Unit 9 and 10 Vocab

abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

Synonyms: diminish, decrease, subside, let up

Antonyms: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

adulation

(n) praise or flattery that is excessive

Synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero-worship

Antonyms: ridicule, derision, odium

anathema

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or stong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)

Synonyms: abomination, imprecation, malediction

Antonyms: benediction, blessing

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Synonyms: acute, sagacious, judicious, wily

Antonyms: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

avarice

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

culpable

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Synonyms: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy

Antonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

dilatory

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

Synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard

Antonyms: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

egregious

(adj) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

Synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant

Antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling

equivocate

(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation, to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

Synonyms: to speak out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge

Antonyms: to speak one's mind plainly

evanescent

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory

Antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

irresolute

(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

Synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering

Antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering

nebulous

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

Synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, opaque, indeterminate

Antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

novice

(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)

Synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

Antonyms: veteran, past paster, pro, expert

penury

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Synonyms: destitution, indigence

Antonyms: affluence, luxury

pretentious

(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; ambitious

Synonyms: ostentatious, inflated

Antonyms: unaffected, modest

recapitulate

(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up

Synonyms: review, summarize, go over

resuscitate

(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

synonyms: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

slovenly

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

Synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, lax

Antonyms: neat, meticulous

supposition

(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

torpid

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull

Synonyms: lethargic, languid

Antonyms: energetic, vigorous

accrue

(v.) to grow or accumulate over time;to happen as a natural result

synonyms: accumulate

antonyms: diminish

annotation

(n.) a critical or explanatory note or comment

bedlam

(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion

synonyms: pandemonium
antonyms: order

covert

(adj.) hidden, sheltered, secluded; a hiding place

synonyms: (adj.) undercover

antonyms: (adj.) overt

debonair

(adj.) pleasant; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

synonyms: urbane

antonyms: boorish

dun

(v.) to demand insistently; (n.) a creditor; (adj.) dark, dull

efficacious

(adj.) effective, producing results

Synonyms; Efficient

Antonyms: Ineffective

equanimity

(n.) calmness

synonyms: tranquility

antonyms: excitability

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental

synonyms: lucky

antonyms: premeditated

gist

(n.) the essential part

synonyms; core

gratuitous

(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

synonyms: voluntary

antonyms: warranted

imperious

(adj.) overbearing; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

synonyms: domineering
antonyms: humble

invective

(n.) a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language; (adj.) abusive, vituperative

synonyms: (n.) abuse

motley

(adj.) showing great variety; (n.) a jester's costume; a jester

synonyms: (adj.) diverse
antonyms: (adj.) monochromatic

munificent

(adj.) extremely generous; procrastinate, (v.) to delay

synonyms: bounteous

antonyms: miserly

procrastinate

(v.) to delay, put off until later

synonyms: stall

provocative

(adj.) tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying

synonyms: arousing
antonyms: dull

recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding;

reprobate

(n.) a depraved; (adj.) wicked, corrupt; (v.) to disapprove of; condemn

synonyms: (n.) scoundrel
antonyms: (n.) moral

sedentary

(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place

synonyms: stationary
antonyms: active