Sadlier Oxford Level E Unit 9-15

alacrity

(noun) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action

syn: promptness, willingness, dispatch, celerity

ant: reluctance, unwillingness, hesitancy

alleviate

(verb) to relieve, make more bearable

syn: lesson, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuage

antithesis

(noun) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

syn: contrary, antipode

appall

(verb) to fill with dismay or horror

syn: shock, stun, stupefy, horrify

ant: please, cheer, gladden, elate, exhilarate

bellicose

(adjective) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome

syn: aggressive, combative, belligerent

ant: amicable, peaceable, conciliatory, pacific

disparage

(verb) to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

syn: degrade, decry, run down, underrate

ant: praise, extol, laud, plug

dissonant

(adjective) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds

syn: grating, strident, unmelodious, irreconcilable

ant: harmonious, agreeing, euphonious

droll

(adjective) amusingly odd

syn: comical, humorous, whimsical, zany

ant: humorless, solemn, dour

edict

(noun) an order issued by someone in authority

syn: command, decree, proclamation

elucidate

(verb) to clarify, explain

syn: interpret, expound, explicate

ant: obscure, becloud, muddy, obfuscate

laud

(verb) to praise

syn: hail, extol, glorify, exalt

ant: criticize, censure, belittle, disparage

loll

(verb) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop

syn: loaf, loiter, sag, dangle

loquacious

(adjective) talkative, wordy; fond of talking

syn: gossipy, voluble, garrulous, long-winded

ant: silent, reticent, closemouthed, terse, taciturn

magnanimous

(adjective) generous in forgiving, above small meanness

syn: unselfish, charitable, noble, bighearted

ant: petty, selfish, unforgiving, spiteful

mandatory

(adjective) required, obligatory

syn: compulsory, requisite, imperative

ant: optional, voluntary, discretionary

nondescript

(adjective) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified

syn: plain, unremarkable, unimpressive

ant: distinctive, remarkable, vivid, prepossessing

phlegmatic

(adjective) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional

syn: lethargic, indolent, torpid, stolid, impassive

ant: emotional, sensitive, thin-skinned, excitable

rescind

(verb) to repeal, cancel

syn: withdraw, revoke, retract, annul, abrogate

ant: affirm, endorse, uphold, ratify

vivacious

(adjective) lively, sprightly, full of energy

syn: spirited, animated, ebullient

ant: dull, spiritless, listless, indolent, languid

whet

(verb) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager

syn: hone, excite, stimulate

ant: dull, blunt, deaden, stifle, dampen

abrasive

(adj.) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down; (n.) a substance used to smooth or polish

syn: (adj.) chafing, grating, rasping, erosive

ant: (adj.) smooth, polished, satiny, oily, unctuous

acclimate

(v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation

syn: accustom, learn the ropes

chagrin

(n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v.) to cause such a feeling

syn: (n.) vexation, mortification; (v.) abash, mortify

ant: (noun) jubilation, exultation, triumph;

