unit 8 Flashcards
asylum (noun)
an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety
Some refugees are political fugitives who have fled their homeland to seek ______ in another country.
SYNONYMS: sanatorium, sanctuary
console (verb) (noun)
(v.) to comfort
A neighbor tried to ______ the sobbing child whose cat had wandered away.
SYNONYMS: solace, alleviate
ANTONYMS: distress, aggravate, bother, vex, torment
(n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device
The _______ of the large church organ had an assortment of keys, knobs, and pedals.
dwindle (verb)
to lessen, diminish
During the coldest weeks of winter, the pile of firewood slowly ______ until there were no logs left.
SYNONYMS: decrease, shrink, fade, peter out
ANTONYMS: increase, enlarge, swell, proliferate
flippant (adjective)
lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy
Parents and other adults are often upset by a teenager’s ______ responses.
SYNONYMS: frivolous, impudent, impertinent, insolent
ANTONYMS: serious, respectful, deferential, obsequious
liability (noun)
a debt; something disadvantageous
A limited attention span is his biggest ______ as a student.
SYNONYMS: difficulty, impediment
ANTONYMS: advantage, asset
pugnacious (adjective)
quarrelsome, fond of fighting
The fox terrier is a particularly _______ breed of dog known for its aggressive behavior.
SYNONYMS: combative, belligerent
ANTONYMS: peace-loving, friendly, amicable, congenial
realm (noun)
a kingdom; a region or field of study
While astronomy falls within the ______ of science, astrology does not.
SYNONYMS: domain, duchy, bailiwick, jurisdiction
rejuvenate (verb)
to make young again; to make like new
A few minutes of conversation with my best friend helped to ______ my flagging spirits.
SYNONYM: renew
ANTONYMS: wear out, exhaust, enervate, debilitate
sterling (adjective)
genuine, excellent; made of silver of standard fineness
The reviewer noted the young actor’s ______ performance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
SYNONYMS: first-rate, outstanding, worthy, pure
ANTONYMS: shoddy, second-rate, sham
warp (verb) (noun)
(v.) to twist out of shape
The carpenter explained that humidity caused the kitchen door to ______.
SYNONYMS: bend, distort, misshape
ANTONYMS: straighten, unbend, rectify
(n.) an abnormality
Criminal behavior often shows a striking lack of judgment or a ______ in thinking.
SYNONYM: irregularity
assurance (noun)
a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence
The airport was built with the ______ that all the people displaced by its construction would be fairly compensated.
SYNONYMS: promise, sureness, poise, self-possession
ANTONYMS: uncertainty, doubt, insecurity
dilate (verb)
to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon
The ophthalmologist said she would _____ the pupil before examining the injured eye.
SYNONYMS: enlarge, expand, prolong
ANTONYMS: compress, constrict
dross (noun)
refuse, waste products
The ______ from the manufacturing process turned out to be highly toxic.
SYNONYMS: trash, detritus, dregs, scum
immunity (noun)
resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation
Most babies are vaccinated so that they develop an ______ to measles.
SYNONYM: exemption
ANTONYMS: vulnerability, exposure
institute (verb) (noun)
to establish, set up
Congress has been reluctant to ______ new guidelines for campaign spending.
SYNONYMS: found, bring about
ANTONYMS: terminate, discontinue, demolish, raze
organization that promotes learning
After graduating from high school, I plan to attend an accredited ______ of technology.
SYNONYM: academy
preposterous (adjective)
ridiculous, senseless
The theory that Stonehenge was constructed by alien life-forms is utterly _______.
SYNONYMS: nonsensical, absurd, incredible
ANTONYMS: sensible, reasonable, realistic, plausible
rabid (adjective)
furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies
Police arrived in force to quell the riot set off by _______ soccer fans.
SYNONYMS: zealous, raving, infuriated, berserk
ANTONYMS: moderate, blasé, indifferent
remunerate (verb)
to reward, pay, reimburse
The couple promised to _______ the artist handsomely for a portrait of their child.
SYNONYMS: satisfy, profit, benefit
sparse (adjective)
meager, scant; scattered
Unlike its neighboring metropolis, the area has quite a ______ population.
SYNONYMS: thin, scanty, few and far between
ANTONYMS: plentiful, abundant, profuse, teeming
venture (noun) (verb)
(n.) a risky or daring undertaking
An overseas voyage was a daunting and dangerous ______ during the Age of Exploration.
SYNONYM: gamble
(v.) to expose to danger; to dare
It takes courage to _______ out into unknown territory.
SYNONYMS: try, chance, undertake
ANTONYMS: withdraw, retire, shrink from, shy away
