Sadlier Level F, Unit 12

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt

SYNONYMS: acquit, exonerate, vindicate, excuse, pardon

ANTONYMS: condemn, convict, incriminate, inculpate

caricature

(n.) a representation in which the subject's characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated; (v.) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way

SYNONYMS: (n.) cartoon, burlesque, lampoon

clangor

(n.) a loud ringing sound; (v.) to make a loud ringing noise

SYNONYMS: (n.) din, clamor, uproar

ANTONYMS: (n.) silence, stillness, peace and quiet

contiguous

(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time

SYNONYMS: adjoining, abutting, next door to

ANTONYMS: detached, apart, distant, remote

cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

SYNONYMS: avarice, rapacity, craving, lust

ANTONYMS: contentment, satiation, gratification

deleterious

(adj.) harmful, injurious

SYNONYMS: detrimental, destructive, pernicious, damaging

ANTONYMS: helpful, beneficial, harmless, innocuous

enhance

(v.) to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of

SYNONYMS: improve, elevate

ANTONYMS: diminish, degrade

enthrall

(v.) captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

SYNONYMS: fascinate, attract

ANTONYMS: bore to tears, repel

extenuate

(v.) to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offense by making partial excuses.

SYNONYMS: moderate, mitigate, diminish, downplay

ANTONYMS: intensify, magnified, worsen, exacerbate

implicit

(adj.) implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

SYNONYMS: inferred, tacit, unspoken, unconditional

ANTONYMS: explicit, expressed, stated, revealed

incisive

(adj.) sharp, keen (in terms of decisiveness)

SYNONYMS: acute, cutting, perceptive

inimical

(adj.) tending to cause harm; being oppositional or adverse

SYNONYMS:: unfriendly, hostile, antagonistic, contrary
ANTONYMS: friendly, hospitable, kind

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

SYNONYMS: flashy, overdone, affected, flamboyant

ANTONYMS: modes, plain, simple, demure, retiring

paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

SYNONYMS: ideal, paradigm, model, good example

politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient

SYNONYMS: tactful, diplomatic, judicious, circumspect

ANTONYMS: unwise, injudicious, imprudent, rash

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic or prose, not poetic

SYNONYMS: literal, pedestrian

ANTONYMS: remarkable, inspired

redundant

(adj.) extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lush

SYNONYMS: unnecessary, superfluous, verbose, prolix

ANTONYMS: terse, laconic, scarce, inadequate

sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou

ANTONYMS: heartfelt, sincere, humble

scintillating

(adj., part.) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant (applied to mental or personal qualities)

SYNONYMS: stimulation, glittering

ANTONYMS: dull, boring, insipid

winsome

(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (childline charm)

SYNONYMS: winning, delightful, prepossessing

ANTONYMS: unattractive, unappealing, repulsive