Vocab Unit 4

Question 1

affable

Answer 1

(adj)- courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

syn- genial, amicable, cordial
ant- surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable

We spent a pleasant afternoon with our affable neighbors.

Question 2

aggrandize

Answer 2

(v) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

syn- augment, amplify, enhance, exalt
ant- reduce decrease, diminish

John D. Rockefeller worked to aggrandize his empire by purchasing oil wells, refineries, and pipelines.

Question 3

amorphous

Answer 3

(adj) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type of character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

syn-formless, unstructured, inchoate
ant- definite, well-defined, clear-cut

The amorphous body of the amoeba was fascinating to watch under the microscope.

Question 4

archetype

Answer 4

(n) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person

syn- model, prototype, epitome

Sherlock Holmes was an archetype of a clever detective who always solves the case.

Question 5

aura

Answer 5

(n) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

syn- ambiance, atmosphere

What people thought was her aura of mystery was actually a mask for her shyness.

Question 6

contraband

Answer 6

(n) illegal traffic, smuggled goods
(adj) illegal, prohibited

syn- (adj) bootleg, unlawful
ant- (adj) legal, lawful, licit

Three jeweled combs from the 17th century were among the contraband seized by the police.

Question 7

erudite

Answer 7

(adj) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

syn- profoundly educated, well-read
ant- ignorant, uneducated, illiterate

For my paper, I would like to find an erudite history of the subject written in a clear and unbiased manner.

Question 8

gossamer

Answer 8

(adj) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial
(n) a very thin, light cloth

syn- (adj) filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy
ant- (adj) dense, solid, massive
The book was so old that each finely printed page seemed only the weight of gossamer.

Question 9

inscrutable

Answer 9

(adj) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

syn- impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic
ant-comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable

I could not tell by her inscrutable smile whether she was pleased or only mused with me.

Question 10

insular

Answer 10

(adj) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

syn- narrow-minded, parochial, provincial
ant-catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal

You seem too sophisticated to hold such insular opinions.

Question 11

irrevocable

Answer 11

(adj) incapable of being changed or called back

syn- unrecalled, unalterable
ant-reversible, changeable

We tend to think of court verdicts as irrevocable, but they are often overturned by higher courts.

Question 12

propensity

Answer 12

(n) a natural inclination or predilection toward

syn- natural bent, proclivity, penchant
ant- natural incapacity or inability

Queen Elizabeth, I showed a strong propensity for putting off decisions in the hope that they would resolve themselves.

Question 13

querulous

Answer 13

(adj) peevish, complaining, fretful

syn- petulant, irritable
ant- uncomplaining, stoical

Some flight attendants dread a querulous airline passenger more than they do rough weather.

Question 14

remonstrate

Answer 14

(v) to argue with someone against something, protest against

syn- reason against, expostulate

Slowly, carefully, keeping his voice down, he argued with the caller as one might remonstrate with a child.

Question 15

repudiate

Answer 15

(v) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

syn- disavow, renounce
ant-avow, affirm, aver

He was forced to repudiate a statement he had made before he’d had all the information.

Question 16

resilient

Answer 16

(adj) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

syn- springy, elastic
ant- rigid, stiff,inflexible

The development of lightweight, resilient plastics revolutionized the design of many durable goods.

Question 17

reverberate

Answer 17

(v) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

syn- rumble, thunder, boom, echo

From the construction site, the noise of bulldozers and dump trucks reverberated across the valley.

Question 18

scurrilous

Answer 18

(adj) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed

syn- obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative
ant-decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified

Days passed and unrest grew, and soon the revels began a scurrilous attack on their absent leader.

Question 19

sedulous

Answer 19

(adj) persistent, showing industry and determination

syn- assiduous, indefatigable
ant-indolent, listless

No one could say that he was lazy, for he was a careful, sedulous copier of other people’s work.

Question 20

sleazy

Answer 20

(adj) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable

syn- inferior, cheesy
ant- superior, first-rate

My grandmother made her clothes at home in order to avoid the sleazy goods sold in the general store.