Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary: Level G: Unit 7

allay

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

SYN: reduce, alleviate, moderate

ANT: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

bestial

(adj.) beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

SYN: animalistic, loathsome

ANT: human, clement, virtuous, upright

convivial

(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial

SYN: fun-loving, jovial, merry

ANT: dour, sullen, unsociable

coterie

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

SYN: clique, set

counterpart

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

SYN: match

demur

(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection

SYN: (v.) protest, object to

ANT: (v.) assent to, consent to, accept, agree to

effrontery

(n.) shameless boldness, impudence

SYN: chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek

ANT: shyness, diffidence, timidity

embellish

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

SYN: garnish

ANT: strip, mar, disfigure

ephemeral

(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived

SYN: transient, evanescent, transitory

ANT: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual

felicitous

(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

SYN: fortunate, well-put

ANT: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy

furtive

(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen

SYN: covert, surreptitious

ANT: aboveboard, open

garish

(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way

SYN: gaudy, flashy, tawdry

ANT: subdued, muted, understated, quiet

illusory

(adj.) misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality

SYN: specious, spurious, imaginary

ANT: actual, real, factual, objective

indigent

(adj.) needy, impoverished

SYN: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute

ANT: affluent, prosperous

inordinate

(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

SYN: exorbitant, extravagant

ANT: reasonable, equitable

jettison

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

SYN: cast off, discard, dump, junk

ANT: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep

misanthrope

(n.) a person who hates or despises people

SYN: 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

SYN: stubborn, determined

picayune

(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

SYN: piddling, trifling

ANT: important, significant, huge, gigantic

raiment

(n.) clothing, garments

SYN: apparel, attire