Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards
acquisitive
(adj.) able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property
Synonyms: greedy, grasping, avaricious, retentive
Antonyms: altruistic, unretentive
arrogate
(v.) to claim or take without right
Synonyms: expropriate, usurp, commandeer
Antonyms: relinquish, renounce, abdicate, abandon
banal
(adj.) hackneyed, trite, commonplace
Synonyms: stale, insipid
Antonyms: fresh, novel, original, new
belabor
(v.) to work excessively; to thrash soundly
Synonym: overwork
carping
(adj. ) tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way;
(n. ) petty, nagging criticism
Synonyms: (adj.) nit-picking, caviling
Antonyms: (adj.) approving, uncritical
coherent
(adj.) holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful
Synonyms: connected, unified, consistent, cohesive
Antonyms: muddled, chaotic, disjointed
congeal
(v.) to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid
Synonyms: harden, jell, coagulate, solidify
Antonyms: melt, liquify
emulate
(v.) to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model
Synonyms: copy, mimic, rival, match, measure up to
encomium
(n.) a formal experience of praise, a lavish tribute
Synonyms: panegyric, eulogy, commendation
Antonyms: condemnation, castigation, criticism
eschew
(v.) to avoid, shun, keep away from
Synonyms: abstain from, steer clear of, forgo
Antonyms: embrace, adopt
germane
(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting
Synonym: pertinent
Antonyms: irrelevant, extraneous, inappropriate
insatiable
(adj.) so great or demanding as not to be satisfied
Synonyms: unquenchable, ravenous, voracious
intransigent
(adj.) refusing to compromise, irreconcilable
Synonyms: uncompromising, unyielding, obdurate
Antonyms: lukewarm, halfhearted, yielding
invidious
(adj.) offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment
Synonyms: malicious, spiteful, prejudicial, pejorative
Antonyms: complimentary, flattering, ameliorative
largesse
(n.) generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions
Synonyms: liberality, munificence, bounty
Antonyms: stinginess, miserliness, niggardliness