Springboard Unit 2 Flashcards
adverse
(adj.) unfavorable, negative; working against, hostile
Some people suffer an ADVERSE
reaction if they eat peanut butter or anything with peanuts.
SYNONYMS: difficult, trying
ANTONYMS: favorable, positive, helpful, beneficial
arid
(adj.) extremely dry; uninteresting, dull
Although California leads the nation in farming, crops won’t grow in its most ARID regions.
SYNONYMS: waterless, parched, boring, unimaginative ANTONYMS: waterlogged, soggy, fertile, lush
assailant
(n.) a person who attacks violently (with blows or words)
The jogger was injured by an unknown ASSAILANT who left him immobile at the side of the road.
SYNONYMS: assaulter, attacker, mugger
ANTONYMS: victim, prey, injured party
billow
(n.) a large wave; (v.) to rise or swell like a wave
The ocean BILLOWED
attracting the most daring surfers.
Fans cheered enthusiastically when they saw their team’s flags BILLOWING over the stadium.
SYNONYMS: (n.) breaker; (v.) surge, bulge, balloon
ANTONYMS: (n.)trough; (v.) deflate, collapse
confront
( v.) to meet face-to-face, especially as a challenge; come to grips with
In court, defendants can CONFRONG their accusers in a controlled setting.
SYNONYMS: face, encounter
ANTONYMS: avoid, evade, sidestep
constrain
( v.) to force, compel; to restrain, hold back
You can’t CONSTRAIN me against my will.
SYNONYMS: pressure, restrict, confine, limit ANTONYMS: loosen, liberate, unfetter. relax
contemporary
adj.) belonging to the same period of time as oneself; (n.) a person of the same time
His novel used a CONTEMPORARY style but had a historical setting.
Rather than ask parents for help, teens often turn to a CONTEMPORARY for advice.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) present-day, modern, current; (n.) peer ANTONYMS: (adj.) ancient, prehistoric, antique, antiquated
depict
(v.) to portray; to represent or show in the form of a picture
The painter chose to DEPICT a plain prairie landscape using bold colors and shadows.
SYNONYMS: sketch, draw, picture, illustrate
disinterested
(adj.) fair-minded, tree from selfish motives; indifferent
A judge must remain INDIFFERENT in order to render an evenhanded and logical decision.
SYNONYMS: neutral, impartial, unbiased, apathetic
ANTONYMS: partial, biased, prejudiced
encompass
(v.) to encircle, go or reach around; to enclose; to include with a certain group or class
Oceans ENCOMPASS about three-fourths of the surface of our planet.
SYNONYMS: surround, envelop, comprise
ANTONYMS: leave out, omit, exclude
groundless
(adj.) without any good reason or cause, unjustified
Kate’s GROUNDLESS fear of hurting herself during exercise has left her weak and out of shape.
SYNONYMS: baseless, unsupported
ANTONYMS: well-founded, reasonable, justified
hypocrite
(n.) a person who pretends to be what he or she is not or better than he or she really is; a two-faced person
The speaker who said one thing but did something else
entirely was regarded as a HYPOCRITE.
SYNONYMS: phony, charlatan, fraud
Incomprehensible
(adj.) impossible to understand
Our school’s intercom system is so old that this morning’s
announcements were almost INCOMPREHENSIBLE
SYNONYMS: baffling, confusing, bewildering
ANTONYMS: understandable, clear, plain, intelligible
manipulate
(v.) to handle or use skillfully; to manage or control for personal gain or advantage
Scientists should not MANIPULATE data.
SYNONYMS: work, maneuver, exploit, influence
maximum
(n.) the greatest possible amount or degree; (adj.) reaching the greatest possible amount or degree
This postage scale can weigh a MAXIMUM of only five pounds.
To ease the patient’s suffering, the doctor prescribed the MAXIMUM dosage of painkillers.
SYNONYMS: largest, highest, utmost
ANTONYMS: least, lowest, minimum, smallest
