Membean High School Level 2 - Cade

abrasive

It disturbs the hearer because it's sharp and harsh. Someone who has an ____ manner is unkind and rude, wearing away at you in an irritating fashion.

abstinence

Denying oneself a practice or substance. ___ is the practice of keeping away from or avoiding something you enjoy, such as the physical pleasures of too much food and drink, usually for health or religious reasons.

accentuate

Draw attention to it by emphasizing a particular trait. To ___ something means to emphasize it or to make it more noticeable.

accolade

It is public esteem or honoring of another. When you give another an ____ you show her great praise because you highly approve of or respect something that she has done.

acme

The highest measurement of its existence or action. The ___ of something is its highest point of achievement or excellence.

Synonym: highest point

adage

An ancient proverb. An ___ is an inherited saying or phrase that has been historically used to express a common experience; a proverb.

adept

He is skilled and precise at it. When you are __ at something, you are very good, skillful, or talented at it.

Synonym: very able

adherent

A devoted follower of a cause. An ___ is a supporter or follower of a leader or a cause.

Synonym: supporter

adjunct

They are included within a larger whole. An __ is something or someone that is added to or joined to something that is larger or more important.

admonish

To voice a warning or caution. When you ___ someone you tell him gently but with seriousness that he has done something wrong, thereby cautioning him and advising him not to do it again.

Synonym: warn

adulterate

To combine it with lesser elements.If you ____ something you lessen its quality by adding inferior ingredients or elements to it.

Synonym: make impure

advocate

To speak on behalf of its occurrence. When you ___ a plan or action you publicly push for implementing it.

Synonym: support

affinity

It is an overall attraction to something or someone. When you have an ___ for something, you have a natural liking for or connection to it.

affluence

A lifestyle including great wealth. ___ is the state of having a lot of money and many possessions, granting one a high standard of living.

Synonym: wealth

2:aggregate

A final sum or total reached by combining different portions or amounts.An aggregate is the final or sum total after many different amounts or scores have been added together.

Synonym: collection

2:alleviate

To lessen its intensity.If you alleviate pain or suffering, you make it less intense or severe.

Synonym: relieve

2:amass

It means to build them up or assemble them.When you amass things, you gather them together or accumulate them.

Synonym: gather

2:amenable

She accepts an event or task with calm.If you are amenable to doing something you willingly accept it without arguing.

Synonym: willing

2:amenity

Services and facilities that make a dwelling more liveable. Amenities are things that make a place comfortable or easy to live in, such as hot water, bathrooms, and sports facilities.

Synonym: pleasant items

amicable

It is peaceable with no anger or hard feelings. An ____ person is very friendly and agreeable towards others.

Synonym: friendly

2:amnesty

It entails a release from consequences for political criminal activity.The granting of an amnesty is forgiveness by a government for criminal political offenses.

Synonym: pardon

2:amorphous

Its shape is blurry, its edges hard to define.Something that is amorphous has no clear shape, boundaries, or structure.

Synonym: shapeless

anarchy

A state of __ occurs when there is no organization or order, especially when no effective government exists.

2:anoint

To place sacred oil upon him or her as part of a ceremony. If you anoint someone you put oil on a part of his body, usually as part of a religious ceremony.To anoint someone is to appoint that person to an important job.

Synonym: bless with oil

2:antagonist

One who is a rival or competitor against another.Your antagonist is an opponent in a competition or battle.

Synonym: opponent

2:antiquated

It is considered too old and less than useful.If you describe something as antiquated you are critical of it because it is old-fashioned and not suitable to modern needs or conditions.

Synonym: obsolete

2:apathy

A complete lack of interest.Apathy is the lack of interest or unenthusiastic involvement in an activity where one makes no effort to change or improve it at all.

Synonym: not caring

2:apex

The highest point of something.The apex of anything, such as an organization or system, is its highest part or most important position.

Synonym: top

2:appease

That person is offered terms of peace to soothe him.When you appease someone's needs, you either satisfy them or make peace with them.

Synonym: pacify

2:apportion

To decide how much is given out and to whom.When you apportion something such as blame or money you decide how it should be shared amongst various people.

Synonym: divide

appraisal

It is an estimation of the value of something. When someone offers an _____ of something or someone, one indicates either the value of it or the worth of what a person has accomplished.

Synonym: judgement

arbiter

She is able to act as a go-between in a dispute or argument. An ____ acts as a go-between who can settle an argument or provide advice in a dispute.

Synonym: judge

2:archaic

When it is no longer considered relevant and with the times. Something that is archaic is out of date or not currently used any more because it is no longer considered useful or efficient.Something archaic can also be something ancient, referring to a primitive or earlier period of time.

Synonym: old

2:articulate

TThe person speaks clearly and well.If you describe someone as articulate you mean that she is able to express her thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectively.

Synonym: speaking clearly

2:assimilate

To get used to a new place or group. When you assimilate an idea you completely understand it and can use it.When a group of people such as immigrants are assimilated into a country or group they become part of it and are accepted by the people in it.

