Vocab Unit 6

Question 1

anomalous

Answer 1

(adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
SYNONYMS: exceptional, unusual, aberrant
ANTONYMS: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

Question 2

aspersion

Answer 2

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
SYNONYMS: innuendo, calumny
ANTONYMS: endorsement, praise

Question 3

bizarre

Answer 3

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical
SYNONYMS: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
ANTONYMS: normal, typical, ordinary, expected

Question 4

brusque

Answer 4

(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
SYNONYMS: tactless, ungracious
ANTONYMS: tactful, diplomatic

Question 5

cajole

Answer 5

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
SYNONYMS: wheedle, inveigle
ANTONYMS: coerce, force

Question 6

castigate

Answer 6

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely
SYNONYMS: chastise, censure
ANTONYMS: honor, praise, laud

Question 7

contrive

Answer 7

(v.) to plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan

SYNONYMS: think up, concoct, fabricate

Question 8

demagogue

Answer 8

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
SYNONYMS: rabble-rouser, firebrand

Question 9

disabuse

Answer 9

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
SYNONYMS: undeceive, enlighten
ANTONYMS: deceive, delude, pull wool over one’s eyes

Question 10

ennui

Answer 10

(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
SYNONYMS: languor, world weariness, listlessness
ANTONYMS: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

Question 11

fetter

Answer 11

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet; anything that confines or restrains
(v.) to chain or shackle
SYNONYMS: bond, restraint, bind hamper
ANTONYMS: free, liberate, emancipate

Question 12

heinous

Answer 12

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful
SYNONYMS: evil, odious, outrageous
ANTONYMS: excellent, wonderful, splendid

Question 13

immutable

Answer 13

(adj.) not subject to change, constant
SYNONYMS: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
ANTONYMS: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle

Question 14

insurgent

Answer 14

(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority
SYNONYMS: revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
ANTONYMS: loyalist, loyal, faithful

Question 15

megalomania

Answer 15

(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc. far in the excess of reality
SYNONYMS: delusions of grandeur
ANTONYMS: modesty, self-abasement

Question 16

sinecure

Answer 16

(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

Question 17

surreptitious

Answer 17

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
SYNONYMS: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
ANTONYMS: open, frank, aboveboard, overt

Question 18

transgress

Answer 18

(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
SYNONYMS: overstep, trespass
ANTONYMS: obey, toe the line

Question 19

transmute

Answer 19

(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
SYNONYMS: transform, convert
ANTONYMS: preserve, maintain

Question 20

vicarious

Answer 20

(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
SYNONYMS: surrogate, secondhand
ANTONYMS: actual, firsthand