Sadlier Level E Unit 6

accede

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

Management was not willing to __________ to labor's initial demands, thus increasing the likelihood of a long and bitter strike.

Syn.: consent, concur, comply, assent

Ant.: demur, balk at

brandish

(verb) to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

I __________ my umbrella repeatedly in a vain effort to hail an empty cab.

Syn.: swing, shake

comprise

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

Classical symphonies usually __________ three or four movements of varying musical form, tempo, and character.

Syn.: compose, constitute, encompass

Ant.: exclude

deft

(adj.) skillful, nimble

The __________ fingers of Spanish nuns produced some of the finest, most delicate lace ever seen.

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

Ant.: clumsy, awkward, bungling, inept

destitute

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

Some people fled their homes so suddenly that they arrived at the refugee camp absolutely __________.

Syn.: wanting, devoid, impoverished, penniless

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

explicit

(adj.) definite, clearly stated

The more _________ your directions are, the easier it will be for all of us to find our way to the campsite.

Syn.: distinct, forthright, unambiguous, clear

Ant.: vague, ambiguous, implied, implicit

extirpate

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

We must do everything we can to __________ racism from American society.

Syn.: uproot, eradicate, wipe out, excise

Ant.: implant, sow, foster, nourish

inopportune

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

Why do my relatives always seem to turn up at the most __________ time imaginable?

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

The short stories of O. Henry are famous for their __________ endings.

Syn.: incongruous, satiric, sardonic, wry

Ant.: straightforward, unequivocal

musty

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 stale, moldy; out-of-date

Houses that have been closed up for a very long time often have an unpleasantly __________ smell about them.

Syn.: hackneyed, antiquated

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

officious

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

The manager of the store warned the entire sales force not to be too _________ when helping customers.

Syn.: meddlesome, prying, impertinent, obtrusive

Ant.: reserved, diffident, timid, aloof

ominous

(adj.) unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen

The __________ sound of distant thunder warned us of the storm's approach.

Syn.: unpropitious, inauspicious, portentous

Ant.: propitious, auspicious, promising

pinnacle

(noun) a high peak or point

Some pop musicians reach the __________ of their careers comparatively early in life.

Syn.: apex, acme, summit, apogee

Ant.: nadir, perigee, low point

premeditated

(adj., part.) considered beforehand, deliberately planned

Some crimes are spontaneous acts of passion; others are quite __________.

Syn.: preplanned, rehearsed, calculated, prearranged

Ant.: unplanned, spontaneous, impromptu

rampant

(adj.) growing without check, running wild

All kinds of odd rumors run _________ during a political campaign.

Syn.: widespread, unrestrained, extravagant, prevalent

Ant.: controlled, restrained

solace

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

Many world leaders seek __________ from the cares of state in the pages of great literature.

I could find no way to __________ my deeply troubled conscience.

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

Ant.: (verb) vex, aggravate, upset

stately

(adj.) dignified, majestic

The __________ procession slowly wound its way from the palace to the cathedral.

Syn.: grand, magnificent, imposing

Ant.: lowly, humble, servile, abject

supple

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

Have you ever read Robert Frost's famous poem about swinging on the __________ branches of a birch tree?

Syn.: flexible, limber, pliable, pliant

Ant.: stiff, rigid, unbending, hidebound

suppress

(verb) to stop by force, put down

Totalitarian governments usually take strong measures to __________ free speech.

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

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

venal

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

The presence of even one __________ official may jeopardize the integrity of an entire organization.

Syn.: dishonest, bribable, corruptible, mercenary

Ant.: honest, incorruptible, scrupulous