Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level F Unit 3

Abominate

(v.) to have an intense dislike or hatred for

SYNONYMS: loathe, abhor, despise, detest

ANTONYMS: relish, savor, cherish, esteem

acculturation

(n.) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend

SYNONYMS: adaptation

adventitious

(adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital

SYNONYMS: extrinsic, incidental, fortuitous

ANTONYMS: essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital

ascribe

(v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute

SYNONYMS: impute, credit, attribute

circuitous

(adj.) roundabout, not direct

SYNONYMS: indirect, meandering, winding

ANTONYMS: straight, direct, as the crow flies

commiserate

(v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

SYNONYMS: feel sorry for, empathize

ANTONYMS: feel no sympathy for

enjoin

(v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit

SYNONYMS: bid, charge, command, adjure

ANTONYMS: allow, permit

expedite

(v.) to make easy, cause to progress faster

SYNONYMS: accelerate, facilitate, speed up

ANTONYMS: hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct

expiate

(v.) to make amends, make up for; to avert

SYNONYMS: redeem, make amends for, atone, make reparation

ferment

(n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; (v.) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action

SYNONYMS: (n.) commotion, turmoil, unrest

ANTONYMS: (n.) peace and quiet, tranquility, placidity

inadvertent

(adj.) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental

SYNONYMS: accidental, unconsidered

ANTONYMS: deliberate, intentional, premeditated

nominal

(adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously

SYNONYMS: titular, token, trifling, inconsequential

ANTONYMS: real, actual, exorbitant, excessive

noncommittal

(adj.) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

SYNONYMS: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to the vest

ANTONYMS: positive, definite, committed

peculate

(v.) to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use

SYNONYMS: embezzle, defraud, misappropriate,

proclivity

(n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)

SYNONYMS: natural, bent, penchant, propensity

ANTONYMS: inability or incapacity

sangfroid

(n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances

SYNONYMS: poise, self-assurance, equanimity

ANTONYMS: excitability, hysteria, flappability

seditious

(adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government

SYNONYMS: mutinous, rebellious, subversive

ANTONYMS: supportive, loyal, faithful, allegiant

tenuous

(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

SYNONYMS: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy

ANTONYMS: strong, solid, substantial, valid

vitriolic

(adj.) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)

SYNONYMS: withering, acerbic, mordant

ANTONYMS: bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary

wheedle

(v.) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

SYNONYMS: cajole, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk

ANTONYMS: coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm