Unit 4 - Vocabulary Workshop Level F

affable

affable

Synonyms:

• genial, amicable, cordial

Antonyms:

• surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable

Definition:

• courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to (adj.)

aggrandize

Synonyms:

• augment, amplify, enhance, exalt

Antonyms:

• reduce, decrease, diminish

Definitions:

• to increase in greatness, power, or wealth (v.)

• to build up or intensify (v.)

• to make appear greater (v.)

amorphous

Synonyms:

• formless, unstructured, inchoate

Antonyms:

• definite, well-defined, clear-out

Definitions:

• shapeless, without definite form (adj.)

• of no particular type or character (adj.)

• without organization, unity, or cohesion (adj.)

archetype

Synonyms:

• model, prototype, epitome

Definitions:

• an original model on which something was patterned or replicated (n.)

• the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing (n.)

aura

Synonyms:

• ambience, atmosphere

Definitions:

• that which surrounds (as an atmosphere) (n.)

• a distinctive air or personal quality (n.)

contraband

Synonyms:

• bootleg, unlawful

Antonyms:

• legal, lawful, licit

Definitions:

• illegal traffic, smuggled goods (n.)

• illegal, prohibited (adj.)

erudite

Synonyms:

• profoundly educated, well-read

Antonyms:

• ignorant, uneducated, illiterate

Definition:

• scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic (adj.)

gossamer

Synonyms:

• filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy (adj.)

Antonyms:

• dense, solid, massive (adj.)

Definitions:

• thin, light, delicate, insubstantial (adj.)

• a very thin, light cloth (n.)

inscrutable

Synonyms:

• impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic

Antonyms:

• comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable

Definitions:

• incapable of being understood (adj.)

• impossible to see through physically (adj.)

insular

Synonyms:

• narrow-minded, parochial, provincial

Antonyms:

• catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal

Definitions:

• relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island (adj.)

• narrow or isolated in outlook or experience (adj.)

irrevocable

Synonyms:

• unrecallable, unalterable

Antonyms:

• reversible, changeable

Definition:

• incapable of being changed or called back (adj.)

propensity

Synonyms:

• natural bent, proclivity, penchant

Antonyms:

• natural incapacity, natural inability

Definition:

• a natural inclination or predilection toward (n.)

querulous

Synonyms:

• petulant, irritable

Antonyms:

• uncomplaining, stoical

Definition:

• peevish, complaining, fretful (adj.)

remonstrate

Synonyms:

• reason against, expostulate

Definition:

• to argue with someone against something, protest against (v.)

repudiate

Synonyms:

• disavow, renounce

Antonyms:

• avow, affirm, aver

Definition:

• to disown, reject, or deny the validity of (v.)

resilient

Synonyms:

• springy, elastic

Antonyms:

• rigid, stiff, inflexible

Definitions:

• able to return to an original shape or form (adj.)

• able to recover quickly (adj.)

reverberate

Synonyms:

• rumble, thunder, boom, echo

Definitions:

• to re-echo, resound (v.)

• to reflect or be reflected repeatedly (v.)

scurrilous

Synonyms:

• obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative

Antonyms:

• decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified

Definition:

• coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed (adj.)

sedulous

Synonyms:

• assiduous, indefatigable

Antonyms:

• indolent, listless

Definition:

• persistent, showing industry and determination (adj.)

sleazy

Synonyms:

• inferior, cheesy

Antonyms:

• superior, first-rate

Definitions:

• thin or flimsy in texture (adj.)

• cheap (adj.)

• shoddy or inferior in quality or character (adj.)

• ethically low, mean, or disreputable (adj.)