Level F, Unit 15

adamant

(adj.) firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding, obdurate, implacable, inflexible; (n.) an extremely hard substance

ANTONYMS: (adj.) yielding, flexible, pliable

brouhaha

(n.) a confused hodgepodge of sounds, hubbub; an uproar or commotion that goes far beyond what is justified

SYNONYMS: furor, hullabaloo, tumult, pandemonium

bulwark

(n.) a strong defense or protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense;

(v.) to provide such defense or protection

SYNONYMS: (n.) stronghold, citadel, bastion, rampart

ANTONYMS: (n.) breach, weak point in the defense

choleric

(adj.) easily made angry, bad-tempered

SYNONYMS: irascible, testy, splenetic, bilious

ANTONYMS: affable, genial, even-tempered

cloy

(v.) to spoil or destroy an appetite by too much indulgence, especially in sweet or rich things; to glut, satiate, surfeit

ANTONYMS: stimulate, whet

curtail

(v.) to cut short, bring to a halt or end sooner than expected; to reduce

SYNONYMS: limit, abbreviate, abridge, contract

ANTONYMS: protract, extend

deference

(n.) courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission, as to a superior

SYNONYMS: respect, consideration, courtesy

ANTONYMS: contempt, disrespect, scorn, disdain

definitive

(adj.) conclusive, final, representing the limit of what can be done

SYNONYMS: exhaustive, authoritative

ANTONYMS: tentative, inconclusive

demeanor

(n.) the way a person behaves, overall impression made by comportment, manner, etc.; facial appearance, mien

SYNONYMS: conduct, behavior, bearing, carriage

enigmatic

(adj.) mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand

SYNONYMS: baffling, mysterious, inexplicable

ANTONYMS: intelligible, understandable, fathomable

impromptu

(adj., adv.) , without preparation, offhand, suddenly or hastily done;

(n.) an extemporaneous composition or remark; a minimal piece suggestive of improvisation

SYNONYMS: (adj.) spontaneous, improvised, unrehearsed

ANTONYMS: (adj.) rehearsed, planned, prepared, premeditated

mawkish

(adj.) excessively and objectionably sentimental; having a mildly sickening flavor

SYNONYMS: sentimentalized, maudlin, mushy, nauseating

ANTONYMS: unsentimental, callous, insensitive

mollify

(v.) to soften, make gentle, pacify; to calm, allay (as an emotion), assuage, appease, placate; to reduce in intensity

ANTONYMS: enrage, anger, aggravate, exacerbate

onus

(n.) something that is heavy or burdensome (especially an unwelcome responsibility); a stigma; blame

SYNONYMS: burden, obligation, duty, stigma

presentiment

(n.) a vague sense of approaching misfortune

SYNONYMS: foreboding, premonition, hunch

profligate

(adj.) given over to dissipation and self-indulgence, immoral; recklessly extravagant;

(n.) a person given to self-indulgent and wild spending

SYNONYMS: (adj.) prodigal, improvident; (n.) spendthrift

ANTONYMS: (adj.) penny-pinching, frugal, economical

remit

(v.) to send or hand in (as money); to cancel (as a penalty or punishment), forgive, pardon; to lessen, diminish; to put off, postpone, defer

SYNONYMS: pay, absolve, subside, abate

requisite

(adj.) needed, necessary, regarded as essential or indispensable

SYNONYMS: required, obligatory, incumbent

ANTONYMS: nonessential, superfluous, optional

sartorial

(adj.) of or pertaining to a tailor or his work; having to do with clothes or dress (especially men's)

thwart

(v.) to oppose successfully; to prevent, frustrate

SYNONYMS: foil, baffle

ANTONYMS: aid, assist, abet, further