Vocabulary Workshop Level H Unit 15

adumbrate

v. to outline or sketch broadly; to foreshadow or prefigure; to disclose partially

Syn. indicate

apotheosis

n. the elevation of a person to a divine rank or status; the glorification of a person as an ideal; a glorified ideal

Syn. deification

ascetic

adj. practicing strict self-denial for the sake of personal or spiritual discipline; n. one who leads a life of self-discipline, especially to express religious devotion

Syn. adj. austere, spartan; n. celibate

Ant. wanton, dissolute; n. hedonist

bauble

n. a small, showy ornament of little value or use

Syn. trifle, gewgaw, knickknack, bagatelle

Ant. gem, precious jewel, treasure

beguile

v. to mislead or deceive; to cheat; to diver; to cause to vanish unnoticed

Syn. delude, dupe, lure, while away

burgeon

v. to put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; to develop rapidly or suddenly

Syn. sprout, blossom, bloom, flourish

Ant. atrophy, wither, shrivel, diminish

complement

n. something that completes a whole; the quantity or number needed to make up a whole; the full number or allowance; v. to complete

Syn. n. balance; v. round out

contumacious

adj. obstinately or willfully disobedient; openly rebellious

Syn. impudent, unruly, defiant, refractory

Ant. docile, meek, deferential, cooperative

curmudgeon

n. an irascible, churlish person

Syn. grouch, crank, sorehead, churl

didactic

adj. intended to instruct, especially morally; inclined to moralize too much

Syn. educational, instructional, moralistic

disingenuous

adj. lacking in sincerity or candor

Syn. artful, sly, two-faced, insincere

Ant. candid, frank, artless, sincere

exculpate

v. to clear of guilt or blame

Syn. absolve, exonerate, acquit

Ant. convict, condemn

faux pas

n. a slip in manners or conduct; a social blunder

Syn. indiscretion, gaffe

Ant. coup, tour de force

fulminate

v. to denounce or condemn vehemently; to explode, detonate

Syn. rail, inveigh

Ant. praise, applaud, commend, extol

fustian

n. inflated or pretentious language in speech or writing; a cloth made of cotton and flax

Syn. rant, claptrap, bombast, grandiloquence

hauteur

n. haughtiness of bearing or attitude

Syn. conceit, superciliousness, snobbish

Ant. modesty, humility, diffidence, mousiness

inhibit

v. to restrain or hold back; to hinder or arrest; to prohibit

Syn. repress, check, suppress

Ant. foster, promote, expedite, facilitate

jeremiad

n. an elaborate or prolonged lamentation; any tale of woe

Syn. paean, song of praise

opportunist

n. one who makes a practice of taking advantage of circumstances to further his or her own self-interest, regardless of principles or ultimate consequences

Syn. self-seeker, exploiter

unconscionable

adj. not guided or restrained by conscience, prudence, or reason; unscrupulous; immoderate

Syn. unjustifiable, indefensible, unforgivable

Ant. justifiable, reasonable, honorable