Vocabulary Unit 13 - Level F

abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

antonyms: hamper, hinder, impede, frustrate

aver

(v.) to affirm, declare confidently

synonyms: assert, asseverate, avouch

antonyms: deny, disavow, repudiate, disclaim

blatant

(adj.) noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense

synonyms: flagrant, glaring, egregious, disagreeably loud

antonyms: inconsequential, trifling, piddling, petty

broach

(v.) to bring up or begin to talk about (a subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to pierce; (n.) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks

buttress

(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

synonyms: (v.) bolster, reinforce, brace, shore up

antonyms: (v.) undermine, weaken, impair

carousal

(n) noisy revelry or merrymaking (often with a suggestion of heavy drinking)

synonyms: drinking bout, drunken revel, binge

collate

(v.) to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc.; to arrange in order for some scientific purpose

synonyms: sort out, cross-check, rearrange

connoisseur

(n.) an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgments, especially in one of the fine arts

synonyms: authority, savant, pundit

antonyms: ignoramus, philistine, yahoo

disconsolate

(adj.) deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope, beyond consolation

synonyms: grief-stricken, inconsolable, comfortless

antonyms: cheerful, blithe, buoyant, jaunty

encumber

(v.) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder

synonyms; overload, saddle, hamper, clog

antonyms: unburden, unload, relieve

foment

(v.) to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm

synonyms: instigate, incite, stir up

antonyms: quell, quash, squelch, suppress

grisly

(adj.) frightful, horrible, ghastly

synonyms: gruesome, gory, hideous

antonyms: pleasant, delightful, attractive

herculean

(adj.) (capital H) relating to Hercules; (lowercare h) characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusal strength

synonyms: mighty, powerful, arduous, onerous, colossal

antonyms: puny, Lilliputian, bantam

impassive

(adj.) showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless

synonyms: emotionless, stoical, unemotional, insensible

antonyms: emotional, passionate, excitable

inauspicious

(adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

synonyms: unpropitious, unpromising, untimely

antonyms: propitious, favorable

incontrovertible

(adj.) unquestionable, beyond dispute

synonyms: incontestable, indisputable, indubitable

antonyms: debatable, dubious, open to question

nonplussed

(adj., part.) puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss

synonyms: perplexed, baffled, stumped, flabbergasted

antonyms: poised, confident, assured

opportune

(adj.) suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occuring at an appropriate time

synonyms: timely, appropriate, felicitous

antonyms: untimely, inconvenient, inappropriate

prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse

synonyms: fruitful, fecund, proliferous

antonyms: barren, unproductive, sterile, sparse

rejoinder

(n.) a reply to a reply, especially from the defendent in a legal suit

synonyms: answer, reply, response, riposte, retort