Studied by 241 people
Accost
Definition: to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way
Example: The nobleman was _____________ by beggars on the way to the castle.
Synonyms: approach, confront
Antonyms: evade, avoid, shun
Affinity
Definition: (n.) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection
Example: The mysterious ________________ between the two leaders could not be explained.
Synonyms: inclination, penchant
Antonyms: distaste, aversion
Brackish
Definition: (adj.) having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink.
Example: The shipwrecked passengers adrift on the lifeboat became ill after drinking___________ water.
Synonyms: briny, saline
Antonyms: fresh, clear, sweet
Carping
Definition: (adj.) tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way; (n) petty, nagging criticism
Example: Most artists choose to ignore the _______________ of critics and simply go on with their work.
Synonyms: nit-picking, caviling
Antonyms: approving, uncritical
Coherent
Definition: (adj.) holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful.
Example: The physics teacher gave a surprisingly ____________________ description of quantum mechanics.
Synonyms: connected, unified, consistent, cohesive
Antonyms: muddled, chaotic, disjointed
Commensurate
Definition: (adj.) equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards
Example: All employees got raises ________________ with their efforts.
Synonyms: comparable, corresponding, coordinate
Antonyms: Opaque, coarse, dense
Dichotomy
Definition: (n.) a division into two contradictory or mutually exclusive parts; a branching or forking in an ancestral line
Example: Many of the world’s great works of literature examine the ________________ between good and evil.
Synonyms: Schism, division, bifurcation
Antonyms: Uniformity, oneness
Ensconce
Definition: (v.) to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place
Example: After a very long, difficult day at work, I gratefully ________________ myself in snug, warm bed.
Synonyms: Nestle, lodge, entrench
Antonyms: unseat, displace, oust
Faux pas
Definition: (n.) a slip in manners or conduct; a social blunder
Example: No sooner had I arrived at the party than I embarrassed myself by committing a dreadful ________________.
Synonyms: Indiscretion, gaffee
Antonyms: Coup, tour de force
Iconoclastic
Definition: (adj.) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions
Example: The writer’s ________________ opinions always seem to stir controversy.
Synonyms: image-breaking, irreverent, heretical
Antonyms: Orthodox, conservative, reverent
Incendiary
Definition: (adj.) deliberately setting or cause fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir strife or rebellions; (n.) one who deliberately sets fires, arsonists; one who causes strife
Example: The arsonist planted an _________________ device in the basement of the store.
The radical ________________ was sentenced to life imprisonment
Synonyms: (adj.) inflammatory, provocative (n.) firebrand
Antonyms: (adj.) soothing, quieting (n.) peacemaker
Largesse
Definition: (n.) generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions
Example: The university was the fortunate beneficiary of the ________________ of many of its graduates.
Synonym: liberality, munificence, bounty
Antonyms: Stinginess, miserliness
Malleable
Definition: (adj.) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced
Example: The ___________ minds of the young students were at the mercy of the charismatic professor.
Synonyms: pliable, impressionable, adaptable
Antonyms: rigid, inflexible, unyielding, intractable
Noisome
Definition: (adj.) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious
Example: The __________ atmosphere of the slaughterhouse overwhelmed the visitors.
Synonyms: fetid, noxious, vile, loathsome
Antonyms: wholesome, pleasant, sweet-smelling
Portentous
Definition: (adj.) foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty, pompous
Example: No one realized just how ___________________ the strange events of last week would turn out to be.
Synonyms: foreboding, ominous
Antonyms: auspicious, propitious, encouraging
Raconteur
Definition: (n.) a person who tells stories and anecdotes with great skill
Example: The author, a noted __________________ , was much sought after as a dinner party guest.
Synonyms: storyteller, anecdotalist
Antonyms: listener, eavesdropper
Tenable
Definition: capable of being held or defended
Example: The researcher put forth a __________ theory, but their conclusions would be reviewed carefully by others
Synonyms: defensible, justifiable, maintainable
Antonyms: indefensible, unjustifiable
Truncate
Definitions: (v.) to shorten by or as if by cutting off, lop
Example: A family emergency forced us to __________ our summer vacation
Synonyms: trim, abbreviate
Antonyms: lengthen, elongate, extend
Unconscionable
(adj.) not guided or restrained by conscience, prudence, or reason; unscrupulous; immoderate
Top management's looting of the employees' retirement fund can only be described as ____________.
Synonyms: unjustifiable, indefensible, unforgivable
Antonyms: justifiable, reasonable, honorable
Vacuous
Definition: (adj.) devoid of matter, substance, or meaning; lacking ideas or intelligence; purposeless
Example: From the _____________ expression on your face, no one would guess that you have such a sharp mind.
SYNONYMS: void, empty
ANTONYMS: perceptive, intelligent
Note
Flashcard