Sadlier Oxford Level F Unit 9

abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

SYNONYMS: diminish, decrease, subside, let up

ANTONYMS: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

adulation

(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive

SYNONYMS: adoration, idolization, hero-worship

ANTONYMS: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium

anathema

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)

SYNONYMS: malediction, imprecation, abomination

ANTONYMS: benediction, blessing

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

SYNONYMS: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily

ANTONYMS: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

avarice

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

SYNONYMS: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

culpable

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

SYNONYMS: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy

ANTONYMS: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

dilatory

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

SYNONYMS: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard

ANTONYMS: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

egregious

(adj.) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

SYNONYMS: glaring, flagrant, blatant

ANTONYMS: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling

equivocate

(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

SYNONYMS: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge

ANTONYMS: to speak one's mind plainly

evanescent

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

SYNONYMS: ephemeral, transient, transitory

ANTONYMS: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

irresolute

(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

SYNONYMS: indecisive, vacillating, wavering

ANTONYMS: determined, decisive, unwavering

nebulous

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

SYNONYMS: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate

ANTONYMS: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

novice

(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)

SYNONYMS: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

ANTONYMS: veteran, past master, pro, expert

penury

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

SYNONYMS: destitution, want, indigence

ANTONYMS: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence

pretentious

(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious

SYNONYMS: inflated, ostentatious, affected

ANTONYMS: unassuming, unaffected, modest

recapitulate

(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up

SYNONYMS: review, summarize, sum up, go over

resuscitate

(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

SYNONYMS: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

slovenly

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

SYNONYMS: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax

ANTONYMS: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous

supposition

(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

SYNONYMS: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

torpid

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull

SYNONYMS: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid

ANTONYMS: energetic, dynamic, vigorous