Level F, Unit 4

affable

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

*SYNONYMS:* genial, amicable, cordial
*ANTONYMS:* surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable

aggrandize

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

*SYNONYMS:* augment, amplify, enhance, exalt
*ANTONYMS:* reduce, decrease, diminish

amorphous

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

*SYNONYMS:* formless, unstructured, inchoate

archetype

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

*SYNONYMS:* model, prototype, epitome

aura

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

*SYNONYMS:* ambience, atmosphere

contraband

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

*SYNONYMS:* (adj.) bootleg, unlawful
*ANTONYMS:* (adj.) legal, lawful, licit

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

*SYNONYMS:* profoundly educated, well-read
*ANTONYMS:* ignorant, uneducated, illiterate

gossamer

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

*SYNONYMS:* (adj.) filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy
*ANTONYMS:* (adj.) dense, solid, massive

inscrutable

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

*SYNONYMS:* impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic
*ANTONYMS:* comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable

insular

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

*SYNONYMS:* narrow-minded, parochial, provincial
*ANTONYMS:* catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal

irrevocable

(adj.) incapable of being changed or called back

*SYNONYMS:* unrecallable, unalterable
*ANTONYMS:* reversible, changeable

propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

*SYNONYMS:* natural bent, proclivity, penchant
*ANTONYMS:* natural incapacity or inability

querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

*SYNONYMS:* petulant, irritable
*ANTONYMS:* uncomplaining, stoical

remonstrate

(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

*SYNONYMS:* reason against, expostulate

repudiate

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

*SYNONYMS:* disavow, renounce
*ANTONYMS:* avow, affirm, aver

resilient

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

*SYNONYMS:* springy, elastic
*ANTONYMS:* rigid, stiff, inflexible

reverberate

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

*SYNONYMS:* rumble, thunder, boom, echo

scurrilous

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

*SYNONYMS:* obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative
*ANTONYMS:* decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified

sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

*SYNONYMS:* assiduous, indefatigable
*ANTONYMS:* indolent, listless

sleazy

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

*SYNONYMS:* inferior, cheezy
*ANTONYMS:* superior, first-rate