Sadlier Level F units 1-15

approbation

(n.) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

synonyms: commendation, sanction

antonyms: disapproval, condemnation, censure

assuage

(v.) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench

synonyms: mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay

antonyms: intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

coalition

(n.) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

synonyms: alliance, league, federation, combine

antonyms: splinter group

decadence

(n.) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence

Picture: The Roaring 20's was a time marked by self-indulgence and corruption.

synonyms: degeneration, corruption

antonyms: rise, growth, development, maturation

elicit

(v.) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)

Picture: The cranking of the can opener elicited a response from the kitty.

synonyms: call forth, evoke, extract, educe

antonyms: repress, quash, squelch, stifle

expostulate

(v.) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

synonyms: protest, remonstrate, complain

hackneyed

(adj.) used so often as to lack freshness or originality

synonyms: banal, trite, commonplace, corny

antonyms: new, fresh, novel, original

hiatus

(n.) a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)

synonyms: pause, lacuna

antonyms: continuity, continuation

innuendo

(n.) a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)

synonyms: insinuation, intimation

antonyms: direct statement

intercede

(v.) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement

synonyms: intervene, mediate

jaded

(adj.) wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)

synonyms: sated, surfeited, cloyed

antonyms: unspoiled, uncloyed

lurid

(adj.) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint

synonyms: gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly

antonyms: pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

meritorious

(adj.) worthy, deserving recognition and praise

synonyms: praiseworthy, laudable, commendable

antonyms: blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

petulant

(adj.) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset

synonyms: irritable, testy, waspish

antonyms: even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

prerogative

(n.) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence

synonyms: perquisite, perk

provincial

(adj.) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside;

(n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony

synonyms: narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naive

antonyms: cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded

simulate

(v.) to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of

synonyms: feign, pretend, affect

transcend

(v.) to rise above or beyond, exceed

synonyms: surpass, outstrip

umbrage

(n.) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion

synonyms: irritation, pique, annoyance

antonyms: pleasure, delight, satisfaction

unctuous

(adj.) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable

synonyms: mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy

antonyms: gruff, blunt

Ameliorate

(v.) To improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming.

Synonyms: Amend, Better

Antonyms: Worsen, Aggravate, Exacerbate

Aplomb

(n.) Poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity.

Synonyms: Composure, Self-Possession, Levelheadedness

Antonyms: Confusion, Embarrassment, Abashment

Bombastic

(adj.) Pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas.

Synonyms: Inflated, Highfalutin, High-Flown, Pretentious

Antonyms: Unadorned, Simple Plain, Austere

Callow

(adj.) Without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers.

Synonyms: Green, Raw, Unfledged, Inexperienced

Antonyms: Mature, Grown-Up, Polished, Sophisticated

Drivel

(n.) Saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense.

(v.) To let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly.

Synonyms: (n.) Balderdash, Hogwash, Tommyrot; (v.) Slaver

Epitome

(n.) A summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality.

Synonyms: Abstract, Digest, Model, Archetype

Exhort

(v.) To urge strongly, advise earnestly

Synonyms: Entreat, Implore, Adjure

Antonyms: Discourage, Advise Against, Deprecate

Ex Officio

(adj., adv.) By virtue of holding a certain office.

Infringe

(v.) To violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds.

Synonyms: Encroach, Impinge, Intrude, Poach

Antonyms: Stay in Bounds

Ingratiate

(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense).

Synonyms: Cozy Up To, Curry Favor With

Antonyms: Alienate, Humiliate Oneself, Mortify Oneself.

Interloper

(n.) One who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder.

Synonyms: Trespasser, Meddler, Buttinsky

Intrinsic

(adj.) Belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part.

Synonyms: Immanent, Organic

Antonyms: Extrinsic, External, Outward

Inveigh

(v.) To make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval.

Synonyms: Rail, Harangue, Fulminate, Remonstrate

Antonyms: Acclaim, Glorify, Extol

Lassitude

(n.) Weariness of body or mind, lack of energy.

Synonyms: Fatigue, Lethargy, Torpor, Languor

Antonyms: Energy, Vitality, Animation, Liveliness

Millennium

(n.) A period of one thousand years; a period of great joy.

Synonyms: Chiliad, Golden Age, Prosperity, Peace

Antonyms: Doomsday, Day of Judgement

Occult

(adj.) Mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means.

(v.) To hide, conceal; eclipse.

(n.) Matters involving the supernatural.

Synonyms: (adj.) Supernatural, Esoteric, Abstruse, Arcane

Antonyms: (adj.) Mundane, Common, Public, Exoteric

Permeate

(v.) To spread through, penetrate, soak through.

Picture: The food coloring permeated the paper towel.

Precipitate

(v.) To fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to.

(adj.) Characterized by excessive haste.

(n.) Moisture; the product of an action or process.

Synonyms: (v.) Provoke, Produce; (adj.) Reckless, Impetuous

Antonyms: (adj.) Wary, Cautious, Circumspect

Stringent

(adj.) Strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste.

Synonyms: Stern, Rigorous, Tough, Urgent, Imperative

Antonyms: Lenient, Mild, Lax, Permissive

Surmise

(v.) To think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess.

(n.) Likely idea that lacks definite proof.

Synonyms: (v.) Infer, Gather; (n.) Inference, Presumption

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).

--The picture says: "Naysayers shall exhibit a proclivity to naysay." In other words: "Haters gonna hate."

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

affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

archetype

(n.) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing

aura

(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

contraband

(n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

gossamer

(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin, light cloth

inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

irrevocable

(adj.) incapable of being changed or called back

propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

remonstrate

(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

reverberate

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

scurrilous

(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed

sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

sleazy

(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable

amnesty

a pardon (from judgement)

autonomy

independence, self-government

axiomatic

self-evident

blazon

to adorn or embellish

caveat

warning

equitable

fair

extricate

to free, to disentangle

filch

to steal

flout

to mock

fractious

tending to argue or cause discord

precept

a rule of conduct or action

salutary

beneficial

scathing

bitterly severe

scourge

to whip, punish severely

sepulchral

funereal, typical of the tomb

soporific

causing sleep

straitlaced

extremely strict

transient

temporary, fleeting

unwieldy

difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight

vapid

dull