Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level F Unit 1 Definitions, synonyms and antonyms

Approbation

(n.) The expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval.

S- Commendation, sanction.

A- Disapproval, condemnation, censure.

Assuage

(v.) To make easier, or milder, relive; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench.

S- Mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay.

A- intensify, aggravate, exacerbate.

Coalition

(n.) A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.

S- Alliance, league, federation, combine.

A- Splinter group.

Decadence

(n.) Decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence.

S- Degeneration, corruption.

A- Rise, growth, development, maturation.

Elicit

(v.) To draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person).

S- Call forth, evoke, extract, deuce.

A- Repress, quash, squelch, stifle.

Expostulate

(v.) To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.

S- Protest, remonstrate, complain.

Hackneyed

(adj.) Used so often as to lack freshness or originality.

S- Banal, trite, commonplace, corny.

A- New, fresh, novel, original.

Hiatus

(n.) A gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing).

S- Pause, lacuna.

A- Continuity, continuation.

Innuendo

(n.) A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense).

S- Insinuation, intimation.

A- Direct statement.

Intercede

(v.) To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement.

S- Intervene, mediate.

Jaded

(adj.) Wearied, worn-out , dulled.

S- Sated, surfeited, cloyed.

A- Unspoiled, uncloyed.

Lurid

(adj.) Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale, or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint.

S- Gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly.

A- Pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome.

Meritorious

(adj.) Worthy, deserving recognition and praise.

S- Praiseworthy, laudable, commendable.

A- Blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable.

Petulant

(adj.) Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset.

S- Irritable, testy, waspish.

A- Even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable.

Prerogative

(n.) A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence.

S- Perquisite, perk.

Provincial

(adj.) Pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony.

S- (adj.) narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naive.

A- (adj.) cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded.

Simulate

(v.) To make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of

S- Feign, pretend, affect.

Transcend

(v.) To rise above or beyond, exceed.

S- Surpass, outstrip.

Umbrage

(n.) Shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion.

S- Irritation, pique, annoyance.

A- Pleasure, delight, satisfaction.

Unctuous

(adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty; oily; pliable.

S- Mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy.

A- Gruff, blunt.