Vocab Unit 4 Flashcards
affable
(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.
aggrandize
(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.
amorphous
(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.
archetype
(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.
aura
(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.
contraband
(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.
erudite
(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.
gossamer
(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.
inscrutable
(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.
insular
(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.
irrevocable
(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.
propensity
(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.
querulous
(adj) peevish, complaining, fretful
syn- petulant, irritable
ant- uncomplaining, stoical
Some flight attendants dread a querulous airline passenger more than they do rough weather.
remonstrate
(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.
repudiate
(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.
resilient
(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.
reverberate
(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.
scurrilous
(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.
sedulous
(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.
sleazy
(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.