Synonym: absorb

2:astute

They think that you understand situations quickly and are a sharp observer.When you describe someone as astute you think she quickly understands situations or behavior and uses it to her advantage.

Synonym: perceptive

2:atrocious

It is very bad or monstrous.An atrocious deed is outrageously bad, extremely evil, or shocking in its wrongness.

Synonym: evil

2:autonomous

It works in a self-directed and self-governed way.An autonomous person makes her own decisions without being influenced by anyone else; an autonomous country or organization is independent and has the power to govern itself.

Synonym: independent

2:avarice

The extreme desire to gather wealth and possessions.Avarice is the extremely strong desire to have a lot of money and possessions.

Synonym: extreme greed

2:aversion

It is an extreme dislike of it.. An aversion to something is a strong dislike for or forceful opposition to it.

Synonym: strong dislike

2:barrage

It is a steady stream of something.A barrage of something, such as words or gunfire, is an attacking stream that bursts steadily upon you.

Synonym: assault

2:belittle

You make it seem of small importance.When you belittle something, such as an accomplishment, you make it seem little, of small importance, or insignificant.

Synonym: diminish

2:bequeath

One leaves it to another after one has left this life.When you bequeath something to someone, you hand it down to her in a will, or pass it on from one generation to the next.

Synonym: leave

2:bereaved

That person has recently lost a loved one.A bereaved person is someone whose close friend or relative has recently died.

Synonym: deprived

2:besiege

It means to bother her or come at her from all sides.When a city is besieged, it is surrounded by enemy forces.When a person is besieged, she is excessively bothered or overwhelmed by questions or the like.

Synonym: surround

2:bigotry

The voicing of immovable, negative opinions.Bigotry is the expression of strong and unreasonable opinions without accepting or tolerating opposing views.

Synonym: intolerance

2:blight

Something that ruins or destroys.Something is a blight if it spoils or damages things severely; blight is often used to describe something that ruins or kills crops.

Synonym: disease

2:bolster

To provide support.When you bolster something or someone you offer support in a moment of need.

Synonym: help

2:boon

It is an advantage or benefit granted to someone.When you are granted a boon, you are given a special gift or favor that acts as a great benefit to you.

Synonym: bonus

2:buttress

To reinforce and strengthen it.When you buttress an argument, idea, or even a building, you make it stronger by providing support.

Synonym: support

2:cadence

A sound pattern.A cadence is a repeated pattern of movement or sound, such as the way someone's voice rises and falls when reading something out loud.

Synonym: rhythm

2:caliber

The value or worthiness of someone's achievement.The caliber of a person is the level or quality of her ability, intelligence, and other talents.

Synonym: degree of worth

2:callous

That person speaks or acts in an insensitive and hardened way.A callous person or attitude is cruel, uncaring, and shows no concern for others whatsoever.

Synonym: uncaring

captivate

She has been charmed or gripped by it. When you are ___d by someone or something you are enchanted, fascinated, or delighted by him, her, or it.

2:caricature

AA comical drawing that exaggerates the subject's physical traits.A caricature of someone is an exaggerated drawing or description that is designed to make that person look silly; a caricature can also be an exaggerated description of a situation or event.

Synonym: comic distortion

2:catalyst

It is something that spurs on activity.A catalyst is an agent that enacts change, such as speeding up a chemical reaction or causing an event to occur.

Synonym: stimulus

2:centenary

It endures for one century.A centenary period has lasted one-hundred years.

Synonym: of a century

chronic

When it causes ever-present, long-lasting suffering. A ____ illness or pain is serious and lasts for a long time; a ____ problem is always happening or returning and is very difficult to solve.

2:circumvent

To avoid or go around it.If you circumvent something, such as a rule or restriction, you try to get around it in a clever and perhaps dishonest way.

Synonym: avoid

2:clique

A group of people who stay together but exclude and often insult others.A clique is a group of people who spend a lot of time together and tend to be unfriendly towards people who are not part of their group.

Synonym: innner circle

cognitive

Those abilities having to do with the intellect or ability to think. ___ describes those things related to judgment, memory, and other mental processes of knowing.

Synonym: intellectual

2:cohesive

It is one that sticks together in a tight structure.. A cohesive argument is one that sticks together, working as a consistent, unified whole.

Synonym: unified

2:commendation

It is approval and credit from another for work well done.A commendation is a giving of praise to another who has won approval for excellent work.

Synonym: honor

2:complacent

To be self-assured and puffed up about one's abilities.Complacent persons are too confident and relaxed because they think that they can deal with a situation easily, although this may not be true.

Synonym: self-assured

2:complement

It finishes or rounds something off in order to make it the best it can be.. A complement to something else is that which finishes it or brings it into a fuller state.

Synonym: companion

2:compliant

She readily does what she is asked to do with no questions asked.A compliant person is readily willing to do that which is asked of him.

Synonym: obedient

2:compulsion

It is a pressure or urge to do something.If you feel a compulsion to do something, you feel like you must do it.

Synonym: force

2:condescend

To do something which shows your superiority.When people condescend they behave in ways that show that they are supposedly more important or intelligent than other people.

