Unit 5 Flashcards
amnesty
(n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution
Many political prisoners were freed under the ___ granted by the new regime.
Synonym: reprieve
autonomy
(n.) self-government, political control
After the colonies gained ___ from England, many Americans still clung to English traditions.
Synonym: home rule
Antonyms: dependence, subjection
axiomatic
(adj.) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle
One should not accept the idea that the camera never lies as an ___ truth.
Synonym: taken for granted
Antonyms: questionable, dubious
blazon
(v.) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely
Then will ___ the results of the election across the internet and every television set in the land.
Synonyms: broadcast, trumpet
Antonyms: hide, conceal, bury
caveat
(n.) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
The well-known Latin phrase “ ___ emptor” means. “Let the buyer beware.”
Synonyms: admonition, word to the wise
equitable
(adj.) fair, just, embodying principles of justice
He did more work, so a sixty-forty split of the profits seemed an ___ arrangement.
Synonyms: right, reasonable, evenhanded
Antonyms: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate
extricate
(v.) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort
The ring must have slid off my finger as I was trying to ___ the fish from the net.
Synonyms: disentangle, extract
Antonyms: enmesh, entangle
filch
(v.) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts
If you ___ pennies from the cash drawer, you will be tempted to steal larger amounts one day.
Synonyms: pilfer, purloin, swipe
flout
(v.) to mock, treat with contempt
She chose to ignore my advice, not because she wanted to ___ my beliefs, but because she had strong opinions of her own.
Synonyms: sneer at, snicker at, scorn
Antonyms: obey, honor
fractious
(adj.) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable
It seems as if even the smoothest-running organizations contain one or two ___ elements.
Synonyms: refractory, recalcitrant, peevish
Antonyms: docile, tractable, cooperative
precept
(n.) a rule of conduct or action
Many philosophies follow the ___ that it is important to treat others as you would like to be treated.
Synonyms: principle, maxim
salutary
(adj.) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome
The cute new puppy had a ___ effect on her health.
Synonyms: salubrious, curative
Antonyms: detrimental, deleterious
scathing
(adj.) bitterly severe, withering, causing great harm
Sometimes a reasoned discussion does more to change people's minds than a \_\_\_ attack.
synonyms: searing, harsh, savage
antonyms: bland, mild
scourge
(v.) to whip, punish severely; (n.) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism
Jonathan Swift used wit to ___ the British government for its cruel treatment of Ireland.
Synonyms: (v.) flog, beat; (n.) bane, plague, pestilence
Antonyms: (n.) godsend, boon, blessing
sepulchral
(adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal
In a severe and ___ tone of voice, my sister announced that we were out of cookies.
synonyms: lugubrious, mortuary
soporific
(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n.) something that induces sleep
He claimed that the musical was ___ and that he had slept through the entire second act.
Synonyms: (n.) narcotic, anesthetic
Antonyms: (adj.) stimulating; (n.) stimulant, stimulus
straitlaced
(adj.) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct prudish, puritanical
Travelers may find people overseas \_\_\_\_\_ in some ways but surprisingly free in others.
Synonyms: highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy
Antonyms: lax, loose, indulgent, permissive, dissolute
transient
(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time
His bad mood was ___ and by the time he’d finished his breakfast, he was smiling.
Synonyms: (adj.) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent
Antonyms: (adj.) permanent, imperishable, immortal
unwieldy
(adj.) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity
We loaded the truck with the chairs and the coffee table, but the grand piano was too ___.
Synonyms: bulky, clumsy, impractical
Antonyms: manageable, easy to handle
vapid
(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome, lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness or force
While critics called the movie ___, I thought the performers were very compelling.
Synonyms: lifeless, colorless
Antonyms: zesty, spicy, colorful
