Vocabulary - Unit 2

adroit

adroit

adj skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind

synonyms: clever, deft, dexterous, slick

antonyms: clumsy, inept, all thumbs

amicable

adj. peaceable, friendly

synonyms: congenial, neighborly, cordial

antonyms: hostile, antagonistic

averse

having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

synonyms: disinclined, loath

antonyms: favorably disposed, eager, keen

banter

an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery v. to speak or address in a witty and teasing manner

synonyms: backchat, jesting, joshing

belligerent

adj. given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive n. one at war, one engaged in war

synonyms: adj. assertive, truculent, pugnacious

antonyms: adj. peaceful, conciliatory, placid

benevolent

adj. kindly, charitable

synonyms: benign, well-meaning

antonyms: malicious, spiteful, malevolent

critique

n. an article or essay criticizing a literary or other work; a detailed evaluation; a review v. to review or analyze critically

synonyms: n. appraisal, assessment

cursory

adj. hasty, not thorough

synonyms: quick, superficial, perfunctory

antonyms: thorough, painstaking, careful

duplicity

n. treachery, deceitfulness

synonyms: fraud, double-dealing, chicanery

extol

v. to praise extravagantly

synonyms: glorify, applaud, acclaim, hail

antonyms: criticize, belittle, disparage

feasible

adj. possible, able to be done

synonyms: workable, practicable, viable

antonyms: unworkable, impractical

gauche

adj. lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless

synonyms: graceless, bumbling

antonyms: elegant, graceful, refined

holocaust

n. a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering

synonyms: conflagration, devastation, annihilation, extermination

impervious

adj. not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance

synonyms: impenetrable, resistant, proof against

antonyms: porous, permeable, vulnerable

impetus

n. a moving force, impulse, stimulus

synonyms: impulse, incentive, spur

antonyms: curb, hindrance, impediment, constraint

jocund

adj. cheerful, merry, blithe, glad

synonyms: jolly, jocose

antonyms: sad

jeopardy

n. danger

synonyms: risk, hazard, peril

antonyms: safety, securtiy

meticulous

adj. extremely careful; particular about details

synonyms: fastidious, painstaking, fussy

antonyms: careless, negligent, sloppy

nomenclature

n. a set or system of names or terms as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community

synonyms: terminology, glossary

nostalgia

a longing for something past; homesickness

quintessence

n. the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example

synonyms: paragon, exemplar

retrogress

to move backward; to return to an earlier condition

synonyms: revert, degenerate, decline

antonyms: advance, evolve, progress

scrutinize

v. to examine closely

synonyms: inspect, pore over

antonyms: skim, scan, glance at

secular

adj. of or related to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual or sacred, temporal

synonyms: earthly, worldly

antonym; sacred, holy

tepid

adj. lukewarm, unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

synonyms: insipid; halfhearted, wishy-washy

antonyms: hea