(verb) exult, delight

complacent

(adj.) self-satisfied; overly content

syn: smug, pleased with oneself

ant: discontented, chagrined

concur

(v.) to express agreement, approve

syn: agree, assent, ratify, sanction

ant: disagree, differ, part company

defamation

(n.) slander or libel

syn: vilification, calumny, mudslinging

ant: salute, tribute, testimonial, praise

explicate

(v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret

syn: elucidate, untangle, spell out

fracas

(n.) noisy quarrel or brawl

syn: row, altercation, rhubarb, brouhaha

ant: agreement, accord, unanimity, harmony

grotesque

(adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre

syn: fantastic, outlandish, ugly, deformed

ant: appealing, attractive, comely

pandemonium

(n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion

syn: chaos, tumult, bedlam, three-ring circus

ant: order, calm, tranquility, peace, repose

raucous

(adj.) disagreeably harsh-sounding; disorderly

syn: boisterous, clamorous, strident

ant: placid, tranquil, peaceful, serene, pastoral

receptive

(adj.) open and responsive to ideas or suggestions

syn: open-minded, tolerant, amenable

ant: narrow-minded, intolerant, hidebound

renounce

(v.) to give up or resign something

syn: repudiate, disown, abdicate

ant: retain, secure, affirm, assent, aver

repress

(v.) to hold back; to put down or check by force

syn: subdue, curb, stifle, constrain, bottle up

ant: liberate, set loose, provoke, excite

reticent

(adj.) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant

syn: taciturn, closemouthed, tight-lipped

ant: talkative, garrulous, voluble, long-winded

savory

(adj.) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable

syn: delectable, flavorful, aromatic, piquant

ant: distasteful, unpalatable, malodorous, bland

somnolent

(adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep

syn: groggy, soporific

ant: alert, lively, wide-awake, stimulating

vehement

(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful

syn: emphatic, fierce, vigorous, impassioned

ant: apathetic, lukewarm, subdued, muted

voluble

(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent

syn: loquacious, garrulous, long-winded, prolix

ant: uncommunicative, reticent, taciturn, terse

zealous

(adj.) eager, earnest, devoted

syn: ardent, fervent, devout, dogged

ant: reluctant, unwilling, averse, tepid

antipathy

(n.) a strong dislike, hostile feeling

applicable

(adj.) capable of being applied; relevant, suitable

asset

(n.) something of value; a resource; an advantage

beset

(v.) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in; (adj., part.) harassed, troubled; studded (as with jewels)

compassion

(n.) sympathy for another's suffering; pity

decorum

(n.) proper behavior, good taste; orderliness

duress

(n.) compulsion by threat; forcible confinement

exuberant

(adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained; excessive, abundant

facsimile

(n.) an exact copy

imbibe

(v.) to drink; to take in, absorb

implacable

(adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding

infinitesimal

(adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable; minute

innocuous

(adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificant

militate

(v.) to have effect or force on or against someone or something, fight against

patent

(n.) exclusive rights over an invention; copyright; (v.) to arrange or obtain such rights; (adj.) plain, open to view; copyrighted

sedate

(adj.) quiet, settled, sober; (v.) to administer a tranquilizer

prowess

(n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability

stentorian

(adj.) extremely loud

stipulate

(v.) to arrange specifically; to require as a condition of agreement

ultimatum

(n.) a final proposal or statement of conditions

abjure

(verb) to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun

Toward the end of Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest, the magician Prospero __________ his powers over nature.

Syn.: forswear, retract, recant, abstain from

Ant.: affirm, avow, aver, profess

acrid

(adj.) harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper

The __________ stench of a fire lingers in the air long after the flames have been extinguished.

Syn.: irritating, stinging, bitter, caustic

Ant.: gentle, soothing, mild

august

(adj.) majestic, inspiring admiration and respect

The __________ visages of four of America's great presidents are carved on the face of Mount Rushmore.

Syn.: stately, dignified, exalted, venerable

Ant.: humble, base, mean, lowly, abject

callous

(adj.) emotionally hardened, unfeeling

Protesters accused the mayor of __________ indifference to the plight of the homeless.

Syn.: insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinned

Ant.: sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted

clandestine

(adj.) secret, concealed; underhanded

During the early stages of the American Revolution, __________ colonial printing presses churned out quantities of anti-British propaganda.

Syn.: covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthy

Ant.: open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard

compunction

(noun) remorse, regret

In some religious writings __________ is used as a synonym for contrition to express profound regret for one's sins.

Syn.: scruple, qualm, misgiving, contrition

Ant.: shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance

conflagration

(noun) a large destructive fire

A large number of wooden structures quite literally added fuel to the __________ that swept through San Francisco in 1906.

Syn.: holocaust, wildfire

Ant.: deluge, flood

elated

(adj., part.) in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased

_____________ fans lines the city's streets to cheer the World Series champions.

Syn.: overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pink

Ant.: depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue

indelible

(adj.) not able to be erased or removed; memorable

The brutal crimes against humanity committed by the Nazis left an __________ stain on the history of the twentieth century.

Syn.: lasting, permanent, unforgettable

Ant.: erasable, impermanent, ephemeral

indulgent

(adj.) yielding to the wishes or demands of others

A heightened sense of compassion has induced the federal government to adopt a more __________ policy toward illegal aliens.

Syn.: lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberal

Ant.: strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed

inveterate

(adj.) firmly established, long-standing; habitual

It has been claimed that many writers and artists have an __________ hostility to criticism.

Syn.: persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool

Ant.: sporadic, intermittent, occasional

irrelevant

(adj.) not to the point, not applicable or pertinent

When you take notes, it's best to record only the main ideas and eliminate all __________ details.

Syn.: inapplicable, immaterial, beside the point

Ant.: pertinent, material, apropos, germane

nocturnal

(adj.) of or occurring in the night; under cover of darkness

Most __________ creatures have keen eyesight and acute hearing.

