Sadlier level f unit 9

abate

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

SYN: diminish, decrease, subside, let up

ANT: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

adulation

(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive

SYN: adoration, idolization, hero-worship

ANT: ridicule, derision, odium

anathema

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

SYN: malediction, imprecation, abomination

ANT: benediction, blessing

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

SYN: acute, sagacious, judicious, wily

ANT: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

avarice

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

SYN: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

culpable

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

SYN: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy

ANT: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

dilatory

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

SYN: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard

ANT: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

egregious

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

SYN: glaring, flagrant, blatant

ANT: 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

SYN: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge

ANT: to speak one's mind plainly

evanescent

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

SYN: ephemeral, transient, transitory

ANT: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

irresolute

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

SYN: indecisive, vacillating, wavering

ANT: determined, decisive, unwavering

nebulous

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

SYN: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, opaque, indeterminate

ANT: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

novice

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

SYN: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

ANT: veteran, past master, pro, expert

penury

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

SYN: destitution, indigence

ANT: affluence, luxury

pretentious

(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious

SYN: ostentatious, inflated

ANT: unaffected, modest

recapitulate

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

SYN: review, summarize, go over

resuscitate

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

SYN: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

slovenly

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

SYN: unkempt, slatternly, lax

ANT: neat, meticulous

supposition

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

SYN: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

torpid

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull

SYN: lethargic, languid

ANT: energetic, vigorous