vocab unit 3

cavort (v)

to romp or prance around exuberantly; to make merry

SYNONYMS: gambol

credence (n)

belief, mental acceptance

SYNONYMS: credit, trust, confidence

decry (v)

to condemn, express strong disapproval; to officially depreciate

SYNONYMS: denounce, censure, devalue

dissemble (v)

to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression

SYNONYMS: dissimulate, mask, feign

distraught (adj)

very much agitated or upset as a result of emotion or mental conflict

SYNONYMS: distracted

eulogy (n)

a formal statement of commendation; high praise

SYNONYMS: panegyric, encomium, tribute

evince (v)

to display clearly, to make evident, to provoke

SYNONYMS: exhibit, manifest, occasion

exhume (v)

to remove from a grave; to bring to light

feckless (adj)

lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable

SYNONYMS: feeble, incompetent, ineffectual

murky (

nefarious (adj)

wicked, depraved, devoid of moral standards

SYNONYMS: iniquitous, reprehensible

piquant (adj)

stimulating to the taste or mind; spicy, pungent; appealing provocative

SYNONYMS: zestful, tangy

primordial (adj)

developed or created at the very beginning; going back to the most ancient times or earliest stage; fundamental, basic

SYNONYMS: original, primal

propinquity (n)

nearness in place or time; kinship

SYNONYMS: similarity

substantive (adj)

real, having a solid basis; considerable in number or amount; meaningful and on topic

SYNONYMS: firm, substantial, meaty

unwonted (adj)

not unusual or expected; not in character

SYNONYMS: unusual, uncommon, unexpected, atypical

utopian (adj)

founded upon or involving a visionary view of an ideal world; impractical

SYNONYMS: idealistic

verbiage (n)

language that is too wordy or inflated in proportion to the sense or content, wordiness; a manner of expression

SYNONYMS: prolixity, diction, jargon

verdant (adj)

green in tint or color; immature in experience or judgement

SYNONYMS: artless, naive

viscous (adj)

having a gelatinous or gluey quality; lacking in easy movement or fluidity

SYNONYMS: sticky, thick