Unit 4 Flashcards
Aggrandize
To increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
Synonyms: augment, amplify, enhance, exalt
Antonyms: reduce, decrease, diminish
Affable
Courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
Synonyms: genial, amicable, agreeable, cordial
Antonyms: surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable
Amorphous
Shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity or cohesion
Synonyms: formless, unstructured, nebulous, inchoate
Antonyms: definite, well-defined, clear-cut
Aura
That which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
Synonyms: ambiance, atmosphere
Contraband
Illegal traffic, smuggled goods; illegal, prohibited
Synonyms: illicit, bootleg, unlawful
Antonyms: legal, lawful, licit
Erudite
Scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
Synonyms: profoundly educated, well-read
Antonyms: ignorant, uneducated, illiterate
Gossamer
Thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; a very thin, light cloth
Synonyms: filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy
Antonyms: thick, dense, solid, massive
Infer
To find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply
Synonyms: gather, deduce, presume, guess, speculate
Inscrutable
Incapable of understood; impossible to see through physically
Synonyms: impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic
Antonyms: comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable
Insular
Relating to, characteristic of, or suited on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
Synonyms: narrow-minded, parochial, provincial
Antonyms: reversible, changeable
Irrevocable
Incapable of being changed or called back
Synonyms: irreversible, unrecallable, unalterable
Antonyms: reversible, changeable
Propensity
A natural inclination or predilection toward
Synonyms: natural bent, proclivity, penchant
Antonyms: natural incapacity or inability
Querulous
Peevish, complaining, fretful
Synonyms: petulant, touchy, cranky, irritable
Antonyms: uncomplaining, stoical, serene, placid
Remonstrate
To argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to
Synonyms: reason against, expostulate
Repudiate
To disown, reject, or deny the validity of
Synonyms: disavow, abjure, renounce
Antonyms: avow, affirm, aver, avouch
Resilient
Able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
Synonyms: springy, elastic, buoyant, bouncy
Antonyms: rigid, stiff, inflexible, unyielding
Reverberate
To re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
Synonyms: rumble, thunder, boom, echo
Scurrilous
Coarsely abusive, vulgar, or low (especially in language) foul- mouthed
Synonyms: obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative
Antonyms: decorous, seemly,tasteful, dignified
Sedulous
Persistant, showing industry and determination
Synonyms: assiduous, tireless, indefatigable
Antonyms: lackadaisical, listless, indolent, otiose
Sleazy
Thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable
Synonyms: inferior, cheesy, tawdry, tatty
Antonyms: superior, first-rate, quality, sturdy
