Level F Unit 6

Anomalous

(adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual


Synonyms: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant

Antonyms: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

Aspersion

(n) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming


Synonyms: innuendo, calumny, denigration

Antonyms: endorsement, praise

Bizarre

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical


Synonyms: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish

Antonyms: normal, typical, ordinary, expected

Brusque

(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities.


Synonyms: tactless, ungracious

Antonyms: tactful, diplomatic

Cajole

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises


Synonyms: wheedle, Inveigle

Antonyms: coerce, force

Castigate

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely


Synonyms: chastise, censure

Antonyms: honor, praise, laud

Contrive

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan

Synonyms: think up, concoct

Demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

Synonyms: rabble-rouser, firebrand

Disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking


Synonyms: undeceive, enlighten

Antonyms: deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes

Ennui

(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom

Synonyms: languor, world-weariness, listlessness

Antonyms: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

Fetter

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural)
(v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

Synonyms: (n.) bond, restraint; (v.) bind, hamper

Antonyms: (v.) free, liberate, emancipate

Heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

Synonyms: evil, odious, outrageous

Antonyms: excellent, wonderful, splendid

Immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constant

Synonyms: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable

Antonyms: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle

Insurgent

(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority
(adj.) Rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

Synonyms: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous

Antonyms: (adj.) loyalist, loyal, faithful

Megalomania

(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality

Synonym: delusions of grandeur

Antonyms: humility, modesty, self-abasement

Sinecure

(n.) A position requiring little or no work; an easy job

Synonyms: "no-show" job, cushy job, "plum"

Surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

Synonyms: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed

Antonyms: open, frank, aboveboard, overt

Transgress

(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

Synonyms: overstep, trespass

Antonyms: obey, toe the line

Transmute

(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another

Synonyms: transform, convert

Antonyms: maintain preserve

Vicarious

(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

Synonyms: surrogate, secondhand

Antonyms: actual, firsthand