Syn.: nighttime

Ant.: daytime, diurnal

platitude

(noun) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark

The sentiments expressed in most greeting cards seldom rise above the level of timeworn __________.

Syn.: cliche, truism, bromide

Ant.: epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot

quell

(verb) to subdue, put down forcibly

The English poet John Dryden believed that music has the power either to arouse or to __________ strong emotions.

Syn.: suppress, pacify, squelch, quash, crush

Ant.: incite, provoke, arouse, foment, stir up

quiescent

(adj.) inactive; at rest

Although some volcanoes are believed to be truly extinct, many are merely __________.

Syn.: still, inert, motionless, dormant, tranquil

Ant.: active, thriving, lively, bustling, volatile

ruminate

(verb) to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud

In old age many people sadly __________ on mistakes made and opportunities missed.

Syn.: ponder, reflect, mull over, muse

tacit

(adj.) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred

The neighbors had a __________ understanding that they would help each other in an emergency.

Syn.: unexpressed, unvoiced, understood, implicit

Ant.: explicit, express, specific

tangible

(adj.) capable of being touched; real, concrete

After months of intensive negotiation, diplomats reported that they had made __________ progress toward reaching a settlement of the bitter dispute.

Syn.: perceptible, actual, evident, palpable

Ant.: immaterial, imperceptible, insubstantial

trenchant

(adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut

Scholars consider the __________ satires of Jonathan Swift to be the greatest works of their kind in the English language.

Syn.: penetrating, cutting, telling, acute

Ant.: dull, bland, insipid, vapid, imperceptive

allude

(verb) to refer to casually or indirectly

Syn.: suggest, insinuate, hint at, intimate

clairvoyant

(adj.) supernaturally perceptive; (noun) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer

Syn.: (adj.) insightful, discerning, uncanny; (noun) visionary

Ant.: (adj.) blind, unseeing, myopic, dense, imperceptive

conclusive

(adj.) serving to settle an issue; final

Syn.: decisive, indisputable, convincing, definitive

Ant.: unsettled, provisional, indefinite

disreputable

(adj.) not respectable, not esteemed

Syn.: disgraceful, discreditable, shady

Ant.: honest, aboveboard, respectable, creditable

endemic

(adj.) native or confined to a particular region or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field

Syn.: indigenous, restricted to

Ant.: alien, foreign, extraneous

exemplary

(adj.) worthy of imitation, commendable; serving as a model

Syn.: praiseworthy, meritorious, sterling, illustrative

Ant.: infamous, notorious, scandalous, disreputable

fathom

(verb) to understand, get to the bottom of; to determine the depth of; (noun) a measure of depth in water

Syn.: (verb) grasp, comprehend, figure out, plumb

guile

(noun) treacherous cunning, deceit

Syn.: trickery, duplicity, chicanery

Ant.: candor, artlessness, naivete, plain dealing

integrity

(noun) honesty, high moral standards; an unimpaired condition, completeness, soundness

Syn.: rectitude, probity

Ant.: dishonesty, corruption, turpitude

itinerary

(noun) a route of travel; a record of travel; a guidebook

Syn.: schedule, program

misconstrue

(verb) to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of

Syn.: misjudge, misinterpret

obnoxious

(adj.) highly offensive, arousing strong dislike

Syn.: disagreeable, repugnant, hateful, odious

Ant.: agreeable, pleasing, engaging, personable

placate

(verb) to appease, soothe, pacify

Syn.: satisfy, mollify, allay, conciliate

Ant.: vex, irk, provoke, exasperate, annoy

placid

(adj.) calm, peaceful

Syn.: undisturbed, tranquil, quiet, serene

Ant.: stormy, agitated, turbulent, tempestuous

plagiarism

(noun) passing off or using as one's own the writing (or other materials) of another person

Syn.: piracy, theft

potent

(adj.) powerful; highly effective

Syn.: mighty, formidable, forceful

Ant.: weak, inept, feckless, powerless, ineffective

pretext

(noun) a false reason, deceptive excuse

Syn.: pretense, cover story, rationale, evasion

protrude

(verb) to stick out, thrust forth

Syn.: project, jut out, bulge

stark

(adj.) harsh, unrelieved, desolate; (adv.) utterly

Syn.: (adj.) sheer, downright, grim, bleak; (adv.) absolutely

Ant.: (adj.) bright, cheerful, embellished, ornate

superficial

(adj.) on or near the surface; concerned with or understanding only what is on the surface, shallow

Syn.: skin-deep, insubstantial, cursory, slapdash

Ant.: deep, profound, thorough, exhaustive