Varpness Tri 3 Final - Vocab #11-15

Abrogate

(v.) to repeal, cancel, declare null and void

Synonyms: annul, revoke

Antonyms: renew, ratify

Ambient

(adj.) completely surrounding, encompassing

Synonyms: -

Antonyms: -

Asperity

(n.) roughness, severity; bitterness or tartness

Synonyms: rigor, harshness

Antonyms: mildness, blandness, softness, lenience

Burnish

(v.) to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish; (n.) gloss, brightness, luster

Synonyms: (v.) shine, buff

Antonyms: (v.) dull, abrade

Cabal

(n.) a small group working in secret

Synonyms: ring, gang, plot, conspiracy

Antonyms: -

Delectable

(adj.) delightful, highly enjoyable; deliciously flavored, savory; (n.) an appealing or appetizing food or dish

Synonyms: (adj.) scrumptious

Antonyms: (adj.) repugnant, repulsive, distasteful

Deprecate

(v.) to expres mild disapproval; to belittle

Synonyms: deplore, frown upon

Antonyms: smile on, approve

Detritus

(n.) loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration or wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction

Synonyms: wreckage, ruins, rubble

Antonyms: -

Ebullient

(adj.) overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling

Synonyms: exhilarated, elated

Antonyms: gloomy, morose, sullen, apathetic, blasé

Eclectic

(adj.) draw from different sources; (n.) one whose beliefs are drawn from various sources

Synonyms: (adj.) selective, synthetic, pick-and-choose

Antonyms: (adj.) uniform, monolithic

Flaccid

(adj.) limp, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness

Synonyms: soft, flabby;

Antonyms: hard, solid

Impecunious

(adj.) having little or no money

Synonyms: impoverished, indigent

Antonyms: affluent, wealthy, prosperous, rich

Inexorable

(adj.) inflexible, beyond influence; relentless, unyielding

Synonyms: ineluctable, obdurate

Antonyms: avoidable, yielding, pliant

Moribund

(adj.) dying, on the way out

Synonyms: obsolescent;

Antonyms: thriving

Necromancer

(n.) one who claims to reveal or influence the future through magic, especially communication with the dead; in general, a magician or wizard

Synonyms: sorcerer, conjurer

Antonyms: -

Onerous

(adj.) burdensome; involving hardship or difficulty

Synonyms: weighty;

Antonyms: light, easy, undemanding, untaxing

Rife

(adj.) common, prevalent, widespread, happening often, full, abounding; plentiful, abundant, replete

Synonyms: -

Antonyms: devoid of, lacking

Rudiments

(n. pl.) the parts of any subject or discipline that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything

Synonyms: basics, fundamentals

Antonyms: -

Sequester

(v.) to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody

Synonyms: segregate, isolat, closet

Antonyms: -

Winnow

(v.) to get rid of something unwanted, delete; to sift through to obtain what is desirable; to remove the chaff from the wheat by blowing air on it; to blow on, fan

Synonyms: sift, strain, filter, sort

Antonyms: -

aesthetic

(adj.) pertaining to beauty; sensitive or responsive to beauty

defunct

(adj.) no longer in existence or functioning, dead

discomfit

(v.) to frustrate, thrawt, or defeat; to confuse, perplex, or embarrass

espouse

(v.) to take up and support; to become attatched to, adopt; to marry

fetish

(n.) an object believed to have magical powers; an object of unreasoning devotion or reverence

gregarious

(adj.) living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others

hapless

(adj.) marked by a persistent absence of good luck

impeccable

(adj.) faultless, beyond criticism or blame

importune

(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently

interpolate

(v.) to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction

irreparable

(adj.) incapable or being repaired or rectified

laconic

(adj.) concise, using few words

languish

(v.) to become weak, feeble, or dull; to droop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect

mendacious

(adj.) given to lying or deception; untrue

nadir

(n.) the lowest point

omnipresent

(adj.) present in all places at all times

perfunctory

(adj.) done in a superficial or halfhearted manner; without interest or enthusiasm

plaintive

(adj.) expressive of sorrow or woe, melancholy

requite

(v.) to make suitable repayment, as for a kindness, service, or favor; to make retaliation, as for an injury or wrong; to reciprocate

tantamount

(adj.) equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect

Abstruse

(adj.) extremely difficult to understand

SYN: arcane, recondite, occult

ANT: simple, straightforward

Affront

(n.) an open or intentional insult; a slight; (v.) to insult to one's face in defiance, confront

SYN: (n.) offense; (v.) offend

ANT: (n., v.) compliment, praise

Canard

(n.) a false rumor, fabricated story

SYN: hoax

Captious

(adj. ) excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up

SYN: faultfinding, carping

ANT: uncritical

Cognizant

(adj.) aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction

SYN: acquainted

ANT: unaware, unconscious, oblivious

Contrite

(adj.) regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent

SYN: remorseful, rueful

ANT: unapologetic, impenitent

Cynosure

(n.) the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct

SYN: focus

Decorous

(adj.) well behaved, dignified, socially proper

SYN: seemly, becoming, tasteful

ANT: unbecoming, improper, tasteless

Deign

(v.) to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend

SYN: deem

Desiccated

(adj., part.) thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting

SYN: dehydrated, shriveled

ANT: sodden, waterlogged, drenched

Efficacy

(n.) the power to produce a desired result

SYN: effectiveness, potency, reliability

ANT: impotence

Engender

(v.) to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form

SYN: generate, cause, form

ANT: stop, deter

Ethereal

(adj.) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)

SYN: heavenly, celestial, gossamer

ANT: infernal, hellish, thick, heavy

Facade

(n.) the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind)

