English Vocab Review 6-10

accede

(verb) to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

Syn.: consent, concur, comply, assent

Ant.: demur, balk at

brandish

(verb) to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion Syn.: swing, shake

comprise

(verb) to include or contain; to be made up of

Syn.: compose, constitute, encompass

Ant.: exclude

deft

(adj.) skillful, nimble

Syn.: dexterous, adroit, proficient, clever, masterful

Ant.: clumsy, awkward, bungling, inept

destitute

(adj.) deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

Syn.: wanting, devoid, impoverished, penniless

Ant.: rich, wealthy, luxurious, bountiful, full, replete

explicit

(adj.) definite, clearly stated

Syn.: distinct, forthright, unambiguous, clear

Ant.: vague, ambiguous, implied, implicit

extirpate

(verb) to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

Syn.: uproot, eradicate, wipe out, excise

Ant.: implant, sow, foster, nourish

inopportune

(adj.) coming at a bad time; not appropriate

Syn.: ill-timed, inconvenient, inappropriate, unsuitable

Ant.: timely, convenient, felicitous, opportune

ironic

(adj.) suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic

Syn.: incongruous, satiric, sardonic, wry

Ant.: straightforward, unequivocal

musty

(adj.) stale, moldy; out-of-date

Syn.: hackneyed, antiquated

Ant.: fresh, sweet-smelling, up-to-date, brand-new

officious

(adj.) meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

Syn.: meddlesome, prying, impertinent, obtrusive

Ant.: reserved, diffident, timid, aloof

ominous

(adj.) unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen

Syn.: unpropitious, inauspicious, portentous

Ant.: propitious, auspicious, promising

pinnacle

(noun) a high peak or point

Syn.: apex, acme, summit, apogee

Ant.: nadir, perigee, low point

premeditated

(adj., part.) considered beforehand, deliberately planned Syn.: preplanned, rehearsed, calculated, prearranged

Ant.: unplanned, spontaneous, impromptu

rampant

(adj.) growing without check, running wild

Syn.: widespread, unrestrained, extravagant, prevalent

Ant.: controlled, restrained

solace

(noun) comfort, relief; (verb) to comfort, console

Syn.: (verb) soothe, reassure, cheer up

Ant.: (verb) vex, aggravate, upset

stately

(adj.) dignified, majestic

Syn.: grand, magnificent, imposing

Ant.: lowly, humble, servile, abject

supple

(adj.) bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile

Syn.: flexible, limber, pliable, pliant

Ant.: stiff, rigid, unbending, hidebound

suppress

(verb) to stop by force, put down

Syn.: subdue, crush, stifle, squelch, quash, silence

Ant.: provoke, spur, arouse, incite, instigate

venal

(adj.) open to or marked by bribery or corruption

Syn.: dishonest, bribable, corruptible, mercenary

Ant.: honest, incorruptible, scrupulous

abhor

(verb) to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

Syn.: detest, despise, abominate

Ant.: admire, cherish, respect, relish

amend

(verb) to change in a formal way; to change for the better

Syn.: modify, improve, correct

buffet

(verb) to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one's way with difficulty; (noun) a slap, blow

Syn.: (verb) batter, sock, thump, pummel, toss about

chaos

(noun) great confusion, disorder

Syn.: anarchy, turmoil, pandemonium

Ant.: order, regularity, tranquillity

commodious

(adj.) roomy, spacious

Syn.: comfortable, ample, capacious

Ant.: cramped, claustrophobic, insufficient

corrosive

(adj.) eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

Syn.: caustic, mordant, acidulous, spiteful

Ant.: bland, mild, benign, amiable

discern

(verb) to see clearly, recognize

Syn.: perceive, detect, distinguish

Ant.: overlook

extant

(adj.) still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

Syn.: surviving, in existence

Ant.: extinct, defunct, vanished

implicate

(verb) to involve in; to connect with or be related to

Syn.: incriminate, entangle

Ant.: absolve, exculpate

inter

(verb) to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion

Ant.: unearth, exhume

martinet

(noun) a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

Syn.: taskmaster, slave driver

obviate

(verb) to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of

Syn.: preclude, forestall, ward off

renegade

(noun) one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw; (adj.) traitorous, unconventional, unorthodox

