vocab 10-12

askance (definition)

adv. with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval

askance (synonyms)

distrustfully, suspiciously

attenuate (definition)

v. to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value

attenuate (synonyms)

thin out, dilute, water down

attenuate (antonyms)

thicken, strengthen, bolster

benign (definition)

adj. gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant

benign (synonyms)

benevolent, salubrious, harmless

benign (antonyms)

malevolent, deleterious

cavil (definition)

v. to find fault in a petty way, carp; n. a trivial objection or criticism

cavil (synonyms)

nitpick

charlatan (definition)

n. one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack

charlatan (synonyms)

mountebank

decimate (definition)

v. to destroy or kill a large part of

decimate (synonyms)

devastate

foible (definition)

n. a weak point, failing, minor flaw

foible (synonyms)

shortcoming, quirk

foible (antonyms)

forte, virtue

forgo (definition)

v. to do without, abstain from, give up

forgo (synonyms)

refrain from, renounce

forgo (antonyms)

indulge in, partake of

fraught (definition)

adj. full of or loaded with; accompanied by

fraught (synonyms)

charged with

fraught (antonyms)

devoid of, lacking, deficient in

inure (definition)

v. to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure

inure (synonyms)

accustom, acclimate

luminous (definition)

adj. emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating

luminous (synonyms)

bright, refulgent, lustrous

luminous (antonyms)

dark, opaque, dim, murky

obsequious (definition)

adj. marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons

obsequious (synonyms)

fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed

obsequious (antonyms)

assertive, bumptious, candid, frank, independent

obtuse (definition)

adj. blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 degrees and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression

obtuse (synonyms)

thick, mild

obtuse (antonyms)

perceptive, quick-witted

oscillate (definition)

v. to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver

oscillate (synonym)

vibrate

penitent (definition)

adj. regretful for one's sins or mistakes. n. one who is sorry for wrongdoing

penitent (synonyms)

remorseful, regretful, rueful

penitent (antonyms)

remorseless

peremptory (definition)

adj. having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute

peremptory (synonyms)

unconditional

peremptory (antonyms)

irresolute, mild, unassuming

rebuff (definition)

v. to snub; to repel, drive away; n. a curt rejection, a check

rebuff (synonyms)

repulse, reject, setback

rebuff (antonyms)

accept, welcome

reconnoiter (definition)

v. to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection

reconnoiter (synonyms)

scout

shambles (definition)

n. a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess

sporadic (definition)

adj. occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order

sporadic (synonyms)

intermittent, spasmodic

sporadic (antonyms)

steady, continuous, uninterrupted

abrogate (definition)

v. to repeal, cancel, declare null and void

abrogate (synonyms)

annul, revoke

abrogate (antonyms)

renew, ratify, reaffirm

ambient (definition)

adj. completely surrounding, encompassing

asperity (definition)

n. roughness, severity; bitterness or tartness

asperity (synonyms)

rigor, harshness

asperity (antonyms)

mildness, blandness, softness, lenience

burnish (definition)

v. to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish; (n.) gloss, brightness, luster

burnish (synonyms)

shine, buff

burnish (antonyms)

dull, abrade

cabal (definition)

n. a small group working in secret

cabal (synonyms)

ring, gang, plot, conspiracy, clique

delectable (definition)

adj. delightful, highly enjoyable; deliciously flavored, savory; n. an appealing or appetizing food or dish

delectable (synonyms)

scrumptious

delectable (antonyms)

repugnant, repulsive, distasteful

deprecate (definition)

v. to express mild disapproval; to belittle

deprecate (synonyms)

deplore, frown upon

deprecate (antonyms)

smile on, approve, countenanced

detritus (definition)

n. loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration or wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction

detritus (synonyms)

wreckage, ruins, rubble, debris

ebullient (definition)

(adj.) overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling

ebullient (synonyms)

exhilarated, elated, exuberant

ebullient (antonyms)

gloomy, morose, sullen, apathetic, blasé

eclectic (definition)

adj. drawn from different sources; n. one whose beliefs are drawn from various sources

eclectic (synonyms)

selective, synthetic, pick-and-choose, varied collection

eclectic (antonyms)

uniform, monolithic

flaccid (definition)

adj. limp, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness

flaccid (synonyms)

soft, flabby

flaccid (antonyms)

hard, solid, firm

impecunious (definition)

adj. having little or no money

impecunious (synonyms)

impoverished, indigent, penniless

impecunious (antonyms)

affluent, wealthy, prosperous, rich

inexorable (definition)

adj. inflexible, beyond influence; relentless, unyielding

inexorable (synonyms)

ineluctable, obdurate, inescapable

inexorable (antonyms)

avoidable, yielding, pliant

moribund (definition)

adj. dying, on the way out

moribund (synonyms)

obsolescent, fading

moribund (antonyms)

thriving, flourishing

necromancer (definition)

n. one who claims to reveal or influence the future through magic, especially communication with the dead; in general, a magician or wizard

necromancer (synonyms)

sorcerer, conjurer

onerous (definition)

adj. burdensome; involving hardship or difficulty

onerous (synonyms)

weighty, oppressive

onerous (antonyms)

light, easy, undemanding, untaxing

rife (definition)

adj. common, prevalent, widespread, happening often; full, abounding; plentiful, abundant, replete

rife (synonyms)

filled

rife (antonyms)

devoid of, lacking, low

rudiments (definition)

n. pl. the parts of any subject or discipline that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything

rudiments (synonyms)

basics, fundamentals

sequester (definition)

v. to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody