ELA Vocabulary Sets A and B

Beatific

blissful; rendering or making blessed

Synonyms: rapturous, ecstatic \n Antonyms: disconsolate, dejected, doleful

Behemoth

 a creature of enormous size, power, or appearance

Synonyms: whale, elephant, colossus \n Antonyms: dwarf, pygmy, midget

Blandishment

anything designed to flatter or coax; sweet talk

Synonyms: allurement, cajolery \n Antonyms: intimidation

Cacophonous

harsh-sounding, raucous, discordant, dissonant

Antonyms: harmonious, melodious, mellifuous

Chicanery

trickery, deceptive practices or tactics, double-dealing

Antonyms: fair dealing

Consign

to give over to another's care, charge, or control; to entrust, deliver; to set apart for a special use

Synonyms: remit, convey

Coup

a highly successful stroke, masterstroke, act, plan, or stratagem; a sudden takeover of power or leadership

Antonyms: blunder, faux pas, gaffe

Euphemism

a mild or inoffensive expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one; a substitute

Febrile

feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever; frenetic

Antonyms: leisurely

Gainsay

to deny, contradict, controvert; to dispute, oppose

Antonyms: confirm, corroborate, support, admit

Imminent

about to happen, threatening

Synonyms: looming \n Antonyms: distant, remote, faraway

Innate

natural, inborn, inherent; built-in

Synonyms: congenital \n Antonyms: learned, acquired, extrinsic, accidental

Loath

unwilling, reluctant, disinclined

Synonyms: averse, indisposed \n Antonyms: eager, inclined

Manifest

clear, evident to the eyes or mind; (v.) to show plainly, exhibit, evince; (n.) a list of cargo and/or passengers

Synonyms: (adj.) apparent; (v.) reveal, disclose \n Antonyms: (adj.) unrevealed, hidden; (v.) hide, conceal

Minutiae

small or trivial details, trifling matters

Synonyms: trifles \n Antonyms: essentials

Moratorium

a suspension of activity; an official waiting period; an authorized period of delay

Synonyms: postponement, stoppage \n Antonyms: escalation

Nostrum

an alleged cure-all; a remedy or scheme of questionable effectiveness

Synonyms: elixir

Pariah

one who is rejected by a social group or organization

Synonyms: untouchable, persona non grata

Visionary

not practical, lacking in realism; having the nature of a fantasy or dream; (n.) one given to far-fetched ideas; a dreamer or seer characterized by vision or foresight

Synonyms: (adj.) utopian, idealistic, impractical \n Antonyms: (adj.) practical

Wizened

dry, shrunken, and wrinkled (often as the result of aging)

Synonyms: withered, shriveled \n Antonyms: bloated, distended