Syn.: (noun) turncoat, defector, heretic

Ant.: (noun) loyalist, patriot

reprehensible

(adj.) deserving blame or punishment

Syn.: objectionable, blameworthy, culpable, odious

Ant.: commendable, blameless, meritorious

somber

(adj.) dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

Syn.: mournful, dismal

Ant.: bright, sunny, lighthearted, cheerful, jaunty

squalid

(adj.) filthy, wretched, debased

Syn.: dingy, sordid, foul, vile, abject

Ant.: neat, spruce, exalted, lofty

turbulent

(adj.) disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy

Syn.: tumultuous, unruly, agitated

Ant.: calm, placid, tranquil, still

vociferous

(adj.) loud and noisy; compelling attention

Syn.: clamorous, uproarious, blustering

Ant.: quiet, soft-spoken, muted, subdued

voluminous

(adj.) of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

Syn.: bulky, massive, copious, plentiful

Ant.: scant, meager, brief, succinct

waive

(verb) to do without, give up voluntarily; to put off temporarily, defer

Syn.: decline, relinquish, forgo

Ant.: claim, accept

animosity

(noun) strong dislike; bitter hostility

Syn: enmity, rancor, antipathy

Ant: affection, fondness, rapport, amity

apathy

(noun) a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest

Syn: indifference, disinterest, detachment

Ant: enthusiasm, fervor, ardor, concer

apprehensive

(adjective) fearful or anxious, especially about the future

Syn: worried, nervous, fretful, jittery

Ant: unworried, assured, confident, certain

commend

(verb) to praise, express approval; to present as worthy of attention; to commit to the care of

Syn: applaud, entrust

Ant: abhor, loathe

compatible

(adjective)able to get along or work well together; capable of use with some other model or system

Syn: harmonious, in agreement, like-minded

Ant: mismatch, incongruous, antagonistic

condolence

(noun) an expression of sympathy

Syn: commiseration, solace, sympathy

consecrate

(verb) to make sacred, hallow; to set apart for a special purpose

Syn: devote, dedicate, sanctify

Ant: desecrate, defile, profane, dishonor

decrepit

(adjective) old and feeble; worn-out, ruined

Syn: infirm, broken-down, rickety, dilapidated

Ant: vigorous, robust, sturdy

deride

(verb) to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

Syn: mock, scorn, disparage, jeer at

Ant: praise, extol, acclaim, applaud

ingenuous

(adjective) innocent, simple; frank, sincere

Syn: naive, artless, guileless, candid

Ant: artful, crafty, worldly, sophisticated

multifarious

(adjective) having great variety; numerous and diverse

Syn:varied, manifold, heterogeneous

Ant: unvaried, uniform, homogeneous

obsolete

(adjective) out-of-date, no longer in use

Syn: outmoded, antiquated, passe, old hat

Ant: current, up-to-date, brand-new

omnivorous

(adjective) eating every kind of food; eagerly taking in everything, having a wide variety of tastes

Syn: all-devouring, voracious

parsimonious

(adjective) stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small

Syn: Frugal, niggardly, penny-pinching, cheap

Ant: generous, open handed

quandary

(noun) a state of perplexity or doubt

Syn: confusion, dilemma, predicament

recalcitrant

(adjective) stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

Syn: unruly, obstinate, contrary, ornery

Ant: obedient, docile, cooperative, compliant

reprisal

(noun) an injury done in return for injury

Syn: retaliation, revenge, retribution

revel

(verb) to take great pleasure in

(noun) a wild celebration

Syn: (v.) to relish, savor, bask in, carouse

Ant: (v.) abhor, loathe

stultify

(verb) to make ineffective or useless, cripple; to have a dulling effect on

Syn: smother, stifle, neutralize, negate

Ant: arouse, excite, inspire, stimulate

suave

(adjective) smoothly agreeable or polite; pleasing to the senses

Syn: sophisticated, urbane, polished

Ant: crude, clumsy, unpolished, oafish, loutish

allocate

(v.) to set apart or designate for a special purpose; to distribute.

Syn.: assign, allot, distribute.

ardent

(adj.) very enthusiastic, impassioned.

Syn.: intense, fervent, avid.

Ant.: indifferent, stolid, phlegmatic, apathetic.

assiduous

(adj.) persistent, attentive, diligent.

Syn.: industrious, unremitting, sedulous.

Ant.: lazy, lackadaisical, shiftless.

brash

(adj.) prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent.

Syn.: rash, impetuous, brazen, impertinent.

Ant.: prudent, wary, cautious, circumspect.

capricious

(adj.) subject to whims or passing fancies.

Syn.: impulsive, fickle, unpredictable, mercurial.

Ant.: constant, steady, unwavering.

chastise

(verb) to inflict physical punishment as a means of correction; to scold severely.

Syn.: discipline, censure.

Ant.: commend, reward.

copious

(adj.) abundant; plentiful; wordy, verbose.

Syn.: ample, profuse, bountiful.

