Unit 9 Vocabulary

Question 1

Abate

Answer 1

Become less in amount or intensity, nullify, to omit, to deduct
S: diminish, decrease, subside, let up
A: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

Question 2

Adulation

Answer 2

Praise or flattery that is excessive
S: adoration, idolization, hero-worship
A: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium

Question 3

Anathema

Answer 3

An object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation
S: malediction, imprecation, abomination
A: benediction, blessing

Question 4

Astute

Answer 4

Shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom
S: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily
A: obtuse, doltish, empty- handed, dumb

Question 5

Avarice

Answer 5

A greedy desire, particularly for wealth

S: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

Question 6

Culpable

Answer 6

Deserving blame, worthy of condemnation
S: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy
A: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

Question 7

Dilatory

Answer 7

Tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone
S: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard
A: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

Question 8

Egregious

Answer 8

Conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)
S: glaring, flagrant, blatant
A: unnoticable, paltry, piddling

Question 9

Equivocate

Answer 9

To speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous
S: to talk out of both sides of one’s mouth, palter, hedge
A: to speak one’s mind plainly

Question 10

Evanescent

Answer 10

Vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy
S: ephemeral, transient, transitory
A: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

Question 11

Irresolute

Answer 11

Unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating
S: indecisive, vacillating, wavering
A: determined, decisive, unwavering

Question 12

Nebulous

Answer 12

Cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct
S: hazy fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate
A: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

Question 13

Novice

Answer 13

One who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience
S: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice
A: veteran, past master, pro, expert

Question 14

Penury

Answer 14

Extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency
S: destitution, want, indigence
A: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence

Question 15

Pretentious

Answer 15

Done for show, striving to make a big impession; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one’s skill or abilities, ambitious
S: inflated, ostentatious, affected
A: unammusing, unaffected, modest

Question 16

Recapitulate

Answer 16

To review a series of facts; to sum up

S: review, summarize, sum up, go over

Question 17

Resuscitate

Answer 17

To revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

S: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

Question 18

Slovenly

Answer 18

Untidy, dirty, careless
S: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax
A: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous

Question 19

Supposition

Answer 19

Something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence
S: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

Question 20

Torpid

Answer 20

Inactive, sluggish, dull
S: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid
A: energetic, dynamic, vigerous