Unit 4 - Vocabulary Workshop Level F

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.)