Vocabulary Workshop Level F: Unit 9

abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

Synonyms: diminish, decrease, subside, let up

Antonyms: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

adulation

(n) praise or flattery that is excessive

Synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero-worship

Antonyms: ridicule, derision, odium

anathema

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or stong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)

Synonyms: abomination, imprecation, malediction

Antonyms: benediction, blessing

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom'

Synonyms: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily

Antonyms: Obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

avarice

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

culpable

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Synonyms : guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy

Antonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

dilatory

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

Synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard

Antonyms:prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

egregious

(adj) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

Synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant

Antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling

equivocate

(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation, to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

Synonyms: to speak out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge

Antonyms: to speak one's mind plainly

evanescent

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory

Antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

irresolute

(adj.) unable to make up one's mind; hesitating

Synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering

Antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering

nebulous

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

Synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate

Antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

novice

(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)

Synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

Antonyms: veteran, past paster, pro, expert

penury

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Synonyms: destitution, want, indigence

Antonyms: alluence, luxury

pretentious

(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious

Synonyms: inflated, ostentatious

Antonyms: unaffected, modest

recapitulate

(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up

Synonyms: review, summarize, sum up, go over

resuscitate

(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

syn: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

slovenly

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

Synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax

Antonyms: neat, meticulous

supposition

(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

torpid

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull

Synonyms: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid

Antonyms: energetic, vigorous