Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary: Level G: Unit 9

acclamation

(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

(SYN: ovation, cheering, plaudits)

(ANT: booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls)

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral

(SYN: rustic)

(ANT: metropolitan)

calumniate

(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously

(SYN: defame, libel)

(ANT: flatter, whitewash, praise)

chary

(Adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident

(SYN: skittish)

(ANT: heedless, reckless, incautious)

collusion

(n.) secret agreement or cooperation

(SYN: conspiracy, plot, connivance)

dilettante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial

(SYN: amateur)

(ANT: professional)

imperturbable

(adj.) Not easily excited; emotionally steady.

(SYN: unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled)

(ANT: excitable)

increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

(SYN: accretion)

(ANT: reduction, decrease)

mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order

(SYN: directive)

(ANT: forbid, ban, outlaw)

paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy

(SYN: measly, meager, piddling, trivial)

(ANT: gigantic, immense)

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion

(SYN: fit, seizure)

pedantry

(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details

(SYN: nit-picking, pettifoggery)

peregrination

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

(SYN: journey, wandering, odyssey)

redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura

(SYN: evocative, reminiscent, aromatic)

(ANT: unevocative, odorless)

refulgent

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent

(SYN: splendid)

(ANT: dim, dark, obscure, dingy, dull)

shibboleth

(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism

(SYN: password, slogan)

tyro

(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill

(SYN: neophyte)

(ANT: veteran, past master, expert)

unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

(SYN: incessant, unrelenting)

(ANT: desultory, intermittent)

vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

(SYN: fluctuate, oscillate)

(ANT: persevere)

vituperative

(Adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding

(SYN: abusive, scurrilous, insulting)

(ANT: complimentary, laudatory, flattering)