Vocabulary Workshop Level G Units 7-9

allege

(v.) to assert without proof or confirmation

syn: claim, contend

ant: prove, deny

arrant

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

syn: egregious, unmitigated

badinage

(n.) light and playful conversation

syn: banter, persiflage, repartee

ant: sermon

conciliate

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

syn: placate, mollify, propitiate

ant: antagonize, alienate, estrange

countermand

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

syn: recall, revoke

ant: reaffirm, reassert

echelon

(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a step-like formation or arrangement

syn: level, rank

exacerbate

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

syn: aggravate, intensify, worsen

ant: alleviate, mitigate, ameliorate

fatuous

(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way

syn: silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous

ant: sensible, intelligent, perceptive, bright

irrefutable

(adj.) impossible to disprove; beyond argument

syn: indisputable, incontrovertible, undeniable

ant: disputable, indefensible, untenable

juggernaut

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

lackadaisical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

syn: listless, indolent, indifferent, lax

ant: energetic, vigorous, wholehearted

litany

(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

syn: rigmarole, catalog, megillah

macabre

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

syn: grotesque, grim, ghoulish

paucity

(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth

syn: lack

ant: abundance, glut, plenitude, deluge

portend

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

syn: bode, foretell, foreshadow, suggest

raze

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

syn: pull down, demolish, shave off

ant: build, construct, raise, erect

recant

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

syn: repudiate, disavow

ant: reaffirm, reassert

saturate

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

syn: permeate, drench, flood, imbue

ant: drain

saturnine

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

syn: sullen, morose

ant: lighthearted, cheerful, vivacious

slough

(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression

syn: shed, slog

ant: take on, acquire, assume

allay

(v) To calm or pacify, set to rest; To lessen or relieve

s-Reduce, Alleviate, Moderate

a- Aggravate, Exacerbate, Intensify

bestial

(adj) Beastlike; Beastly, brutal; Subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

s- Animal, Deraved, Loathsome

a- Human, Humane, Clement, Virtuous, Upright

convivial

(adj) Festive, Sociable, Having fun together, Genial

s- Fun-loving, Jovial, Merry

a-Dour, Grim, Sullen, Unsociable

coterie

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

counterpart

(n) A person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; A complement

s- Match

demur

(v) To object or take exception to; (n) An objection

s- (v) Protest, Object to

a- (v) Assent to, Consent to, Accept, Agree to

effrontery

(n) Shameless boldness, impudence

s- Gall, Chutzpah, Nerve, Impertinence, Cheek

a- Shyness, Diffidence, Timidity

embellish

(v) To decorate, adorn, touch up; To improve by adding details

s- Ornament, Garnish

a- Strip, Mar, Disfigure

ephemeral

(adj) Lasting only a short time, short-lived

s- Fleeting, Transient, Evanescent, Transitory

a- Durable, Long-lasting, Permanent, Perpetual

felicitous

(adj) Appropriate, apt, well chosen; Marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

s- Fortunate, well-put

a- Inappropriate, Inept, Graceless, Unhappy

furtive

(adj) Done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; Stolen

s-Clandestine, Covert, Surreptitious

a- Forthright, Aboveboard, Open

garish

(adj) Glaring; Tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way

s- Gaudy, Flashy, Tawdry

a-Subdued, Muted, Understated, Quiet

illusory

(adj) Misleading, deceptive; Lacking in or not based on reality

s- Specious, Spurious, Fanciful, Imaginary

a- Actual, Real, Factual, Objective

indigent

(adj) Needy, impoverished:: Penniless, Poverty-stricken, Destitute:::: Wealthy, Affluent, Prosperous

inordinate

(adj) Far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

s- Exorbitant, Extravagant

a- Moderate, Reasonable, Equitable

jettison

(v) To cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome

s- Cast off, Discard, Dump, Junk, Abandon

a- Conserve, Retain, Hold on to, Keep

misanthrope

(n) A person who hates or despises people

s- People-hater

pertinacious

(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

s- Stubborn, Dogged, Determined

picayune

(adj) Of little value or importance, paltry, measly, Concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

s- Inconsequential, Piddling, Trifling

a- Important, Significant, Huge, Gigantic

raiment

(n) Clothing, garments

s- Apparel, Attire

acclamation

(n) A shout of welcome; An overwhelming verbal vote of approval

s- Ovation, Cheering, Plaudits

a- Booing, Hissing, Jeers, Catcalls

bucolic

(adj) Characteristic of the countryside, rural; Relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral

s- Rustic

a- Urban, Metropolitan

calumniate

(v) To slander; To accuse falsely and maliciously

s- Defame, Libel

a- Flatter, Whitewash, Praise

chary

(adj) Extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); Reserved, diffident

s- Wary, Skittish

a- Heedless, Reckless, Incautious

collusion

(n) Secret agreement or cooperation

s- Conspiracy, Plot, Connivance, Cahoots

dilettante

(n) A dabbler in the arts; One who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj) Superficial

s- Amateur, Trifler

a- Professional

imperturbable

(adj) Not easily excited; Emotionally steady

s- Unflappable, Unexcitable, Serene, Unruffled

a- Excitable

increment

(n) An enlargement, increase, addition

s- Accreation, Gain

a- Loss, Reduction, Decrease

mandate

(n) An authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v) To issue such an order

s- (n) Directive

a- (v) Forbid, Ban, Outlaw

paltry

(adj) Trifling, insignificant; Mean, despicable; Inferior, trashy

s- Measly, Meager, Piddling, Trivial

a- Gigantic, Immense, Colossal

paroxysm

(n) A sudden outburst; A spasm, convulsion

s- Fit, Seizure

pedantry

(n) A pretentious display of knowledge; Overly rigid attention to rules and details

s- Nit-picking, Hairsplitting, Pettifoggery

peregrination

(n) The act of traveling; An excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

s- Journey, Wandering, Odyssey

redolent

(adj) Fragrant, smelling strongly; Tending to arouse memories or create an aura

s- Evocative, Reminiscent, Aromatic

a- Unevocative, Odorless

refulgent

(adj) Shining, radiant, resplendent

s- Luminous, Splendid

a- Dim, Dark, Obscure, Dingy, Dull, Murky

shibboleth

(n) A word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; A commonplace saying or truism

s- Catchphrase, Password, Slogan

tyro

(n) A beginner, novice; One with little or no background or skill

s- Neophyte

a- Veteran, Past master, Expert

unremitting

(adj) Not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

s- Constant, Incessant, Unrelenting

a- Desultory, Intermittent

vacillate

(v) To swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; To waver weakly in mind or will

vituperative

(adj) Harshly abusive, severely scolding

s- Abusive, Scurrilous, Insulting

a- Complimentary, Laudatory, Flattering