Vocab Quiz 2 (8/30/23)

accost

(v.) to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

synonyms of accost

buttonhole, approach

animadversion

(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

synonyms of animadversion

rebuke, reproof

avid

(adj.) desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

synonyms of avid

keen, enthusiastic, grasping

brackish

(adj.) having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

synonyms of brackish

saline

celerity

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

synonyms of celerity

promptness, speed

devious

(adj.) straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

synonyms of devious

roundabout, indirect, tricky, sly, artful

gambit

(n.) in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage, any opening move of this type

synonyms of gambit

ploy, ruse, maneuver

halcyon

(n.) a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher

(adj.) of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy golden; prosperous, affluent

synonyms of halcyon (adj.)

tranquil, placid, palmy

histrionic

(adj.) pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

synonyms of histrionic

affected, stagy

incendiary

(adj.) deliberately setting up or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up or strife or rebellion

(n.) one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife

synonyms of incendiary (n.)

firebrand

synonyms of incendiary (adj.)

inflammatory, provocative

maelstrom

(n.) a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

synonyms of maelstrom

chaos, turbulence, tumult

myopic

(adj.) nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment

synonyms of myopic

shortsighted

overt

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

synonyms of overt

clear, obvious, manifest, patent

pejorative

(adj.) tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

propriety

(n.) the state of being proper, appropriateness

synonyms of propriety

fitness, correctness

sacrilege

(n.) improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

synonyms of sacrilege

desecration, profanation, defilement

summarily

(adv.) without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

suppliant

(adj.) asking humbly and earnestly

(n.) one wo makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner; suitor

talisman

(n.) an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

undulate

(v.) to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form

synonyms of undulate

fluctuate, rise and fall