Vocabulary Workshop Level F: Unit 2

ameliorate

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Synonyms: amend, better

Antonyms: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate

aplomb

(n.) poise, assurance, great confidence; perpendicularity

Synonyms: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness

Antonyms: confusion, embarrassment, abashment

bombastic

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

Synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious

Antonyms: unadorned, simple, plain

callow

(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

Synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced

Antonyms: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

drivel

(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly

Synonyms: (n.) balderdash, tommyrot; (v) slaver

epitome

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype

exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

Synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure

Antonyms: discourage, advise against, deprecate

ex officio

(adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office

infringe

(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude

Antonyms: stay in bounds, comply

ingratiate

(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

Synonyms: cozy up to, curry favor with

Antonyms: humiliate oneself

interloper

(n.) one who moves where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

Synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Synonyms: immanent, organic

Antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward

inveigh

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Synonyms: harangue, remonstrate

Antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol

lassitude

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor

Antonyms: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

millennium

(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

Synonyms: chiliad, golden age

Antonyms: doomsday

occult

(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural

Synonyms: (adj.) esoteric, abstruse, arcane

Antonyms: (adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric

permeate

(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

precipitate

(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process

Synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce; (adj.) reckless, impetuous

Antonyms: (adj.) wary, circumspect

stringent

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

Synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent

Antonyms: lenient, mild, lax, permissive

surmise

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Synonyms: (v.) infer, gather; (n.) inference, presumption