unit 3 vocab

accost: Definition

Meaning: to approach and speak to someone first, especially in a challenging or aggressive way. Part of speech: verb. Pronunciation: uh-KOST.

accost: Usage

Correct usage: "The nobleman was accosted by beggars on the way to the castle." Accost means to approach someone, usually unexpectedly and often aggressively or boldly.

accost: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: buttonhole, approach, confront. Antonyms: evade, avoid, shun.

affinity: Definition

Meaning: a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship or connection. Part of speech: noun. Pronunciation: uh-FIN-uh-tee.

affinity: Usage

Correct usage: "The mysterious affinity between the two leaders could not be explained." Affinity describes a natural liking, attraction, similarity, or connection between people or things.

affinity: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: inclination, penchant, attraction, connection. Antonyms: distaste, aversion.

brackish: Definition

Meaning: having a salty taste and being unpleasant to drink; containing a mixture of salt and fresh water. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: BRAK-ish.

brackish: Usage

Correct usage: "The shipwrecked passengers became ill after drinking brackish water." Brackish is usually used to describe water that is unpleasantly salty.

brackish: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: briny, saline. Antonyms: fresh, clear, sweet.

carping: Definition

Meaning: tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or overly critical way; as a noun, petty or nagging criticism. Part of speech: adjective/noun. Pronunciation: KAR-ping.

carping: Usage

Correct usage: "The trainee resigned rather than put up with the manager's carping complaints." Carping describes constant, petty, and annoying criticism.

carping: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: nit-picking, caviling. Antonyms: approving, uncritical.

coherent: Definition

Meaning: holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; clear, comprehensible, and meaningful. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: koh-HEER-unt.

coherent: Usage

Correct usage: "The physics teacher gave a surprisingly coherent explanation of quantum mechanics." Coherent describes ideas or explanations that are logically connected and easy to understand.

coherent: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: connected, unified, consistent, cohesive. Antonyms: muddled, chaotic, disjointed.

commensurate: Definition

Meaning: equal or proportionate in size, extent, duration, or importance; measurable by the same standards. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: kuh-MEN-sur-it.

commensurate: Usage

Correct usage: "All employees received raises commensurate with their efforts." Commensurate is commonly followed by "with" and means proportional or corresponding to something.

commensurate: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: comparable, corresponding, coordinate, proportionate. Antonyms: disproportionate, unequal.

dichotomy: Definition

Meaning: a division into two contradictory or mutually exclusive parts; a division or contrast between two things. Part of speech: noun. Pronunciation: dy-KOT-uh-mee.

dichotomy: Usage

Correct usage: "Many great works of literature examine the dichotomy between good and evil." Dichotomy refers to a sharp division or contrast between two opposing things.

dichotomy: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: schism, division, bifurcation. Antonyms: uniformity, oneness, unity.

ensconce: Definition

Meaning: to settle comfortably and firmly in a position; to put or hide something in a safe or secure place. Part of speech: verb. Pronunciation: en-SKONS.

ensconce: Usage

Correct usage: "After a long day at work, I gratefully ensconced myself in my warm bed." Ensconce is often used reflexively as "ensconce oneself," meaning to settle comfortably somewhere.

ensconce: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: nestle, lodge, entrench. Antonyms: unseat, displace, oust.

faux pas: Definition

Meaning: a mistake in manners or conduct; a social blunder or embarrassing mistake. Part of speech: noun. Pronunciation: foh PAH.

faux pas: Usage

Correct usage: "I embarrassed myself at the party by committing a dreadful faux pas." Faux pas refers specifically to an embarrassing social mistake or breach of etiquette.

faux pas: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: indiscretion, gaffe, blunder. Antonyms: coup, tour de force.

iconoclastic: Definition

Meaning: attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: eye-KON-uh-KLAST-ik.

iconoclastic: Usage

Correct usage: "The writer's iconoclastic opinions often stirred controversy." Iconoclastic describes someone or something that challenges established traditions or widely accepted beliefs.

iconoclastic: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: image-breaking, irreverent, heretical. Antonyms: orthodox, conservative, reverent.