Ant.: inadequate, meager, scanty, concise.

deviate

(v.) to turn aside; to stray from a norm; (n.) one who departs from a norm; (adj.) differing from a norm, heterodox, unconventional.

Syn.: (v.) diverge, veer, swerve.

Ant.: (v.) conform to, abide by; (adj.) orthodox.

emaciated

(adj., part.) unnaturally thin.

Syn.: withered, shriveled.

Ant.: plump, fat, obese, corpulent.

exult

(verb) to rejoice greatly.

Syn.: revel, glory.

Ant.: mope, sulk, regret, rue, lament.

gnarled

(adj.) knotted, twisted, lumpy.

Syn.: knotty, misshapen, contorted.

Ant.: smooth, unblemished, straight.

indemnity

(noun) a payment for damage or loss.

Syn.: compensation, restitution, reparation.

inkling

(noun) a hint; a vague notion.

Syn.: clue, intimation, suggestion.

limpid

(adj.) clear, transparent; readily understood.

Syn.: lucid, intelligible.

Ant.: murky, opaque.

omnipotent

(adj.) almighty, having unlimited power or authority.

Syn.: all-powerful.

Ant.: powerless, impotent, feeble, weak.

palatable

(adj.) agreeable to the taste or one's sensibilities; suitable for consumption.

Syn.: edible, appetizing, attractive.

Ant.: inedible, distasteful, disagreeable.

poignant

(adj.) deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell.

Syn.: heartrending, bittersweet, melancholy.

Ant.: unaffecting, bland, vapid, insipid, funny.

rancor

(noun) bitter resentment or ill-will.

Syn.: animosity, enmity, bitterness.

Ant.: goodwill, harmony, rapport, amity.

sophomoric

(adj.) immature and overconfident; conceited.

Syn.: pretentious, superficial, fatuous.

Ant.: mature, judicious, knowledgeable.

spontaneous

(adj.) arising naturally; not planned or engineered in advance.

Syn.: unpremeditated, unplanned, impromptu.

Ant.: premeditated, planned, contrived, rehearsed.

acquiesce

to accept without protest; to agree or submit

SYN: comply with, accede, consent, yield

ANT: resist, protest

allure

(v) to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; (n) a strong attraction; the power to attract, charm

SYN: (v) beguile, tantalize; (n.) temptation, enticement

ANT: (v) repel, turn off; (b) repellent

askew

twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly

SYN: awry, lopsided, cockeyed

ANT: straight, symmetrical

blithe

cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned

SYN: carefree, nonchalant, indifferent

ANT: glum, morose, despondent, depressed

contentious

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

SYN: argumentative, disputatious, combative

ANT: agreeable, amiable, affable, pacific

covet

to desire something belonging to another

SYN: crave, yearn for, hunger for

ANT: disdain, scorn, despise

crestfallen

discouraged, dejected, downcast

SYN: despondent, disconsolate

ANT: elated, cheerful, self-satisfied, cocky

disheveled

rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder

SYN: untidy, disarranged, tousled

ANT: tidy, well-groomed

exponent

(n) one who advocates, speaks for, explains, or interprets; (math) the power to which a number, symbol, or expression is to be raised

SYN: defender, champion, interpreter

ANT: critic, adversary, faultfinder, detractor

garrulous

given to much talking, tediously chatty

SYN: talkative, loquacious

ANT: reticent, mum, taciturn, laconic

insuperable

insuperable

incapable of being overcome

SYN: invincible, insurmountable

ANT: surmountable, conquerable

lamentable

to be regretted or pitied

SYN: deplorable, regrettable, distressing

ANT: praiseworthy, commendable, laudable

misnomer

an unsuitable or misleading name

SYN: misnaming, malapropism

profess

to affirm openly; to state a belief in; to claim, pretend

SYN: assert, proclaim, purport

ANT: disclaim, disavow, repudiate

respite

a period of relief or rest

SYN: interval, intermission, lull, breather

retribution

a repayment; a deserved punishment

SYN: recompense, requital, just deserts

sinuous

winding, having many curves; lithe and flexible

SYN: twisting, convoluted, supple

ANT: direct, unbending, stiff, rigid

sonorous

full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive in style

SYN: resonant, resounding, grandiloquent

ANT: tinny, reedy, harsh, grating

vanguard

the foremost part of an army; the leading position in any field

SYN: forefront, cutting edge, trailblazers

ANT: rear guard, stragglers, laggards

wastrel

a wasteful person, spendthrift; a good-for-nothing

SYN: loafer, idler, profligate

ANT: skinflint, tightwad