UNIT 12

appreciable

(adj) sufficient to be noticed or measured (syn) perceptible, detectable, considerable (ant) slight, trivial, inconsequential, negligible

autocratic

(adj) absolute in power or authority (syn) domineering, dictatorial, tyrannical, bossy (ant) democratic, egalitarian, lenient, permissive, indulgent

blanch

(v) to remove the color from; to make or turn pale; to parboil (syn) bleach, drain, wash out, go white (ant) color, dye, infuse, bluch, flush

blasphemy

(n) an act, utterance, or writing showing contempt for something sacred (syn) curse, profanity, sacrilege, imprecation (ant) reverence, veneration, devotion, respect

brawny

(adj) strong, muscular (syn) broad-shouldered, strapping, husky, burly (ant) slight, frail, delicate, puny

concerted

(adj) planned and performed in cooperation with others (syn) joint, cooperative, combined, consolidated (ant) unorganized, unilateral, diffused

contend

(v) to fight, struggle; to compete, to argue (syn) battle, dispute, vie, maintain, assert (ant) yield, acquiesce, submit, relinquish

humane

(adj) kind, merciful (syn) sympathetic, compassionate, kindhearted (ant) cruel, merciless, unfeeling, brutal, heartless

illustrious

(adj) very famous, distinguished (syn) eminent, renowned, prominent, celebrated (ant) unknown, obscure, nameless, anonymous

intolerable

(adj) unbearable (syn) insufferable, unendurable, outrageous (ant) enjoyable, pleasant, pleasing

irreverent

(adj) disrespectful (syn) profane, impious, sacrilegious, flippant (ant) awed, respectful, devout, pious, deferential

laborious

(adj) not easy, requiring hard work; hardworking (syn) arduous, difficult, strenuous, wearisome (ant) easy, effortless, facile

lithe

(adj) bending easily, limber (syn) supple, flexible, pliant, lissome (ant) stiff, rigid, inflexible, taut

maltreat

(v) to abuse, use roughly or crudely (syn) misuse, mistreat, harm, aggrieve (ant) coddle, pamper, indulge

ponder

(v) to consider carefully, reflect on (syn) think over, ruminate, contemplate

subversive

(adj) intended to undermine or overthrow, (n) one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system (syn) (adj) treasonous, traitorous; (n) a revolutionary (ant) (adj) patriotic, loyal, true-blue

synthetic

(adj) made or put together by people; (n) something artificial (syn) (adj) artificial, ersatz (ant) (adj) natural, genuine

temperate

(adj) mild, moderate (syn) composed, balanced, mellow, fair (ant) immoderate, extreme, excessive, harsh

venomous

(adj) poisonous; spiteful, mean (syn) nasty, malicious, virulent, malevolent (ant) harmless, innocuous, benign

wily

(adj) sly, shrewd, cunning (syn) clever, tricky, artful, foxy, cagey (ant) dull-witted, dense, artless, straightforward