Intro to Lit Midterms - Vocab

sycophant

definition: someone who uses flattery to try to

get what he/she wants from an authority figure

synonym: flatterer/schmoozer

antonym: rebel

pernicious

definition: intending to cause harm

synonym: harmful/dangerous

antonym: kind/benevolent

ubiquitous

definition: appearing everywhere

synonym: omnipresent/pervasive

antonym: scarce/rare

non sequitur

definition: a statement that does not

logically follow a conversation's flow

synonym: interruption

antonym: support

diatribe

definition: a forceful and bitter verbal

attack

synonym: rant

antonym: conversation

slipshod

definition: showing a lack of care or

thought

synonym: botched/sloppy

antonym: exact/perfect

nefarious

definition: wicked or criminal

synonym: evil

antonym: angelic

precursor

definition: a person or thing that comes before

another of a similar kind

synonym: forerunner

antonym: result

impregnable

definition: unable to be captured or

broken into

synonym: secure

antonym: vulnerable

demure

definition: shy or modest

synonym: reserved

antonym: obnoxious

jingoistic

definition: overly patriotic

synonym: nationalistic

antonym: unbiased

implacable

definition: unable to be soothed

synonym: relentless/unyielding

antonym: merciful/yielding

affinity

definition: a natural skill

synonym: talent

antonym: weakness

coquette

definition: a woman who flirts to get

what she wants

synonym: tease/vamp

antonym: prude

harangue

definition: lecture at length in an

aggressive way

synonym: accost/rant

antonym: discuss

bemoan

definition: express discontent or

sorrow over

synonym: lament/complain

antonym: celebrate/enjoy

misigynist

definition: someone who hates women

synonym: chauvinist

antonym: feminist

abhor

definition: hate

synonym: loathe

antonym: love

talisman

definition: an object with magical

powers to bring good luck

synonym: charm

antonym: jinx

placid

definition: not easily upset or excited

synonym: calm

antonym: agitated

bovine

definition: in the manner of a cow

synonym: slow/dim

antonym: quick/bright

facetious

definition: treating serious issues with

inappropriate humor

synonym: flippant

antonym: respectful

contrite

definition: deeply remorseful for a bad

action

synonym: apologetic

antonym: unrepentant

erudite

definition: showing great knowledge or

learning

synonym: intelligent

antonym: dumb/bovine

anomaly

definition: something that deviates

from what is expected or normal

synonym: exception/outlier

antonym: norm

noxious

definition: very harmful

synonym: poisonous/dangerous

antonym: healthful/beneficial

bilk

definition: to cheat someone out of

money

synonym: scam

antonym: earn

replete

definition: well-supplied with

something

synonym: full

antonym: empty

blasphemy

definition: profane talk about holy or

sacred things

synonym: heresy/sacrilege

antonym: piety/reverence

absolution

definition: formal release from guilt or

punishment

synonym: forgiveness

antonym: condemnation

cantankerous

definition: argumentative and

uncooperative

synonym: bad-tempered

antonym: kind/happy

deride

definition: to verbally rip apart

synonym: mock/insult

antonym: compliment

debacle

definition: a disaster

synonym: failure

antonym: success

temerity

definition: excessive or foolish

boldness

synonym: nerve/rashness

antonym: caution

ennui

definition: dissatisfaction or

exhaustion caused by boredom

synonym: fatigue

antonym: enthusiasm

abstain

definition: restrain oneself from doing

or enjoying something

synonym: refrain

antonym: indulge

haughty

definition: arrogantly superior

synonym: snobbish/snooty

antonym: accepting/nonjudgmental

tenacious

definition: not letting go of or giving up

on something one holds dear

synonym: relentless/adamant

antonym: weak/surrendering

acquiesce

definition: accept something

reluctantly, but without protest

synonym: agree/cave

antonym: disagree/refuse

lampoon

definition: publicly ridicule

synonym: mock

antonym: revere

curmudgeon

definition: a bad-tempered person

synonym: crab/grouch

antonym: angel

sojourn

definition: a temporary stay

synonym: journey

antonym: relocation

gregarious

definition: fond of company

synonym: outgoing/social

antonym: shy/anti-social

agument

definition: to increase

synonym: add/enlarge

antonym: reduce

insidious

definition: advancing in a gradual way

to cause harm

synonym: treacherous/crafty

antonym: benign/harmless

engender

definition: to cause or give rise to

synonym: create/produce

antonym: destroy/ruin

nuance

definition: a subtle difference

synonym: shade/distinction

antonym: opposite/separation

covert

definition: not openly displayed

synonym: secret/hidden

antonym: overt/open

renown

definition: the state of being known

and celebrated by many

synonym: honor/glory

antonym: disgrace/ridicule

tangent

definition: a completely different line

of thought

synonym: non sequitur/digression

antonym: point

kisment

definition: destiny

synonym: fate/serendipity

antonym: coincidence

exonerate

definition: remove blame or guilt for

a wrongdoing

synonym: clear/erase

antonym: condemn/convict

altruism

definition: a selfless act

synonym: philanthropy

antonym: greed

myopic

definition: so focused on one small thing that

the whole picture can't be seen

synonym: shortsighted

antonym: thoughtful/wise

galvanize

definition: shock or excite, typically

into taking action

synonym: jolt/inspire

antonym: depress/deter

gauche

definition: lacking social grace

synonym: unsophisticated

antonym: classy/refined

zenith

definition: the top of a trajectory; the highest

point

synonym: peak/apex

antonym: low/bottom

futile

definition: incapable of producing any

result

synonym: useless

antonym: effective

ruminate

definition: to think deeply

synonym: ponder

antonym: ignore

acrimony

definition: tense bitterness in a

relationship

synonym: tension/drama

antonym: harmony/peace

solace

definition: comfort in a time of stress

or sadness

synonym: succor/aid

antonym: agitation/stressor

insipid

definition: lacking taste or class

synonym: dumb/trashy

antonym: intelligent/sophisticated

pedestrain

definition: lacking inspiration

synonym: common/flat

antonym: unique/refined

visceral

definition: so focused on one small thing that

the whole picture can't be seen

synonym: shortsighted

antonym: thoughtful/wise

inept

definition: having or showing no skill

synonym: clumsy/unskilled

antonym: astute/keen

mitigate

definition: to make less severe, serious,

or painful

synonym: ease/soften

antonym: enflame/worsen

anodyne

definition: something that kills pain

synonym: soother

antonym: stressor

vacillate

definition: to alternate indecisively

between two choices

synonym: waver

antonym: decide

incendiary

definition: designed to start fires or

conflict

synonym: inflammatory

antonym: calming

depravity

definition: moral corruption

synonym: wickedness/evil

antonym: benevolence/good

bulwark

definition: a defensive wall

synonym: shield/fortress

antonym: doorway/entrance

cajole

definition: persuade by flattering or

gently teasing

synonym: coax

antonym: demand

harbinger

definition: something that marks the

approach of something else

synonym: forerunner

antonym: effect

impetuous

definition: acting quickly without

thought

synonym: impulsive

antonym: cautious

extemporaneous

definition: spoken or done without

preparation

synonym: improvised

antonym: rehearsed/planned

fetid

definition: smelling very unpleasant

synonym: rancid/putrid

antonym: aromatic/perfumed

perfunctory

definition: carried out with minimum

effort to satisfy the situation

synonym: cursory/automatic

antonym: thoughtful/concerned

fracas

definition: a noisy disturbance

synonym: ruckus

antonym: peace

foible

definition: a small flaw

synonym: defect/kink

antonym: strength

vacuous

definition: showing a lack of thought

or intelligence

synonym: dumb/empty-headed

antonym: intelligent

reticent

definition: not revealing one's

thoughts or feelings easily

synonym: hesitant/shy

antonym: open/unrestrained

farcical

definition: in a ridiculous manner

synonym: absurd

antonym: realistic/sensible

egalitarian

definition: relating to the idea of all

people deserving equal rights

synonym: fair

antonym: biased

palpable

v

charlatan

definition: a person falsely claiming

to have special talents or skills

synonym: fraud/swindler

antonym: talent/expert

atrophy

definition: to gradually decline or

waste away

synonym: deteriorate/wither

antonym: grow/strengthen

quaff

definition: to drink heartily

synonym: chug

antonym: sip/savor

collusion

definition: secret or illegal

cooperation, esp. to cheat others

synonym: conspiracy

antonym: disinterest

drivel

definition: nonsense

synonym: babble

antonym: wisdom

stoic

definition: able to endure hardship

without showing pain or complaining

synonym: unemotional/staid

antonym: weepy/wimpy

intrepid

definition: brave and adventurous

synonym: bold

antonym: fearful/cautious

balk

definition: to be unwilling to accept

an idea or request

synonym: refuse

antonym: embrace/accept

gaunt

definition: too thin, as in suffering

from hunger or illness

synonym: bony/undernourished

antonym: corpulent/fleshy

persnickety

definition: placing too much emphasis

on minor or unimportant details

synonym: fussy

antonym: unconcerned/easy-going

whet

definition: to sharpen the point of

something

synonym: hone

antonym: dull/weaken