Synonym: stoop

2:condone

To allow despite some hesitation.If you condone someone's behavior you go along with it and provide silent support for it despite doubts about it.

Synonym: forgive

conducive

It contributes toward it in a useful way. A ___ agent is something that is favorable or helpful in getting something to happen.

Synonym: helpful

2:confidant

He is a person close to you with whom you can speak freely.A confidant is a close and trusted friend to whom you can tell secret matters of importance and rest assured that they will be kept safe.

Synonym: trusted person

2:confound

To be rattled, baffled, or dumbfoundedIf something confounds you, it makes you feel surprised and confused, often because it does not meet your predefined expectations.

Synonym: confuse

2:congenial

One that is enjoyable and compatible.A congenial person, place, or environment is pleasant, friendly, and enjoyable.

Synonym: friendly

conjure

You try to call upon it. When you try to ____ up images of the past you call upon them or summon them in your mind by imagining them.

Synonym: summon

2:connoisseur

One who is a talented authority and judge of the arts.A connoisseur is someone who is an appreciative, informed, and knowledgeable judge of the fine arts; he or she can also just have excellent or perceptive taste in the fine arts without being an expert.

Synonym: authority

contemptible

It is unworthy, wretched, and mean. A ____ act is shameful, disgraceful, and worthy of scorn.

Synonym: shameful

contentious

When that person is bad-tempered and likes to pick fights. When someone is ____ he is argumentative and likely to provoke a fight.

Synonym: argumentative

2:contingent

When it cannot happen without it. If something is contingent upon something else, the first thing depends on the second in order to happen or exist.Contingent plans are possible and probably will occur, but not with absolute certainty.

Synonym: dependent

2:contrived

It is unnatural or false.When something is contrived it is obviously thought about or planned beforehand, although it tries to be passed off as not being so.

Synonym: unnatural

2:copious

When there is a great deal of it.A copious amount of something is a very large amount of it.

Synonym: abundant

2:correlate

It corresponds with it.When you correlate two things you compare, associate, or equate them together in some way.

Synonym: relate

2:corrugated

It is rough and filled with many parallel creases.Something that is corrugated has parallel ridges, troughs, or grooves in it.

Synonym: ribbed

2:cosmopolitan

It exhibits qualities and characteristics from around the globe.A cosmopolitan area represents large cultural diversity and people from around the globe; a cosmopolitan person is broad-minded and wise in the ways of the world.

Synonym: cultured

2:covert

Something that is veiled and cloaked.Covert activities or situations are secret and hidden.

Synonym: hidden

2:crescendo

AAn increase in volume and/or intensity.If something is reaching a crescendo it means that it is getting louder and louder or increasing in intensity and is about to reach its peak strength.

Synonym: increasing

2:culinary

It is the ability to cook food well.One who has high culinary skills is able to cook food very well.

Synonym: of cooking

2:curtail

To trim or decrease it.If you curtail something you reduce or limit it.

Synonym: cut short

2:deadlock

It has reached a point where it can go no further.When a contest is in a deadlock, the contestants have come to a complete stop because the score of the game is completely tied.

Synonym: standstill

2:decadent

To cultivate pleasure in excess. A decadent person has low moral standards and is more interested in pleasure than serious matters.

Synonym: corrupt

2:decimate

To largely ruin and finish it off. If you decimate something you destroy a large part of it, reducing its size and effectiveness greatly.

Synonym: destroy

2:definitive

It is one that is of the highest authority and therefore cannot be questioned.A definitive opinion on an issue cannot be challenged, and therefore is the final word or the most authoritative pronouncement on that issue.

Synonym: final

2:defunct

It is no longer operable.Something that is defunct is no longer in existence, or does not function.

Synonym: gone

2:deluge

An enormous drenching downpour.A deluge is a sudden, heavy downfall of rain; a deluge can also be a large number of things such as papers or e-mails that someone gets all at the same time, making them very difficult to handle.

Synonym: downpour

demarcation

It is a clear limit between one thing and another. ____ is the process of setting boundaries or limits; a ____ is a line that provides a distinct separation between two things.

Synonym: boundary

2:demented

He is unbalanced in his mind, like a lunatic.A demented person is not in his right mind, so he is crazy, insane, and highly irrational.

Synonym: crazy

2:demise

It is his death.A demise can be the death of someone or the slow end of something.

Synonym: downfall

demographic

It details a specific part of a human population. A _____ study describes the characteristics of part of a population which is usually used for purposes of marketing.

Synonym: statistic

2:deplete

It means to lessen the amount of it. When you deplete a supply of something you use it up or lessen its amount over a given period of time.

Synonym: uyse up

2:derogatory

It is insulting and fault-finding.A derogatory statement about another person is highly offensive, critical, uncomplimentary, and often insulting.

Synonym: offensive

2:destitute

He is without the necessary funds to provide even the bare necessities for himself.Someone who is destitute lives in extreme poverty, and thus lacks the basic necessities of life.

Synonym: lacking