Vocab A Flashcards
Abase
To humble, disgrace
My intention was not to ABASE the comedian.
Synonyms:
DEMEAN. HUMILIATE.
Abdicate
To give up a position, right, or power
With the angry mob clamping outside the palace, the king ABDICATED his throne and fled.
Synonyms:
CEDE. RELINQUISH. RESIGN. QUIT. YIELD.
Abeyance
Temporary suppression or suspension
The baseball game was held in ABEYANCE while it continued to rain.
Synonyms:
DEFERRAL. DELAY. DORMANCY. POSTPONEMENT. REMISSION.
Abjure
To reject; abandon formally
The spy ABJURED his allegiance to the United States when he defected to Russia.
Synonyms:
FORSWEAR. RECALL. RECANT. RETRACT. TAKE BACK.
Abstemious
Moderate in appetite
Because Alyce is a vegetarian, she was only able to eat an ABSTEMIOUS meal at the Texas Steakhouse.
Synonyms:
ABSTINENT. CONTINENT. SELF-RESTRAINING. SOBER. TEMPERATE.
Accretion
A growth in size; an increase in amount
The committee’s string fund-raising efforts resulted in an ACCRETION in scholarship money.
Synonyms:
ACCUMULATION. BUILDUP.
Acidulous
Sour in taste or manner
The ACIDULOUS taste of the spoiled milk made the young boy’s lips pucker.
Synonyms:
ACERBIC. ACETOUS. BITING. PIQUANT. PUNGENT. TART.
Acme
Highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable
Just when he reached the ACME of his power, the dictator was overthrown.
Synonyms:
APEX. PEAK. SUMMIT.
Aerie
A nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
Perched high among the trees, the eagle’s AERIE was filled with eggs.
Synonyms:
PERCH. STRONGHOLD.
Affected
Phony, artificial
The AFFECTED hairdresser spouted French phrases, though she had never been to France.
Synonyms:
INSINCERE. PRETENTIOUS. PUT-ON.
Alacrity
Speed or quickness
The restaurant won a reputation for fine service since the wait staff responded to their clients’ requests with ALACRITY.
Synonyms:
CELERITY. DISPATCH. HASTE. SWIFTNESS.
Amortize
To diminish by installment payments
While college students are notorious for accumulating credit card debt, they are not as well known for AMORTIZING it.
Synonyms:
CONVIVIALITY.
Amulet
Ornament worn as charm against evil spirits
Though she claimed it was not because of superstition, Vivian always wore an AMULET around her neck.
Synonyms:
FETISH. TALISMAN.
Analgesia
A lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
After having her appendix removed, Tatiana welcomed the ANALGESIA that painkillers provided.
Synonyms:
INSENTIENCE. ANODYNE.
Apocryphal
Of questionable authority or authenticity
There is no hard or authoritative evidence to support the APOCRYPHAL tales that link the Roswell, New Mexico, incident to a downed UFO.
Synonyms:
DISPUTED. DOUBTFUL. FICTITIOUS. FRAUDULENT.
