Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level E - Unit 5

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Syn.: timid, bashful, unassertive, withdrawn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