Units 9 & 10 Flashcards
acclamation
(n.) shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval
Synonyms: ovation, cheering, plaudits
Antonyms: booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls
bucolic
(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral
Synonym: rustic
Antonyms: urban, metropolitan
calumniate
(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously
Synonyms: defame, libel
Antonyms: flatter, whitewash, praise
chary
(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident
Synonyms: wary, skittish
Antonyms: heedless, reckless, incautious
collusion
(n.) secret agreement or cooperation
Synonyms: conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots
dilettante
(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial
Synonyms: amateur, trifler
Antonym: professional
imperturbable
(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady
Synonyms: unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled
Antonym: excitable
increment
(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition
Synonyms: accretion, gain
Antonyms: loss, reduction, decrease
mandate
(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order
Synonym: directive
Antonyms: forbid, ban, outlaw
paltry
(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy
Synonyms: measly, meager, piddling, trivial
Antonyms: gigantic, immense, colossal
paroxysm
(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion
Synonyms: fit, seizure
pedantry
(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details
Synonyms: nit-picking, hairsplitting, pettifoggery
peregrination
(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country
Synonyms: journey, wandering, odyssey
redolent
(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura
Synonyms: evocative, reminiscent, aromatic
Antonyms: unevocative, odorless
refulgent
(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent
Synonyms: luminous, splendid
Antonyms: dim, dark, obscure, dingy, dull, murky
shibboleth
(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism
Synonyms: catchphrase, password, slogan
tyro
(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill
Synonym: neophyte
Antonyms: veteran, past master, expert
unremitting
(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless
Synonyms: constant, incessant, unrelenting
Antonyms: desultory, intermittent
vacillate
(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will
Synonyms: seesaw, fluctuate, oscillate
Antonym: persevere
vituperative
(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding
Synonyms: abusive, scurrilous, insulting
Antonyms: complimentary, laudatory, flattering
askance
(adj.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
Synonyms: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically
attenuate
(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
Synonyms: thin out, dilute, water down
Anotnyms: thicken, strengthen, bolster
benign
(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
Synonyms: benevolent, salutary, salubrious
Antonym: harmful
cavil
(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism
Synonyms: nitpick, quibble
charlatan
(n.) one who feigns knowledge
or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
Synonym: fraud
Antonym: mountebank
decimate
(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of
Synonyms: ravage, devastate
foible
(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
Synonyms: shortcoming, defect, quirk
Antonyms: forte, virtue
forgo
(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up
Synonyms: refrain from, renounce
Antonyms: indulge in, partake of
fraught
(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by
Synonyms: charged with
Antonyms: devoid of, lacking, deficient in
inure
(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
Synonyms: accustom, acclimate
luminous
(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
Synonyms: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous
Antonyms: dark, opaque, dim, murky
obsequious
(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive
Synonyms: fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed
Antonyms: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid, frank, independent
obtuse
(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; not causing a sharp impression
Synonyms: stupid, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted
Antonyms: acute, perceptive, quick-witted
oscillate
(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
Synonyms: vibrate, vacillate
penitent
(adj.) regretful for one’s sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
Synonyms: remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry
Antonyms: unrepentant, remorseless
peremptory
(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal
Synonyms: high-handed, unconditional
Antonyms: irresolute, tentative, mild, unassuming
rebuff
(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check
Synonyms: spurn, repulse, reject; setback
Antonyms: accept, welcome
reconnoiter
(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
Synonym: scout
shambles
(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion; mess
sporadic
(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
Synonyms: intermittent, spasmodic
Antonyms: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted
