Unit 7 vocabulary Flashcards
allay
(v.) to calm or pacify; set to rest; to lessen or relieve
SYNONYMS: reduce, alleviate, moderate
ANTONYMS: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify
bestial
(adj.) beastlike; beastly; brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility
SYNONYMS: animalistic, loathsome
ANTONYMS: human, clement, virtuous, upright
convivial
(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
SYNONYMS: fun-loving, jovial, merry
ANTONYMS: dour, sullen, unsociable
coterie
(n.) a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest
SYNONYMS: clique, set
counterpart
(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
SYNONYM: match
demur
(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection
SYNONYMS: (v.) protest, object to
ANTONYMS: (v.) assent to, consent to, accept, agree to
effrontery
(n.) shameless boldness, impudence
SYNONYMS: chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek
ANTONYMS: shyness, diffidence, timidity
embellish
(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details
SYNONYM: garnish
ANTONYMS: strip, mar, disfigure
ephemeral
(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived
SYNONYMS: transient, evanescent, transitory
ANTONYMS: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual
felicitous
(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
SYNONYMS: fortunate, well-put
ANTONYMS: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy
furtive
(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
SYNONYMS: covert, surreptitious
ANTONYMS: aboveboard, open
garish
(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way
SYNONYMS: gaudy, flashy, tawdry
ANTONYMS: subdued, muted, understated, quiet
illusory
(adj.) misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality
SYNONYMS: specious, spurious, imaginary
ANTONYMS: actual, real, factual, objective
indigent
(adj.) needy, impoverished
SYNONYMS: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute
ANTONYMS: affluent, prosperous
inordinate
(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
SYNONYMS: exorbitant, extravagant
ANTONYMS: reasonable, equitable
jettison
(v.) to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome
SYNONYMS: cast off, discard, dump, junk
ANTONYMS: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep
misanthrope
(n.) a person who hates or despises people
SYNONYM: people-hater
pertinacious
(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
SYNONYMS: stubborn, determined
picayune
(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded
SYNONYMS: piddling, trifling
ANTONYMS: important, significant, huge, gigantic
raiment
(n.) clothing, garments
SYNONYMS: apparel, attire
