Unit XII Vocabulary

Abjure

Abjure

(v) to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun

synonyms: forswear, retract, recant, abstain from

antonyms: affirm, avow, aver, profess

acrid

(adj) harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper

synonyms: irritating, stinging, bitter, caustic

antonyms: gentle, soothing, mild

august

(adj) majestic, inspiring admiration and respect

synonyms: stately, dignified, exalted, venerable

antonyms: humble, base, mean, lowly, abject

callous

(adj) emotionally hardened

synonyms: insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinned

antonyms: sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted

clandestine

(adj) secret, concealed, underhanded

synonyms: covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthy

antonyms: open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard

compunction

(n) remorse, regret

synonyms: scruple, qualm, misgiving, contrition

antonyms: shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance

conflagration

(n) a large destructive fire

synonyms: holocaust, wildfire

antonyms: deluge, flood

elated

(adj) in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased

synonyms: overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pink

antonyms: depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue

indelible

(adj) not able to be erased or removed; memorable

synonyms: lasting, permanent, unforgettable

antonyms: erasable, impermanent, ephemeral

indulgent

(adj) yielding to the wishes or demands of others

synonyms: lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberal

antonyms: strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed

inveterate

(adj) firmly established, long-standing; habitual

synonyms: persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool

irrelevant

(adj) not to the point, not applicable or pertinent

synonyms: inapplicable, immaterial, beside the point

antonyms: pertinent, material, apropos, germane

nocturnal

(adj) of or occuring at night; under cover of darkness

synonyms: nighttime

antonyms: daytime, diurnal

platitude

(n) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark

synonyms: cliché, truism, bromide

antonyms: epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot

quell

(v) to subdue, put down forcibly

synonyms: suppress, pacify, squelch, quash, crush

antonyms: incite, provoke, arouse, foment, stir up

quiescent

(adj) inactive; at rest

synonyms: still, inert, motionless, dormant, tranquil

antonyms: active, thriving, lively, bustling, volatile

ruminate

(v) to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud

synonyms: ponder, reflect, mull over, muse

tacit

(adj) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred

synonyms: unexpressed, unvoiced, understood, implicit

antonyms: explicit, express, specific

tangible

(adj) capable or being touched; real, concrete

synonyms: perceptible, actual, evident, palpable

antonyms: immaterial, imperceptible, insubstantial

trenchant

(adj) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut

synonyms: penetrating, cutting, telling, acute

antonyms: dull, bland, insipid, vapid, imperceptive