incendiary: Definition

Meaning: as an adjective, deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion. As a noun, a person who deliberately sets fires or causes strife. Part of speech: adjective/noun. Pronunciation: in-SEN-dee-er-ee.

incendiary: Usage

Correct usage: "The arsonist planted an incendiary device in the basement." "The radical incendiary was sentenced to life imprisonment." As an adjective, incendiary can describe something designed to cause fire or conflict; as a noun, it describes a person who causes fires or strife.

incendiary: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: adjective: inflammatory, provocative; noun: firebrand. Antonyms: adjective: soothing, quieting; noun: peacemaker.

largesse: Definition

Meaning: generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions. Part of speech: noun. Pronunciation: lar-JES.

largesse: Usage

Correct usage: "The university was the fortunate beneficiary of the largesse of many of its graduates." Largesse describes generous giving, especially large or lavish donations.

largesse: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: liberality, munificence, bounty, generosity. Antonyms: stinginess, miserliness, niggardliness.

malleable: Definition

Meaning: capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: MAL-ee-uh-bul.

malleable: Usage

Correct usage: "The malleable minds of the young students were easily influenced by the charismatic professor." Malleable can describe physical materials that can be shaped or people and ideas that can be easily influenced or changed.

malleable: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: pliable, impressionable, adaptable. Antonyms: rigid, inflexible, unyielding, intractable.

noisome: Definition

Meaning: offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: NOI-sum.

noisome: Usage

Correct usage: "The noisome atmosphere of the slaughterhouse overwhelmed the visitors." Noisome describes something unpleasant, especially a foul smell or harmful condition.

noisome: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: fetid, noxious, vile, loathsome. Antonyms: wholesome, pleasant, sweet-smelling.

portentous: Definition

Meaning: foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty or pompous. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: POR-ten-tus.

portentous: Usage

Correct usage: "No one realized how portentous the strange events of the previous week would become." Portentous often describes something that seems to predict or signal an important future event, especially a troubling one.

portentous: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: foreboding, ominous, pretentious. Antonyms: auspicious, propitious, encouraging.

raconteur: Definition

Meaning: a person who tells stories and anecdotes with great skill. Part of speech: noun. Pronunciation: rak-uhn-TUR.

raconteur: Usage

Correct usage: "The author, a noted raconteur, was much sought after as a dinner-party guest." A raconteur is a skilled and entertaining storyteller.

raconteur: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: storyteller, anecdotist. Antonyms: no direct antonym.

tenable: Definition

Meaning: capable of being held, maintained, or defended; reasonable or supportable. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: TEN-uh-bul.

tenable: Usage

Correct usage: "The researcher put forth a tenable theory that could be supported by the available evidence." Tenable describes an argument, theory, position, or idea that can reasonably be defended.

tenable: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: defensible, justifiable, maintainable. Antonyms: indefensible, unjustifiable.

truncate: Definition

Meaning: to shorten by cutting off part of something; to shorten or reduce. Part of speech: verb. Pronunciation: TRUNG-kayt.

truncate: Usage

Correct usage: "A family emergency forced us to truncate our summer vacation." Truncate means to make something shorter by cutting off or removing part of it.

truncate: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: trim, abbreviate, curtail. Antonyms: lengthen, elongate, extend, protract.

unconscionable: Definition

Meaning: not guided or restrained by conscience, prudence, or reason; unscrupulous, excessive, or unreasonable. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: un-KON-shuh-nuh-bul.

unconscionable: Usage

Correct usage: "The company's exploitation of its employees was described as unconscionable." Unconscionable describes behavior that is shockingly unreasonable, immoral, or unfair.

unconscionable: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: unjustifiable, indefensible, unforgivable, unscrupulous. Antonyms: justifiable, reasonable, honorable.

vacuous: Definition

Meaning: devoid of matter, substance, or meaning; lacking ideas or intelligence; purposeless. Part of speech: adjective. Pronunciation: VAK-yoo-us.

vacuous: Usage

Correct usage: "The vacuous expression on his face made it difficult to believe he understood the discussion." Vacuous can describe an expression, statement, idea, or person that seems empty, unintelligent, or lacking substance.

vacuous: Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: inane, insipid, fatuous, void, empty. Antonyms: incisive, trenchant, perceptive, intelligent.