vocab 7-9

avatar

(noun) an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person; an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user.

avatar syn

embodiment, virtual identity

beatitude

(noun) perfect state of happiness or blessedness; a blessing

beatitude syn

bliss, rapture

beatitude ant

misery, despair

bete noire

(noun) someone or something that one especially dislikes, dreads, or avoids

bete noire syn

pet peeve, bugbear, nemesis

bete noire ant

pet, idol

bode

(verb) to be an omen of; to indicate by signs

bode syn

presage, augur, foreshadow

dank

unpleasantly damp or wet

dank syn

clammy, moist, soggy

dank ant

dry, arid, parched, desiccated

ecumenical

(adjective) worldwide or universal in influence or application

ecumenical syn

general, comprehensive

ecumenical ant

parochial, regional, insular

fervid

(adjective) burning with enthusiasm or zeal; extremely heated

fervid syn

ardent, zealous, fervent, earnest

fervid ant

apathetic, indifferent, coole, blasé

fetid

(adjective) having an unpleasant or offensive odor

fetid syn

smelly, putrid, noisome, foul, malodorous

gargantuan

(adjective) of immense size, volume, or capacity; enormous, prodigious

fetid ant

fragrant, aromatic, perfumed, sweet

gargantuan syn

huge, colossal, mammoth, gigantic

gargantuan ant

tiny, minuscule, infinitesimal, dwarfish

heyday

(noun) the period of greatest power, vigor, success, or influence; the prime years

heyday syn

golden age

heyday ant

formative years, twilight years, decline

incubus

(noun) a demon or evil spirit supposed to haunt human beings in their bedrooms at night; anything that oppresses or weighs upon one, like a nightmare

incubus syn

hobgoblin, millstone, burden

infrastructure

(noun) a basic foundation or framework; a system of public works; the resources and facilities required for an activity; permanent military installations

infrastructure syn

base, basis, underpinning

infrastructure ant

superstructure

inveigle

(verb) to entice, lure, or snare by flattery or artful inducements; to obtain or acquire by artifice

inveigle syn

Induce, beguile, cajole, wheedle

kudos

(noun) the acclaim, prestige, or renown that comes as a result of some action or achievement

kudos syn

glory, praise, accolades

lagniappe

(noun) an extra or unexpected gift or gratuity

kudos ant

boos, disapproval, condemnations

lagniappe syn

bonus

prolix

(adjective) long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way

prolix syn

verbose, garrulous

prolix ant

terse, laconic, succinct, pithy

protege

(noun) someone whose welfare, training, or career is under the patronage of an influential person; someone under the jurisdiction of a foreign country or government

protege syn

ward, charge, discipline, trainee

protege ant

sponsor, mentor, benefactor

sycophant

(noun) someone who attempts to win favors or advance him- or herself by flattery or servile behavior; a slanderer, defamer

sycophant syn

yes-man, flunky, bootlicker

tautology

(noun) needless repetition of an idea by using different but equivalent words; a redundancy

tautology syn

pleonasm

truckle

(verb) to yield or submit tamely or submissively

truckle syn

kowtow, stoop, grovel

truckle ant

resist, defy, stand up to

Aberration

(n.) A departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state

Aberration syn

deviation, irregularity

Ad hoc

(adj.) For this specific purpose; improvised
(adv.) With respect to this

Ad hoc syn

makeshift

Ad hoc ant

permanent, long-standing

Bane

(n.) The source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison

Bane syn

spoiler, bete noire

Bane ant

blessing, comfort, solace, balm

Bathos

(n,) The intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown

Bathos syn

mawkishness, mush

Cantankerous

(adj.) Ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with

Cantankerous syn

cranky, testy, peevish, irascible, ornery

Cantankerous ant

good-natured, sweet-tempered, genial

Casuistry

(n.) The determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument

Casuistry syn

quibbling

De facto

(adj.) Actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned
(adv.) In reality, actually

De facto syn

in actuality, in point of fact

Depredation

(n.) The act of preying upon or plundering

De facto ant

de jure, by right

Depredation syn

looting, outrage

Empathy

(n.) A sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else

Empathy syn

sympathy, compassion

Empathy ant

insensitivity, callousness, detachment

Harbinger

(n.) A forerunner, herald
(v.) To herald the approach of

Harbinger syn

precursor, presage

Harbinger ant

aftermath, epilogue, sequel

Hedonism

(n.) The belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure

Hedonism syn

pleasure seeking, sensuality

Hedonism ant

asceticism, puritanism

Lackluster

(adj.) Lacking brilliance or vitality; dull

Lackluster syn

vapid, insipid, drab, flat

Lackluster ant

brilliant, radiant, dazzling

Malcontent

(adj.) Discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions
(n.) Such a person

Malcontent syn

dissatisfied, disgruntled, grumbler

Malcontent ant

satisfied, contented, complacent, smug

Mellifluous

(adj.) Flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed

Mellifluous syn

euphonious

Mellifluous ant

strident, harsh, grating

Nepotism

(n.) Undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives

Pander

(v.) To cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others
(n.) A person who does this

Pander syn

indulge, pimp, procurer

Peccadillo

(n.) A minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming

Peccadillo syn

lapse

Peccadillo ant

felony, mortal sin, enormity, atrocity

Piece de resistance

(n.) The pricipal dish of a meal; the principal event incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment

Piece de resistance syn

centerpiece, chef d'oeuvre

Piece de resistance ant

preliminary, hors d'oeuvre