Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Level E Unit 1-12

adulterate

(verb) to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value

SYN: contaminate, pollute, sully

ANT: purify, purge, expurgate

ambidextrous

(adjective) able to use both hands equally well, very skillful, deceitful, hypocritical

SYN: versatile, facile

ANT: clumsy, all thumbs, maladroit

augment

(verb) to make larger, increase

SYN: enlarge, supplement, amplify

ANT: decrease, diminish

bereft

(adjective) deprived of, made unhappy through a loss

SYN: bereaved

ANT: replete, well provided

deploy

(verb) to position or arrange, to utilize, to form up

SYN: station, organized

dour

(adjective) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

SYN: harsh, bleak, forbidding, saturnine

ANT: cheery, inviting, genial

fortitude

(noun) courage in facing difficulties

SYN: resolve, steadfastness, mettle

ANT: fearfulness, timidity, faintheartedness

gape

(verb) to stare with open mouth, to open mouth wide, to open wide

SYN: gawk, ogle

gibe

(verb) to utter taunting words;

(noun) an expression of scorn

SYN: ridicule, mock, deride, jeer

ANT: compliment, praise

guise

(noun) an external appearance, cover, mask

SYN: costume, semblance, pretense

insidious

(adjective) intended to deceive or entrap, sly, treacherous

SYN: cunning, underhanded, perfidious

ANT: frank, ingenuous, aboveboard

intimation

(noun) a hint, indirect suggestion

SYN: clue, indication, inkling

opulent

(adjective) wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose

SYN: rich, lavish, plentiful, abundant

ANT: poverty-stricken, wretched, destitute

pliable

(adjective) easily bent, flexible, easily influenced

SYN: supple, adaptable, resilient

ANT: rigid, inflexible, recalcitrant

reiterate

(verb) to say again, repeat

SYN: restate, rehash, recapitulate

stolid

(adjective) not easily moved mentally or emotionally, dull, unresponsive

SYN: impassive, phlegmatic

ANT: emotional, oversensitive, high-strung

tentative

(adjective) experimental in nature, uncertain, hesitant

SYN: provisional, inconclusive

ANT: definite, conclusive, confirmed

unkempt

(adjective) not combed, untidy, not properly maintained, unpolished, rude

SYN: sloppy, disheveled, disordered, rough

ANT: well-groomed, tidy, neat, natty

verbatim

(adjective, adverb) word for word, exactly as written or spoken

SYN: exact (adj.), precisely (adv.)

ANT: paraphrased

warily

(adverb) cautiously, with great care

SYN: carefully, prudently, gingerly

ANT: recklessly, heedlessly, incautiously

adroit

Definition:(adj.) skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind

Synonyms: clever, deft, slick, dexterous

Antonyms: clumsy, inept, all thumbs

amicable

Definition:(adj.) peaceable, friendly

Synonyms: congenial, neighborly, cordial

Antonyms: hostile, antagonistic

averse

Definition:(adj.) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

Synonyms: disinclined, loath

Antonyms: favorably disposed, eager, keen

belligerent

Definition:(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

Definition:(adj.) kindly, charitable

Synonyms: benign, well-meaning

Antonyms: malicious, spiteful

cursory

Definition:(adj.) hasty, not thorough

Synonyms: quick, superficial, perfunctory

Antonyms: thorough, painstaking, careful

duplicity

Definition:(n.) treachery, deceitfulness

Synonyms: double-dealing, chicanery

Antonyms: none

extol

Definition:(v.) to praise extravagantly

Synonyms: glorify, applaud, acclaim, hail

Antonyms: criticize, belittle, disparage

feasible

Definition:(adj.) possible, able to be done

Synonyms: workable, viable

Antonyms: unworkable, impractical

grimace

Definition:(n.) a wry face, facial distortion; (v.) to make a wry face

Synonyms: (n.) pained expression, facial contortion

Antonyms: (n.) grin; (v.) beam

holocaust

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

Synonyms: conflagration, devastation, annihilation

Antonym: deluge

impervious

Definition:(adj.) not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance

Synonyms: impenetrable, resistant, proof against

Antonyms: porous, permeable, vulnerable

impetus

Definition:(n.) a moving force, impulse, stimulus

Synonyms: impulse, spur

Antonyms: curb, hindrance, impediment, constraint

jeopardy

Definition:(n.) danger

Synonyms: risk, hazard, peril

Antonyms: safety, security

meticulous

Definition:(adj.) extremely careful; particular about details

Synonyms: fastidious, fussy

Antonyms: careless, negligent, sloppy

nostalgia

Definition:(n.) a longing for something past; homesickness

Synonyms: none

Antonyms: none

quintessence

Definition:(n.) the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example; perfect example

