Vocab List 1

Question 1

Aberration - a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.

Synonyms - anomaly, deviation

Antonyms - lucidity, rationality

Answer 1

Sentence: She is normally calm and level headed, so this outburst is an aberration.

Question 2

Abhor - regard with disgust and hatred.

Synonyms - detest, hate

Antonyms - love, desire

Answer 2

Sentence: We should all abhor the illegal importation of fish because there is a great risk to our existing fish stock.

Question 3

Abject - sunk to or existing in a low state or condition : very bad or severe

Synonyms - submissive, obsequious

Antonyms - proud, rebellious

Answer 3

Sentence: She thought he was an abject coward.

Question 4

Abridge - shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense.

Synonyms - shorten, cut

Antonyms - lengthen, expand on

Answer 4

Sentence: he abridged his dictionary

Question 5

Acerbic - (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

Synonyms - sharp, sarcastic

Antonyms - mild, kind

Answer 5

Sentence: After John heard his teacher’s acerbic comments, he was not motivated to complete his project.

Question 6

Affable - friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.

Synonyms - friendly, amiable

Antonyms - unwelcoming, rude

Answer 6

Sentence: Her grandfather has always been the most affable man around.

Question 7

Affluent - (especially of a group or area) having a great deal of money; wealthy.

Synonyms - wealthy, rich

Antonyms - poor, impoverished

Answer 7

Warren Buffet is an affluent man.

Question 8

Agnostic - a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

Synonyms - doubter, questioner

Antonyms - believer, theist

Answer 8

Sentence: Many secular or agnostic yoga practitioners find it offensive that anyone would deviate from the ancient Eastern yoga principles.

Question 9

Aloof - not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.

Synonyms - distant, detached

Antonyms - familiar, friendly

Answer 9

Sentence: He kept himself aloof from all party strife.

Question 10

Amiable - having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.

Synonyms - friendly, affable

Antonyms - unfriendly, disagreeable

Answer 10

Sentence: She had an amiable personality, always ready with a kind word and a smile.

Question 11

Anarchy - a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.

Synonyms - lawlessness, nihilism

Antonyms - government, order

Answer 11

Sentence: As soon as the teacher stepped in the hall, the classroom descended into anarchy.

Question 12

Anomaly - something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Synonyms - oddity, peculiarity

Antonyms - conformity, regularity

Answer 12

Sentence: There’s an anomaly in my blood test, but I’m physically healthy.

Question 13

Apathy - Feeling indifferent or lacking emotion, often a sign of depression or misuse of alcohol or drugs.

Synonyms - indifference, lack of interest

Antonyms - enthusiasm, passion

Answer 13

Sentence: Jake experienced apathy when his dog died.

Question 14

Aperture - an opening, hole, or gap.

Synonym - opening, hole

Antonyms - filling, patch

Answer 14

Sentence: We entered the cave through a narrow aperture.

Question 15

Appease - pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands.

Synonyms - conciliate, placate

Antonyms - provoke, inflame

Answer 15

Sentence: He came to help her, to appease his guilt once and for all.

Question 16

Arbitrary - based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Synonyms - capricious, whimsical

Antonyms - rational, reasoned

Answer 16

Sentence: His decision to fire Jane and not Hue was very arbitrary, as both had done outstanding work at the company and both had always treated him with great respect.

Question 17

Archaic - very old or old-fashioned.

Synonyms - obsolete, out of date

Antonyms - new, fresh

Answer 17

Sentence: The use of pen and paper is slowly becoming archaic.

Question 18

Arduous - involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

Synonyms - onerous, taxing

Antonyms - easy, effortless

Answer 18

Sentence: It was an arduous climb up the mountain.

Question 19

Attrition - the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.

Synonyms - weakening, debilitation

Antonyms - buildup, gain

Answer 19

Sentence: Due to the large number of changes the new management was making in the company, the attrition rate among employees skyrocketed.

Question 20

Autocratic - relating to a ruler who has absolute power.

Synonyms - despotic, tyrannical

Antonyms - democratic, liberal

Answer 20

Sentence: At the age of twenty he found himself possessed of effective autocratic power.