Unit 6 Vocabulary

abashed

(adj. part.) embarrassed, ashamed, or nonplussed

syn: unembarrassed, unashamed

aloof

(adj.) withdrawn, standing apart from others by choice

syn: distant, cold,

ant: involved, sociable

anguish

(n.) great mental suffering, distress, pain; (v.) to cause deep pain or sorrow

syn: (n.) misery, woe, torment

ant: (n.) joy, delight, peace of mind

articulate

(v.) to pronounce distinctly; to express well in words; to fit together into a system; (adj.) able to use language effectively; expressed clearly and forcefully

syn: (v.) expound; (adj.) eloquent

ant: (adj.) tongue-tied, mumbled

bask

(v.) to be in, or expose oneself to, pleasant warmth; to take pleasure in or derive enjoyment from

syn: wallow, revel

defect

(n.) an imperfection, flaw, or blemish of some kind; (v.) to desert a cause or organization

finesse

(n.) delicate skill; tact and cleverness; (v.) to accomplish something by cleverness, good judgment or skillful evasion

syn: (n.) delicacy, subtlety

ant: (n.) clumsiness, awkwardness

flaunt

(v.) to wave or flutter showily; to display in a conceited, offensive way

syn: show off, parade

ant: hide, downplay

forthright

(adj.) frank, direct, straightforward

syn: candid, blunt

ant: indirect, evasive, deceitful, two-faced

genial

(adj.) cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm

syn: friendly, amiable

ant: cold, unfriendly, unsociable

instill

(v.) to add gradually; to introduce or cause to be taken in

syn: implant, infuse, inculcate

ant: root out, eradicate, extirpate

ostracize

(v.) to exclude from a group, banish, send away

syn: cast out, expel, blackball

ant: fraternize with, associate with

premonition

(n.) forewarning or foreboding of a future event

syn: presentiment

pseudonym

(n.) a pen name, name assumed by a writer

syn: nom de plume

purge

(v.) to wash away impurities, clean up; (n.) the process of getting rid of something or someone decisively

syn: (v.) cleanse, purify

ant: (v.) pollute, contaminate, defile

rehabilitate

(v.) to make over in good form; to restore to good condition or to a former position

syn: reclaim, rebuild, reform

repercussion

(n.) an effect or consequence or some action or event, result; an echo or reverberation

ant: cause, source

resolute

(adj.) bold, determined; firm

syn: steadfast, unflinching

ant: weak, spineless

retentive

(adj.) able to hold, keep, or recall; retaining knowledge easily

ant: porous, forgetful

scapegoat

(n.) a person or thing carrying the blame for others

syn: whipping boy