Sadlier Unit 6

Anomalous (adj)

Abnormal, irregular, departing form the usual

Anomalous syn and ant

SYN- exceptional, unusual, aberrant

ANT- normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

Aspersion (n)

A damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

Aspersion syn and ant

SYN- innuendo, calumny

ANT- endorsement, praise

Bizarre (adj)

extremely strange, unusual, atypical

Bizarre syn and ant

SYN- grotesque, fantastic, outlandish

ANT- normal, typical, ordinary, expected

Brusque (adj)

Abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

Brusque syn and ant

SYN- tactless ungracious

ANT- tactful, diplomatic

Cajole (v)

To coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

Cajole syn and ant

SYN- wheedle, inveigle

ANT- coerce, force

Castigate (v)

To punish severely, to criticize severely

Castigate syn and ant

SYN- chastise, censure

ANT- honor, praise, laud

Contrive (v)

To plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan

Contrive syn

SYN- think up, concoct, fabricate

Demagogue (n)

A leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

Demagogue syn

SYN- rabble-rouser, firebrand

Disabuse (v)

To free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

Disabuse syn and ant

SYN- undeceive, enlighten

ANT- deceive, delude, pull wool over one’s eyes

Ennui (n)

Weariness and dissatisfaction form lack of occupation or interest, boredom

Ennui syn and ant

SYN- languor, world-weariness, listlessness

ANT- enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

Fetter (n AND v)

n- a chain or shackles places on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains

v- to chain or shackle; to render helpless

Fetter syn and ant (n AND v)

SYN n- bond, restraint

SYN v- bind, hamper

ANT v- free, liberate, emancipate

Heinous (adj)

Very wicked, offensive, hateful

Heinous syn and ant

SYN- evil, odious, outrageous

ANT- excellent, wonderful, splendid

Immutable (adj)

Not subject to change, constant

Immutable syn and ant

SYN- unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable

ANT- changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle

Insurgent (n AND adj)

n- one who rebels or rises against authority

adj- rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

Insurgent syn and ant (adj ONLY)

SYN- revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous

ANT- loyalist, loyal, faithful

Megalomania (n)

A delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent etc., far in excess of reality

Megalomania syn and ant

SYN- delusions of grandeur

ANT- modesty, self-abasement

Sinecure (n)

A position requiring little or no work; an easy job

Sinecure syn ONLY

SYN- “no-show”, cushy job, “plum”

Surreptitious (adj)

Stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

Surreptitious syn and ant

SYN- Furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed

ANT- open, frank, aboveboard, overt

Transgress (v)

To go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

Transgress syn and ant

SYN- overstep, trespass

ANT- obey, toe the line

Transmute (v)

To change from one nature, substance, or form to another

Transmut syn and ant

SYN- transform, convert

ANT- preserve, maintain

Vicarious (adj)

Performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

Vicarious syn and ant

SYN- surrogate, secondhad

ANT- actual, firsthand