vocab 7-9

allay (definition)

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

allay (synonyms)

reduce, alleviate, moderate

allay (antonyms)

aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

bestial (definition)

adj. beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

bestial (synonyms)

animalistic, loathsome

bestial (antonyms)

human, clement, virtuous, upright

convivial (definition)

adj. festive, sociable, having fun together, genial

convivial (synonyms)

fun-loving, jovial, merry

convivial (antonyms)

dour, sullen, unsociable

coterie (definition)

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

coterie (synonym)

clique, set

counterpart (definition)

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

counterpart (synonyms)

match

demur (definition)

v. to object or take exception to; n. an objection

demur (synonyms)

protest, object to

demur (antonyms)

assent to, consent to, accept, agree to

effrontery (definition)

n. shameless boldness, impudence

effrontery (synonyms)

chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek

effrontery (antonyms)

shyness, diffidence, timidity

embellish (definition)

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

embellish (synonyms)

garnish

embellish (antonyms)

strip, mar, disfigure

ephemeral (definition)

adj. lasting only a brief time; short-lived

ephemeral (synonyms)

transient, evanescent, transitory

ephemeral (antonyms)

durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual

felicitous (definition)

adj. appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

felicitous (synonyms)

fortunate, well-put

felicitous (antonyms)

inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy

furtive (definition)

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

furtive (synonyms)

covert, surreptitious

furtive (antonyms)

aboveboard, open

garish (definition)

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

garish (synonyms)

gaudy, flashy, tawdry

garish (antonyms)

subdued, muted, understated, quiet

illusory (definition)

adj. misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality

illusory (synonyms)

specious, spurious, imaginary

illusory (antonyms)

actual, real, factual, objective

indigent (definition)

adj. needy, impoverished

indigent (synonyms)

penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute

indigent (antonyms)

affluent, prosperous

inordinate (definition)

adj. far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

inordinate (synonyms)

exorbitant, extravagant

inordinate (antonyms)

reasonable, equitable

jettison (definition)

v. to cast overboard; to discard

jettison (synonyms)

cast off, discard, dump, junk

jettison (antonyms)

conserve, retain, hold on to, keep

misanthrope (definition)

n.. a person who hates or despises people

misanthrope (synonyms)

people-hater

pertinacious (definition)

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

pertinacious (synonyms)

stubborn, determined

picayune (definition)

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

picayune (synonyms)

piddling, trifling

picayune (antonyms)

important, significant, huge, gigantic

raiment (definition)

n. clothing, garments

raiment (synonyms)

apparel, attire

allege (definition)

v. to assert without proof or confirmation

allege (synonym)

contend

allege (antonym)

prove

arrant (definition)

adj. thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant

arrant (synonyms)

egregious, unmitigated

badinage (definition)

n. light and playful conversation

badinage (synonyms)

banter, persiflage, repartee

badinage (antonyms)

sermon

conciliate (definition)

v. to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent

conciliate (synonyms)

mollify, propitiate

conciliate (antonyms)

antagonize, alienate, estrange

countermand (definition)

v. to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first

countermand (synonyms)

recall, revoke

countermand (antonyms)

reaffirm, reassert

echelon (definition)

n. one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement

echelon (synonyms)

rank

exacerbate (definition)

v. to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful

exacerbate (synonyms)

intensify, worsen

exacerbate (antonyms)

alleviate, mitigate, ameliorate

fatuous (definition)

adj. foolish in a self-satisfied way

fatuous (synonyms)

silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous

fatuous (antonyms)

intelligent, perceptive, bright

irrefutable (definition)

impossible to disprove; beyond argument

irrefutable (synonyms)

indisputable, incontrovertible, undeniable

irrefutable (antonyms)

disputable, indefensible, untenable

juggernaut (definition)

n. a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

lackadaisical (definition)

adj. lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

lackadaisical (synonyms)

indolent, indifferent, lax

lackadaisical (antonyms)

energetic, vigorous, wholehearted

litany (definition)

n. a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list

litany (synonyms)

catalog, megillah

macabre (definition)

adj. grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

macabre (synonyms)

grim, ghoulish

paucity (definition)

n. an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth

paucity (synonyms)

lack

paucity (antonyms)

glut, plenitude, deluge

portend (definition)

v. to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of

portend (synonyms)

bode, foretell, suggest

raze (definition)

v. to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out

raze (synonyms)

pull down, demolish, shave off

raze (antonyms)

build, construct, raise, erect

recant (definition)

v. to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

recant (synonyms)

repudiate, disavow

recant (antonyms)

reassert

saturate (definition)

v. to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully