Unit 7 Flashcards
austere
(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain, harsh or sour in flavor
The ___ clothing and conduct of the Puritans expressed their humility.
Synonyms: forbidding, rigorous, puritanical, ascetic, unadorned
Antonyms: mild, indulgent, luxurious, flamboyant
beneficent
(adj.) performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits doing good
From them I learned that purely ___ acts can require as much hard work as a nine-to-five job.
Synonyms: humanitarian, magnanimous, charitable
Antonyms: selfish, cruel, harmful, deleterious
cadaverous
(adj.) pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse
The rescued captives were weak from hunger and ___ in appearance.
Synonyms: corpselike, wasted, haggard, emaciated, ghastly
Antonyms: robust, portly, rosy, the picture of health
concoct
(v.) to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish) to devise, invent, fabricate
He ___ a savory stew with fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden.
Synonyms: create, fashion, rustle up
crass
(adj.) coarse, unfeeling; stupid
We feel that the positions of our representative show a ___ indifference to our problems.
Synonyms: crude, tasteless, oafish, obtuse
Antonyms: refined, elegant, tasteful, polished brilliant
debase
(v.) to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade, adulterate; to cause to deteriorate
Every time a new rule is introduced in a popular sport, there are fans who say it will ___ the game.
Synonyms: cheapen, corrupt, demean, depreciate
Antonyms: elevate, uplift, improve, enhance
desecrate
(v.) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently, to contaminate pollute
The search continues for the vandals who ___ the cemetery.
Synonyms: profane, defile, violate
Antonyms: revere, venerate, consecrate
disconcert
(v.) to confuse; to disturb the composure of
They had hoped to ___ him with an unexpected question, but he was well prepared.
Synonyms: upset, rattle, ruffle, faze
Antonyms: relax, calm, put at ease
grandiose
(adj.) grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated
In how many stories, I wonder, does an ambitious villain become the victim of ___ plans?
Synonyms: majestic, bombastic, highfalutin
Antonyms: simple, modest, humble
inconsequential
(adj.) trifling, unimportant
Feel free to ignore the ___ details, provided that you know exactly which ones they are.
Synonyms: trivial, negligible, paltry
Antonyms: important, essential, crucial
infraction
(n.) a breaking of a law or obligation
His uncle paid a fine for his ___ of the local recycling regulations.
Synonyms: violation, transgression, offense
mitigate
(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity
I had hoped to ___ her anger by offering an apology.
Synonyms: lessen, relieve, alleviate
Antonyms: aggravate, intensify, irritate, exacerbate
pillage
(v.) to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder; (n.) the act of looting; body
The commanding officer warned his troops not to ___ the conquered city.
In Europe during the Dark Ages, ___ and murder became facts of life.
Synonyms: (v.) ravage, sack, loot; (n.) booty
prate
(v.) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion
He would ___ endlessly about the past but my nothing useful about our present dilemma.
Synonyms: prattle, blab, palaver
Antonyms: come to the point
punctilious
(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette
The clerk was so ___ in obeying court rules that I had to remind him why I was there.
Synonyms: precise, scrupulous
Antonyms: careless, perfunctory