SYN: exterior, surface, mask

ANT: interior

Ghoulish

(adj.) revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead

SYN: barbarous, monstrous

Incongruous

(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible

SYN: discordant

ANT: compatible, harmonious, consistent

Machination

(n.) a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end

SYN: plot, maneuver

Mesmerize

(v.) to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch

Opprobrium

(n.) disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach

SYN: infamy, dishonor, odium

ANT: acclaim, honor, glory, renown

Putative

(adj.) generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred

SYN: supposed, presumed

ANT: corroborated, confirmed

Beatific

(adj.) blissful; rendering or making blessed
SYN: rapturous, ecstatic
ANT: disconsolate, dejected, doleful

Behemoth

(n.) a creature of enormous size, power, or appearance
SYN: whale, elephant, colossus
ANT: dwarf, pygmy, midget

Blandishment

(n., often pl.) anything designed to flatter or coax; sweet talk
SYN: allurement, cajolery
ANT: intimidation

Cacophonous

(adj.) harsh-sounding, raucous, discordant, dissonant
ANT: harmonious, melodious, mellifuous

Chicanery

(n.) trickery, deceptive practices or tactics, double-dealing
ANT: fair dealing

Consign

(v.) to give over to another's care, charge, or control; to entrust, deliver; to set apart for a special use
SYN: remit, convey

Coup

(n.) a highly successful stroke, masterstroke, act, plan, or stratagem; a sudden takeover of power or leadership
ANT: blunder, faux pas, gaffe

Euphemism

(n.) a mild or inoffensive expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one; a substitute

Febrile

(adj.) feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever; frenetic
ANT: leisurely

Gainsay

(v.) to deny, contradict, controvert; to dispute, oppose
ANT: confirm, corroborate, support, admit

Imminent

(adj.) about to happen, threatening
SYN: looming
ANT: distant, remote, faraway

Innate

(adj.) natural, inborn, inherent; built-in
SYN: congenital
ANT: learned, acquired, extrinsic, accidental

Loath

(adj.) unwilling, reluctant, disinclined
SYN: averse, indisposed
ANT: eager, inclined

Manifest

(adj.) clear, evident to the eyes or mind; (v.) to show plainly, exhibit, evince; (n.) a list of cargo and/or passengers
SYN: (adj.) apparent; (v.) reveal, disclose
ANT: (adj.) unrevealed, hidden; (v.) hide, conceal

Minutiae

(pl. n) small or trivial details, trifling matters
SYN: trifles
ANT: essentials

Moratorium

(n.) a suspension of activity; an official waiting period; an authorized period of delay
SYN: postponement, stoppage
ANT: escalation

Nostrum

(n.) an alleged cure-all; a remedy or scheme of questionable effectiveness
SYN: elixir

Pariah

(n.) one who is rejected by a social group or organization
SYN: untouchable, persona non grata

Visionary

(adj.) not practical, lacking in realism; having the nature of a fantasy or dream; (n.) one given to far-fetched ideas; a dreamer or seer characterized by vision or foresight
SYN: (adj.) utopian, idealistic, impractical
ANT: (adj.) practical

Wizened

(adj., part) dry, shrunken, and wrinkled (often as the result of aging)
SYN: withered, shriveled
ANT: bloated, distended

amenity

that which is pleasant or agreeable, attractive features, customs

Antonyms, unpleasantness, disagreeableness

aperture

the opening, gap, hole, orifice

Antonyms, closure blockage, occlusion

dissidence

a difference of opinion, discontent

Synonyms: disagreement, dissent, disaffection

Antonyms: agreement, harmony, concord

epicurean

devoted to the pursuit of pleasure: fond of good food, comfort, and ease, with discriminating tastes, a person with discriminating tastes

Synonyms: hedonistic, sybaritic, discriminating

Antonyms: ascetic, self-denying, abstemious

improvident

not thrifty, failing to plan ahead

Synonyms: prodigal, spendthrift, extravagant

Antonyms: thrifty, frugal, economical, cautious

iniquity

wickedness, sin, a grossly immoral act

Synonyms: evil, crime

Antonyms probity, rectitude, uprightness

inviolable

sacred, of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned

Synonyms: sacrosanct, unassailable

Antonyms: vulnerable, assailable

mutable

open to or capable of change, fickle

Synonyms: changeable, variable

Antonyms: changeless, steadfast, constant

nascent

just beginning to exist or develop, having just come into existence

Synonyms: budding, incipient, embryonic

Antonyms: dying moribund, senescent

obeisance

a deep bow or other body movement indicating respect or submission, deference, homage

Synonyms: respect, honor

Antonyms: disrespect, irreverence, disregard

panegyric

formal or elaborate praise, a tribute

Synonyms: encomium, testimonial

Antonyms: diatribe, tirade, philippic

pillory

a device for publicly punishing offenders, a means for exposing one to public contempt or ridicule,

Antonyms: praise, extol, laud, acclaim

pittance

a woefully meager allowance, wage or portion

Synonyms: modicum, trifle

Antonyms: fortune

presage

to foreshadow or point to a future event, to predict, a warning or indication of the future

Synonyms: augur, portend, foretell

progeny

descendants, offspring, children, followers, disciples

Synonyms: issue, posterity

Antonyms: ancestors, forebears, antecedents

promulgate

to proclaim or issue officially, to make known far and wide

Synonyms: announce

Antonyms: withdraw, retract, abrogate, nullify

rectitude

uprightness, righteousness, correctness

Synonyms: probity, integrity

Antonyms iniquity, heinousness

restive

restless, hard to manage, balky

Synonyms: uneasy, figety, recalcitrant

Antonyms: serene, unruffled, docile

seraphic

angelic, heavenly, celestial

Synonyms: cherubic

Antonyms: devilish, impish

subsist

to have existence, to remain alive, manage to make a living or maintain life: to persist or continue

Synonyms: last, survive, sustain