AP Lang & Comp - Unit 7 - Vocab

abeyance

n. a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside

synonyms: postponement, suspension

ambivalent

adj. having opposite and conflicting feeling about someone or something

synonyms: ambiguous, of two minds

antonyms: unequivocal, unambiguous, clear-cut

beleaguer

v. to set upon from all sides; to surround with an army; to trouble, harass

synonyms: besiege, encircle, pester

carte blanche

n. full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion

synonyms: blank check

cataclysm

n. a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge

synonyms: disaster, catastrophe

debauch

v. to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation

n. an act or occasion of dissipation or vice

synonyms: carouse, orgy

antonyms; elevate, uplift, purify

éclat

n. dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)

synonyms: celebrity

antonyms: dullness, insipidity, mediocrity

fastidious

adj. overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted

synonyms: precise, exacting, finicky

antonyms: careless, sloppy, messy, untidy, slovenly

gambol

v. to jump or skip about playfully

synonyms: frolic, romp, cavort, caper

antonyms: lumber, plod

imbue

v. to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind

synonyms: infuse, inculcate

antonyms: remove, expunge, eradicate, erase

inchoate

adj. just beginning; not fully shaped or formed

synonyms; incipient, embryonic

antonyms: mature, developed, complete

lampoon

n. a malicious satire

v. to satirize, ridicule

synonyms: burlesque, parody

antonyms: compliment, flattery

malleable

adj. capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced

synonyms: pliable, impressionable, adaptable

antonyms: rigid, inflexible, unyielding, intractable

nemesis

n. an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival

synonyms: comeuppance, avenger

antonyms: guardian angel, ally, patron

opt

v. to make a choice or decision

synonyms: choose, select, decide

philistine

adj. lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements

n. such a person

synonyms: boorish, lowbrow, pedant

antonyms: refined, cultivated, highbrow

picaresque

adj. involving or characteristic of clever rogues or adventurers

synonyms: roguish, rascally, rakish

queasy

adj. nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled

synonyms; unsettled

antonyms: calm, untroubled, confident

refractory

adj. stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure

synonyms: unruly, disobedient, willful, mulish

antonyms: docile, tractable, obedient

savoir-faire

n. the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence

synonyms: tact, finesse, suavity, sophistication

antonyms: tactlessness, gaucherie, boorishness