Synonyms: paragon, exemplar

Antonyms: none

retrogress

Definition:(v.) to move backward; to return to an earlier condition

Synonyms: revert, degenerate, decline

Antonyms: advance, evolve, progress

scrutinize

Definition:(v.) to examine closely

Synonyms: inspect, pore over

Antonyms: scan, glance at

tepid

Definition:(adj.) lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

Synonyms: insipid, halfhearted

Antonyms: heated, enthusiastic

adversary

(n.) an enemy, opponent

SYNONYMS: antagonist, rival, foe

ANTONYMS: friend, ally, supporter, confederate

alienate

(v.) to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey

SYNONYMS: separate, drive apart, estrange

ANTONYMS: befriend, attract, captivate, reconcile

artifice

(n.) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery

SYNONYMS: ruse, stratagem, contrivance

ANTONYMS: -

coerce

(v.) to compel, force

SYNONYMS: pressure, bully, intimidate, constrain

ANTONYMS: persuade, cajole

craven

(adj.) cowardly; (n.) a coward

SYNONYMS: (adj.) fearful, fainthearted, pusillanimous

ANTONYMS: (adj.) brave, courageous, valiant

culinary

(adj.) of or related to cooking or the kitchen

SYNONYMS: -

ANTONYMS: -

demise

(n.) a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

SYNONYMS: decease, passing away

ANTONYMS: birth, beginning, commencement

exhilarate

(v.) to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to

SYNONYMS: stimulate, excite, gladden

ANTONYMS: discourage, dispirit, dishearten, inhibit

fallow

(adj.) plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; (n.) land left unseeded; (v.) to plow but not seed

