Set 14 Flashcards
Disparate
adj
(dih spar uht)
Fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Although the twins are physically identical, their personalities are DISPARATE.
Synonyms: different; dissimilar; divergent; divers; variant; various
Oblique
adj
(oh bleek)
Indirect or evasive; misleading or devious
Usually open and friendly, Reynaldo has been behaving in a curiously OBLIQUE manner lately.
Synonyms: glancing; slanted; tangential
Bilk
verb
(bihlk)
To cheat; to defraud
When the greedy salesman realized that his customer spoke poor French, he BILKED the tourist out of 20 euros.
Synonyms: beat; defraud; overreach
Leery
adj
(lihr ree)
Suspicious
After being swindled once, Ruth became LEARY of strangers trying to sell things to her.
Synonyms: distrustful; guarded; wary
Tacit
adj
(taa siht)
Done without using words
Although not a word was said, everyone in the room knew that a TACIT agreement had been made about what course of action to take.
Synonyms: implicit; implied; undeclared; unsaid; unuttered
Symbiosis
noun
(sihm bee oh sihs)
Cooperation; mutual helpfulness
The rhino and the tick-eating bird live in SYMBIOSIS; the rhino gives the bird food in the form of ticks, and the bird rids the rhino of the parasites.
Synonyms: association; interdependence
Decorum
noun
(deh kohr uhm)
Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
The countess complained that he vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for a visit to the palace.
Synonyms: correctness; decency; etiquette; manners; mores:0; propriety; seemliness
Rarefy
verb
(rayr uh fie)
To become thinner or sparser
Since the atmosphere RAREFIES as altitudes increase, the air at the top of the very tall mountains is too thin to breathe.
Synonyms: attenuate; thin
Panegyric
noun
(paan uh jeer ihk)
Elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
The director’s PANEGYRIC for the donor who kept his charity going was heart-warming.
Synonyms: compliment; homage
Redress
noun
(rih drehs)
Relief from wrong or injury
Seeking REDRESS for the injuries she had received in the accident, Doreen sued the driver of the truck that had hit her.
Synonyms: amends; indemnity; quittance; reparation; restitution
Arbitrary
adj
(ahr bih trayr ee)
Determined by chance or impulse
When you lack the information to judge what to do next, you will be forced to make an ARBITRARY decision.
Synonyms: changeable; erratic; indiscriminate; random; wayward
Incarnadine
adj
(in car nuh deen)
Blood-red in color
At his mother’s mention of his baby pictures, the shy boy’s cheeks turned INCARNADINE with embarrassment.
Synonyms: reddened; ruby; ruddy
Phalanx
noun
(fay laanks)
A compact or close-knot body of people, animals, or things
A PHALANX of guards stood outside of the prime minister’s home day and night.
Synonyms: legion; mass
Contrite
adj
(kuhn triet)
Deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
After three residents were mugged in the lobby while the watchman was away from his post, he felt very CONTRITE.
Synonyms: apologetic; regretful; remorseful
Mollify
verb
(mahl uh fie)
To calm or make less severe
Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would MOLLIFY them.
Synonyms: appease; assuage; conciliate; pacify