Unit 6 Vocabulary

Question 1

Anomalous

Answer 1

(adj.) Abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
S: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant
A: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

Question 2

Aspersion

Answer 2

(n) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
S: innuendo, calumny, denigration
A: endorsement, testimonial, praise

Question 3

Bizarre

Answer 3

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical
S: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
A: normal, typical, ordinary, expected

Question 4

Brusque

Answer 4

(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
S: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough
A: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic

Question 5

Cajole

Answer 5

(v) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
S: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk
A: coerce, force, strong-arm

Question 6

Castigate

Answer 6

(v) to punish severely; to criticize severely
S: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid
A: reward, honor, praise, laud

Question 7

Contrive

Answer 7

(v) to plan with integrity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
S: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate

Question 8

Demagogue

Answer 8

(n) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
S: rabble-rouser, firebrand

Question 9

Disabuse

Answer 9

(v) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
S: undeceive, enlighten, set straight
A: deceive, delude, pull wool over one’s eyes

Question 10

Ennui

Answer 10

(n) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
S: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
A: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

Question 11

Fetter

Answer 11

(n) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains
(v) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
S: (n) bond, restraint; (v) bind, hamper
A: (v) free, liberate, emancipate

Question 12

Heinous

Answer 12

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful
S: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
A: excellent, wonderful, splendid

Question 13

Immutable

Answer 13

(adj.) not subject to change, constant
S: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
A: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle

Question 14

Insurgent

Answer 14

(n) one who rebels or raises against authority
(adj.) raising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rush in or on
S: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
A: (adj.) loyalist, loyal, faithful

Question 15

Megalomania

Answer 15

(n) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality
S: delusions of grandeur
A: humility, modest, self-abasement

Question 16

Sinecure

Answer 16

(n) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

S: “no show” job, cushy job, “plum”

Question 17

Surreptitious

Answer 17

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
S: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
A: open, frank, aboveboard, overt

Question 18

Transgress

Answer 18

(v) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
S: overstep, exceed, trespass, err
A: obey, toe the line

Question 19

Transmute

Answer 19

(v) to change from on nature, substance, or form to another
S: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose
A: maintain uncharged, preserve

Question 20

Vicarious

Answer 20

(adj.) preformed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
S: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand
A: real, actual, firsthand