SYNONYMS: (adj.) unproductive, inert, dormant

ANTONYMS: (adj.) productive, fertile, prolific

harass

(v.) to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks

SYNONYMS: annoy, pester, bedevil, beleaguer

inclement

(adj.) stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action

SYNONYMS: blustery, tempestuous, implacable

ANTONYMS: mild, gentle, balmy, tranquil

liquidate

(v.) to pay a debt, to settle an account; to eliminate

SYNONYMS: reconcile, pay, cancel, exterminate

ANTONYMS: invest, collect

muse

(v.) to think about in a dreamy way, ponder

SYNONYMS: meditate, contemplate, daydream

ANTONYMS: -

negligible

(adj.) so unimportant that it can be disregarded

SYNONYMS: trivial, inconsequential, insignificant

ANTONYMS: significant, crucial, momentous

perpetuate

(v.) to make permanent or long lasting

SYNONYMS: continue, preserve, prolong indefinitely

ANTONYMS: discontinue, abolish, abandon

precedent

(n.) an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

SYNONYMS: guide, tradition, model

ANTONYMS: -

punitive

(adj.) inflicting or aiming at punishment

SYNONYMS: penalizing, retaliatory

ANTONYMS: N/A

redress

(v.) to set right, remedy; (n.) relief from wrong or injury

SYNONYMS: (v.) rectify, correct, mitigate

ANTONYMS: N/A

sojourn

(n.) a temporary stay; (v.) to stay for a time

SYNONYMS: (n.) visit, stopover, brief stay

ANTONYMS: -

urbane

(adj.) refined in manner or style, suave

SYNONYMS: elegant

ANTONYMS: crude, uncouth, boorish

affiliated

(adj., part.) associated, connected

Syn.: attached, related, jointed

Ant.: dissociated, unconnected

ascertain

(verb) to find out

Syn.: discover, determine, establish

attainment

(noun) an accomplishment, the act of achieving

Syn.: achievement, fulfillment

Ant.: failure, defeat, frustration

bequeath

(verb) to give or pass on as an inheritance

Syn.: transmit, bestow, hand down

cogent

(adj.) forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point

Syn.: persuasive, compelling

Ant.: weak, unconvincing, ineffective, irrelevant

converge

(verb) to move toward one point, approach nearer together

Syn.: meet, unite, intersect, merge

Ant.: diverge, separate

disperse

(verb) to scatter, spread far and wide

Syn.: break up, dispel

Ant.: collect, congregate, assemble, muster

esteem

(verb) to regard highly; (noun) a highly favorable opinion or judgment

Syn.: (verb) respect, admire, honor, revere

Ant.: (verb) disdain, scorn; (noun) contempt

expunge

(verb) to erase, obliterate, destroy

Syn.: delete, efface, annihilate

Ant.: insert, mark, imprint, impress

finite

(adj.) having limits; lasting for a limited time

Syn.: bounded, measurable

Ant.: unlimited, immeasurable, everlasting, eternal

invulnerable

(adj.) not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack

Syn.: impregnable, impervious, immune

Ant.: exposed, unprotected, defenseless

malevolent

(adj.) spiteful, showing ill will

Syn.: malicious, wicked, sinister, malignant

Ant.: kind, benevolent, compassionate

nonchalant

(adj.) cool and confident, unconcerned

Syn.: composed, unruffled, indifferent, blase

Ant.: perturbed, agitated, disconcerted, abashed

omniscient

(adj.) knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding

Syn.: wise, all-knowing

Ant.: ignorant, unknowing

panacea

(noun) a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems

Syn.: universal cure, easy solution

scrupulous

(adj.) exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled

Syn.: painstaking, meticulous, conscientious

Ant.: careless, negligent, remiss, dishonest

skulk

(verb) to move about stealthily; to lie in hiding

Syn.: lurk, slink, prowl

supercilious

(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

Syn.: snobbish, patronizing, overbearing

Ant.: humble, meek, deferential, servile

uncanny

(adj.) strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation

Syn.: eerie, inexplicable, spooky

venial

(adj.) easily excused; pardonable

Syn.: excusable, forgivable

Ant.: inexcusable, unforgivable, unpardonable

altruistic

(adj) unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

Most people support __________ programs to help the less fortunate of this world.

Syn.: selfless

Ant.: selfish, self-centered

assent

(verb) to express agreement; (noun) agreement

Workers hope that the threat of a long strike will force management to _________ to their demands.

Syn.: (verb) concur, consent, accede

Ant.: (verb) disagree, differ, dissent

benefactor

(noun) one who does good to others

Without the help of many __________, most charities would be unable to carry out their work.

Syn.: patron, humanitarian

Ant.: misanthrope, malefactor

chivalrous

(adj) marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

In today's busy world, where people are often heedless of others, a _________ act is admired by all.

Syn.: gallant, civil, valiant

Ant.: crude, uncouth, churlish, loutish

clemency

(noun) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

Many judges are willing to show __________ to first offenders who express regret for their wrongdoing.

Syn.: leniency, forbearance, gentleness

Ant.: harshness, severity, cruelty, inflexibility

dearth

(noun) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

An employer may complain of a __________ of qualified applicants for available jobs.

Syn.: insufficiency, want, paucity

Ant.: surplus, oversupply, glut, abundance

diffident

(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

Many a __________ suitor has lost his beloved to a bold rival.

Syn.: timid, bashful, unassertive, withdrawn

Ant.: bold, brash, audacious, self-confident, jaunty

discrepancy

(noun) a difference; a lack of agreement

__________ in the testimony of witnesses to a crime can have a decisive impact on the outcome of a trial.

Syn.: disagreement, divergence, inconsistency

Ant.: agreement, convergence, consistency

embark

(verb) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest

Columbus spent years raising money before he was able to _________ on his perilous ocean voyage in search of a passage to the Far East.

Syn.: commence, launch, begin, board

facile

(adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt

Writing is a __________ process for some authors but a laborious task for others.

Syn.: effortless, assured, poised, specious

Ant.: labored, awkward, halting

indomitable

(adj.) unconquerable, refusing to yield

All who hear of the remarkable deeds of Harriet Tubman admire her __________ courage in the face of grave danger.

Syn.: unbeatable, invincible, unyielding

Ant.: surrendering, submissive, yielding

infallible

(adj.) free from error; absolutely dependable

Some critics seem convinced that their expert knowledge makes them __________ judges of the quality of an artist's work.

Syn.: unerring, certain

Ant.: imperfect

plod

(verb) to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

After the blizzard, we had to __________ through deep snowdrifts to reach the nearest stores.

Syn.: lumber, trudge

Ant.: scamper, skip, prance

pungent

(adj.) causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

The kitchen of the French restaurant was filled with the __________ aroma of onion soup.

Syn.: sharp, spicy, piquant, caustic, racy

Ant.: bland, unappetizing, colorless, insipid

remiss

(adj.) neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless

When I am __________ in doing my daily chores, I have to spend a big part of the weekend catching up.

Syn.: negligent, lax, slack

Ant.: scrupulous, dutiful, punctilious

repose

(verb) to rest; lie; place; (noun) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness

The mortal remains of thousands who fell in America's wars __________ in Arlington National Cemetery.

After spending all day with others, you may wish for a period of __________ before dinner.

Syn.: (verb) sleep; (noun) tranquillity, respite

Ant.: (noun) exertion, wakefulness, tumult, bustle, ado

temerity

(noun) rashness, boldness

Few of his subordinates had the __________ to answer the general back.

Syn.: recklessness, foolhardiness, effrontery

Ant.: timidity, fearfulness, diffidence, humility

truculent

(adj.) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh

People with __________ dispositions can make life miserable for those who have to work with them.

Syn.: brutal, savage, belligerent, vitriolic

Ant.: gentle, mild, meek, unthreatening

unfeigned

(adj.) sincere, real, without pretense

The novelist won high praise for her ability to portray the __________ emotions of children.

Syn.: genuine, heartfelt

Ant.: insincere, simulated, phony

virulent

(adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

The First Amendment protects the right of free speech for everyone, even those with __________ views that are repugnant to most people.

Syn.: venomous, noxious, baneful, hateful

Ant.: innocuous, harmless, benign