AP Lit Vocab Unit #7

allay

to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve.

allay synonyms

reduce, alleviate, moderate

allay antonyms

aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

bestial

beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

bestial syn

animalistic, loathsome

bestial ant

human, clement, virtuous, upright

convivial

festive, sociable, having fun together, genial

convivial syn

fun-loving, jovial, merry

convivial ant

dour, sullen, unsociable

coterie

a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, a group of people with a common interest.

coterie syn

clique, set

counterpart

a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement

counterpart syn

match

demur

to object or take exception to; an objection

demur syn

protest, object to

demur ant

assent to, consent to, accept, agree to

effrontery

shameless boldness, impudence

effrontery syn

chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek

effrontery ant

shyness, diffidence, timidity

embellish

to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details

embellish syn

garish

embellish ant

strip, mar, disfigure

ephemeral

lasting only a short time, short-lived

ephemeral syn

transient, evanescent, transitory

ephemeral ant

durable, long lasting, permanent, perpetual

felicitous

appropiate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

felicitous syn

fortunate, well-put

felicitous ant

inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy

furtive

done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen

furtive syn

covert, surreptitious

furtive ant

aboveboard, open

garish

glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way

garish syn

gaudy, flashy

garish ant

subdued, muted, understated, quiet

illusory

misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality

illusory syn

specious, spurious, imaginary

illusory ant

actual, real, factual, objective

indigent

needy, impoverished

indigent syn

penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute

indigent ant

affluent, prosperous

inordinate

far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

inordinate syn

exorbitant, extravagant

inordinate ant

reasonable, equitable

jettison

to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome

jettison syn

cast off, discard, dump, junk

jettison ant

conserve, retain, hold, keep

misanthrope

a person who hates or despises people

misanthrope syn

people-hater

pertinacious

very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or set of beliefs; hard to get rud of, refusing to be put off or denied

pertinacious syn

stubborn, determined

picayune

of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

picayune syn

piddling, trifling

picayune ant

important, significant

raiment

clothing, garments

raiment syn

apparel, attire