Sadlier Vocabulary Level H: Unit 13

accolade

(n.) praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting

SYN: kudos, acclaim, cheers, plaudits

ANT: boos, disapproval, censure

acerbity

(n.) sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression

SYN: acidity, astringency, mordancy, asperity

ANT: blandness, mellowness, mildness

attrition

(n.) the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment

SYN: abrasion, erosion, reduction

ANT: augmentation, proliferation, enlargement

bromide

(n.) a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative

SYN: platitude

chauvinist

(adj.) extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; such a person

SYN: (n) super-patriot; flag-waver, jingoist

chronic

(adj.) continuing over a long period of time or recurring often

SYN: recurrent, persistent, inveterate, habitual

ANT: transitory, transient, sporadic

expound

(v.) to explain in detail

SYN: elucidate, delineate

factionalism

(noun) party strife and intrigue

SYN: infighting, dissension

ANT: unanimity, harmony, agreement, consensus

immaculate

(adj) spotless; without blemish or fault

SYN: unsoiled

ANT: blemished, tarnished, stained, sullied

imprecation

(noun) a curse; the act of cursing

SYN: execration

ANT: benediction

ineluctable

(adj.) not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome

SYN: unavoidable, inevitable

ANT: avoidable, escapable, reversible, revocable

mercurial

(adj.) characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant

SYN: erratic, capricious, volatile

ANT: phlegmatic, sluggish, constant, steady

palliate

(v.) to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate

SYN: alleviate, extenuate

ANT: intensify, magnify, aggravate

protocol

(n.) customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette, as in a court or among diplomats; a type of international agreement; a memorandum, official account, or record

SYN: code of conduct, minutes

resplendent

(adj.) shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent

SYN: radiant, dazzling, glorious

ANT: dull, drab, lusterless

stigmatize

(v.) to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious

SYN: sully, taint

ANT: whitewash, laud, extol

sub rosa

(adv.) in secret; confidentially; privately; (adj.) secretive

SYN: (adv) secretly, covertly, stealthily, furtively

ANT: (adv) overtly, openly

vainglory

(n.) excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display

SYN: vanity, conceit, swagger, pretentiousness

ANT: humility, modesty, diffidence

vestige

(n.) a trace or evidence of something that once existed but now is lost or vanished

SYN: artifact, remains

volition

(n.) the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding

SYN: free will, choice

ANT: coercion, compulsion, duress