: Middle French debaucher, from Old French desbauchier to scatter, disperse, from des- de- + bauch beam, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balko beam — more at balk.
Synonyms: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debase, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp
Antonyms: elevate, ennoble, uplift
2debauch noun 1 : an act or occasion of debauchery 2 : orgy First use: 1603 Synonyms: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debase, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp Antonyms: elevate, ennoble, uplift
2 de·bouch\di-ˈbau̇ch, -ˈbüsh, dē-\
transitive verb
: to cause to emerge : discharge
intransitive verb
1 : to march out into open ground
2 : emerge, issue
de·bouch·ment -mənt\ noun
Origin: French déboucher, from dé- de- + bouche mouth, from Old French boche, from Latin bucca cheek.
