Level E Review: Units 1-3

adulterate

adulterate

(verb) to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value SYN: contaminate, pollute, sully ANT: purify, purge, expurgate

ambidextrous

(adjective) able to use both hands equally well, very skillful, deceitful, hypocritical SYN: versatile, facile ANT: clumsy, all thumbs, maladroit

augment

(verb) to make larger, increase SYN: enlarge, supplement, amplify ANT: decrease, diminish

bereft

(adjective) deprived of, made unhappy through a loss SYN: bereaved ANT: replete, well provided

deploy

(verb) to position or arrange, to utilize, to form up SYN: station, organized

dour

(adjective) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored SYN: harsh, bleak, forbidding, saturnine ANT: cheery, inviting, genial

fortitude

(noun) courage in facing difficulties SYN: resolve, steadfastness, mettle ANT: fearfulness, timidity, faintheartedness

gape

(verb) to stare with open mouth, to open mouth wide, to open wide SYN: gawk, ogle

gibe

(verb) to utter taunting words; (noun) an expression of scorn SYN: ridicule, mock, deride, jeer ANT: compliment, praise

guise

(noun) an external appearance, cover, mask SYN: costume, semblance, pretense

insidious

(adjective) intended to deceive or entrap, sly, treacherous SYN: cunning, underhanded, perfidious ANT: frank, ingenuous, aboveboard

intimation

(noun) a hint, indirect suggestion SYN: clue, indication, inkling

opulent

(adjective) wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose SYN: rich, lavish, plentiful, abundant ANT: poverty-stricken, wretched, destitute

pliable

(adjective) easily bent, flexible, easily influenced SYN: supple, adaptable, resilient ANT: rigid, inflexible, recalcitrant

reiterate

(verb) to say again, repeat SYN: restate, rehash, recapitulate

stolid

(adjective) not easily moved mentally or emotionally, dull, unresponsive SYN: impassive, phlegmatic ANT: emotional, oversensitive, high-strung

tentative

(adjective) experimental in nature, uncertain, hesitant SYN: provisional, inconclusive ANT: definite, conclusive, confirmed

unkempt

(adjective) not combed, untidy, not properly maintained, unpolished, rude SYN: sloppy, disheveled, disordered, rough ANT: well-groomed, tidy, neat, natty

verbatim

(adjective, adverb) word for word, exactly as written or spoken SYN: exact (adj.), precisely (adv.) ANT: paraphrased

warily

(adverb) cautiously, with great care SYN: carefully, prudently, gingerly ANT: recklessly, heedlessly, incautiously

adroit

skillful, expert in the use of the hands or minds

Syn: clever, deft, slick, dextrous

Ant: clumsy, inept, all thumbs

amicable

peaceable, friendly

Pic: "Casper the amicable ghost..."

Syn: congenial, neighborly, cordial

Ant: hostile, antagonistic

averse

having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

Syn: disinclined, loath

Ant: favorably disposed, eager, keen

belligerent

given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive one at war, one engaged in war

Syn: assertive, truculent, pugnacious

Ant: peaceful, conciliatory, placid

benevolent

kindly, charitable

Syn: benign, well-meaning

Ant: malicious, spiteful

cursory

hasty, not thorough

Syn: quick, superficial, perfunctory

Ant: thorough, painstaking, careful

duplicity

treachery, deceitfulness

Syn: double-dealing, chicanery

extol

to praise extravagantly

Syn: glorify, applaud, acclaim, hail

Ant: criticize, belittle, disparage

feasible

possible, able to be done

Syn: workable, viable

Ant: unworkable, impractical

grimace

a wry face, facial distortion to make a wry face

Syn: pained expression, facial contortion

Ant: grin, beam

holocaust

a large-scale destruction especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering

Syn: conflagration, devastation, annihilation

Ant: deluge

impervious

not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance

Syn: impenetrable, resistant, proof against

Ant: porous, permeable, vulnerable

impetus

a moving force, impulse, stimulus

Syn: impulse, spur

Ant: curb, hindrance, impediment, constraint

jeopardy

danger

Syn: risk, hazard, peril

Ant: safety, security

meticulous

extremely careful; particular about details

Syn: fastidious, fussy

Ant: careless, negligent, sloppy

nostalgia

a longing for something past; homesick

quintessence

the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example

Syn: paragon, exemplar

retrogress

to move backward; to return to an earlier condition

Syn: revert, degenerate, decline

Ant: advance, evolve, progress

scrutinize

to examine closely

Syn: inspect, pore over

Ant: scan, glance at

tepid

lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

Syn: insipid, halfhearted

Ant: heated, enthusiastic

adversary

(n.) an enemy, opponent

SYNONYMS: antagonist, rival, foe ANTONYMS: friend, ally, supporter, confederate

alienate

(v.) to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey

SYNONYMS: separate, drive apart, estrange ANTONYMS: befriend, attract, captivate, reconcile

artifice

(n.) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery

SYNONYMS: ruse, stratagem, contrivance ANTONYMS: -

coerce

(v.) to compel, force

SYNONYMS: pressure, bully, intimidate, constrain ANTONYMS: persuade, cajole

craven

(adj.) cowardly; (n.) a coward

SYNONYMS: (adj.) fearful, fainthearted, pusillanimous ANTONYMS: (adj.) brave, courageous, valiant

culinary

(adj.) of or related to cooking or the kitchen

SYNONYMS: - delicious, dietary, edible. ANTONYMS: - unpalatable, inedible, poisonous

demise

(n.) a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

SYNONYMS: decease, passing away ANTONYMS: birth, beginning, commencement

exhilarate

(v.) to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to

SYNONYMS: stimulate, excite, gladden ANTONYMS: discourage, dispirit, dishearten, inhibit

fallow

(adj.) plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; (n.) land left unseeded; (v.) to plow but not seed

SYNONYMS: (adj.) unproductive, inert, dormant ANTONYMS: (adj.) productive, fertile, prolific

harass

(v.) to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks

SYNONYMS: annoy, pester, bedevil, beleaguer

inclement

(adj.) stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action

SYNONYMS: blustery, tempestuous, implacable ANTONYMS: mild, gentle, balmy, tranquil

liquidate

(v.) to pay a debt, to settle an account; to eliminate SYNONYMS: reconcile, pay, cancel, exterminate ANTONYMS: invest, collect

muse

(v.) to think about in a dreamy way, ponder

SYNONYMS: meditate, contemplate, daydream ANTONYMS: -

negligible

(adj.) so unimportant that it can be disregarded

SYNONYMS: trivial, inconsequential, insignificant ANTONYMS: significant, crucial, momentous

perpetuate

(v.) to make permanent or long lasting

SYNONYMS: continue, preserve, prolong indefinitely ANTONYMS: discontinue, abolish, abandon

precedent

(n.) an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

SYNONYMS: guide, tradition, model ANTONYMS: -

punitive

(adj.) inflicting or aiming at punishment

SYNONYMS: penalizing, retaliatory ANTONYMS: N/A

redress

(v.) to set right, remedy; (n.) relief from wrong or injury

SYNONYMS: (v.) rectify, correct, mitigate ANTONYMS: N/A

sojourn

(n.) a temporary stay; (v.) to stay for a time

SYNONYMS: (n.) visit, stopover, brief stay ANTONYMS: -

urbane

(adj.) refined in manner or style, suave

SYNONYMS: elegant ANTONYMS: crude, uncouth, boorish