Vocabulary Workshop Level H: Unit 14

Accoutrements

(n., pl.) accessory items of clothing or equipment; a soldier's outfit, usually not including arms or clothing; trappings

Synonyms: gear, equipage, appurtenances

Apogee

(n) the point in the orbit of a heavenly body or artificial satellite farthest from the earth; the farthest or highest point

Synonyms: zenith, apex, summit, pinnacle

Antonyms: nadir, bottom, pits, perigee

Apropos

(adj) appropriate, opportune; (adv) relevantly; incidentally, by the way; speaking of

Synonyms: (adj) pertinent, germane, apposite, relevant

Antonyms: (adj) irrelevant, inappropriate, immaterial

Bicker

(v) to engage in a petty or peevish dispute; to move or run rapidly, rush; to flicker, quiver

Synonyms: squabble, wrangle, quarrel, plash

Antonyms: concur, agree, acquiesce

Coalesce

(v) to blend together or fuse so as to form one body or substance

Synonyms: amalgamate, merge, combine, unite

Antonyms: scatter, diffuse, separate

Contretemps

(n) an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence; a mishap

Synonyms: blunder, mischance, faux pas, gaffe

Convolutions

(n) a rolling up, coiling, or twisting together; a sinuous folding or design

Synonyms: twist, turn, complication

Cull

(v) to pick out or select; to gather or collect

Synonyms: glean, choose, pluck

Disparate

(adj) completely distinct or different; entirely dissimilar

Synonym: divergent

Antonyms: similar, homogeneous, unifrom

Dogmatic

(adj) certain of the truth of one's own ideas; inclined to state opinions as if they were indisputable facts

Synonyms: opinionated, doctrinaire, authoritarian

Antonyms: open-minded, disinterested, dispassionate

Licentious

(adj) morally or sexually unrestrained; having no regard for accepted rules, customs or laws

Synonyms: wanton, dissolute, lascivious

Antonyms: chaste, modest, restrained, prudish

Mete

(v) to distribute or apportion by or as if by measure; to allot

Synonyms: assign, parcel out

Noxious

(adj) harmful to physical health or morals

Synonyms: pernicious, noisome, deleterious, toxic

Antonyms: wholesome, salubrious, beneficial

Polemic

(n) an aggressive attack on or refutation of a specific opinion or doctrine

Synonyms: diatribe, controversy

Populous

(adj) full of people; filled to capacity; densely populated; having a large population

Synonyms: crowded, teeming, swarming

Antonyms: uninhabited, unpeopled, deserted, barren

Probity

(n) complete and confirmed honesty; total integrity

Synonyms: uprightness, rectitude

Antonyms: corruption, venality, immorality, iniquity

Repartee

(n) a swift, witty reply;conversation full of such remarks; skill in making such replies or conversation

Synonyms: retort, comeback, banter, verbal sparring

Supervene

(v) to take place or occur as something additional or unexpected; to follow immediately after

Synonyms: ensue, succeed

Antonyms: precede, antecede

Truncate

(v) to shorten by or as if by cutting off, lop

Synonyms: trim, abbreviate, curtail

Antonyms: lengthen, elongate, extend, protract

Unimpeachable

(adj) beyond doubt or reproach; unquestionable

Synonyms: irreproachable, irrefutable, unassailable

Antonyms: questionable, debatable, dubious