Sadlier Level G - Unit 10

askance

(adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval [used especially with glances].
synonyms: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically

attenuate

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value.
synonyms: thin out, dilute, water down
antonyms: thicken, strengthen, bolster

benign

(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant.
synonyms: benevolent, salutary, salubrious, harmless
antonyms: malevolent, deleterious

cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism.
synonyms: nitpick, quibble

charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack.
synonyms: fraud, mountebank

decimate

(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of [originally, in the Roman army, ten percent, hence the prefix "deci," as in "decade" or "decimal"].
synonyms: ravage, devastate

foible

(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw.
synonyms: shortcoming, defect, quirk
antonyms: torte, virtue

forgo

(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up.
synonyms: refrain from, renounce
antonyms: indulge in, partake of

fraught

(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by.
synonyms: charged with
antonyms:devoid of, lacking, deficient in

inure

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure.
synonyms: accustom, acclimate

luminous

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating.
synonyms: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous
antonyms: dark, opaque, dim, murky

obsequious

(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons.
synonyms: fawning, serville, sycophantic, mealymouthed
antonyms: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid, frank, independent

obtuse

(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression.
synonyms: stupide, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted
antonyms: acute, perceptive, quick-witted

oscilate

(v) to swing back & forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
synonyms: vibrate, vaccilate.

penitent

(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing.
synonyms: remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry
antonyms: unrepetent, remorseless

peremptory

(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute.
synonyms: high-handed, unconditional
antonyms: irresolute, tentative, mild, unassuming

rebuff

(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check.
synonyms: spurn, repulse, reject, setback
antonyms: accept, welcome

reconnoiter

(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection.
synonyms: scout

shambles

(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess.

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order.
synonyms: intermittent, spasmodic
antonyms: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted