Vocab Unit 2 Flashcards
ameliorate
(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
SYNONYMS: amend, better
ANTONYMS: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate
aplomb
(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity
SYNONYMS: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness
ANTONYMS: confusion, embarrassment, abashment
bombastic
(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas
SYNONYMS: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious
ANTONYMS: unadorned, simple, plain, austere
callow
(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers
SYNONYMS: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced
ANTONYMS: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated
drivel
(n.) saliva or mucous flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking, nonsense (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly
SYNONYMS: balderdash, tommyrot, slaver
epitome
(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality
SYNONYMS: abstract, digest, archetype
exhort
(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
SYNONYMS: entreat, implore, adjure
ANTONYMS: discourage, advise against, deprecate
ex officio
(adj. adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office
infringe
(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
SYNONYMS: encroach, impinge, intrude
ANTONYMS: stay in bounds, comply
ingratiate
(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others
SYNONYMS: cozy up to, curry favor with
ANTONYMS: humiliate oneself
interloper
(n.) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder
SYNONYMS: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky
intrinsic
(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part
SYNONYMS: immanent, organic
ANTONYMS: extrinsic, external, outward
inveigh
(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
SYNONYMS: harangue, remonstrate
ANTONYMS: acclaim, glorify, extol
lassitude
(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy
SYNONYMS: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor
ANTONYMS: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness
millennium
(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy
SYNONYMS: chiliad, golden age
ANTONYMS: doomsday
occult
(adj.) secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny (v.) to hide, cover up, eclipse (n.) matters involving the supernatural
SYNONYMS: esoteric, abstruse, arcane
ANTONYMS: mundane, common, public, exoteric
permeate
(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through
precipitate
(v.) to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to
SYNONYMS: provoke, produce
stringent
(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste
SYNONYMS: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent
ANTONYMS: lenient, mild, lax, permissive
surmise
(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof
SYNONYMS: infer, gather; inference, presumption
