Vocabulary Level F - Unit 6

Anomalous

(adj) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

S: exceptional, unusual, aberrant
A: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

Bizarre

(adj) extremely strange, unusual, atypical

S: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
A: normal, typical, ordinary, expected

Cajole

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

S: wheedle, inveigle
A: coerce, force

Demagogue

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

S: rabble-rouser, firebrand

Disabuse

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

S: undeceive, enlighten
A: deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes

Fetter

(n) a chain or shackle placed on the foot (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains

(v) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

S: bond, restraint, bind, hamper
A: free, liberate, emancipate

Heinous

(adj) very wicked, offensive, hateful

S: evil, odious, outrageous
A: excellent, wonderful, splendid

Megalomania

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

S: delusions of grandeur
A: modesty, self-abasement

Surreptitious

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

S: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
A: open, frank, aboveboard, overt

Transmute

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

S: transform, convert
A: preserve, maintain

Aspersion

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

S: innuendo, calumny
A: endorsement, praise

Brusque

(adj) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

S: tactless, ungracious
A: tactful, diplomatic

Castigate

(v) to punish severely; to criticize severely

S: chastise, censure
A: honor, praise, laud

Contrive

(v) to plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan

S: think up, concoct, fabricate

Ennui

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

S: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
A: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

Immutable

(adj) not subject to change, constant

S: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
A: changeable, variable, inconstant, fickle

Insurgent

(n) one who rebels or rises against authority

(adj) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

S: revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
A: loyalist, loyal, faithful

Sinecure

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

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

Transgress

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

S: overstep, trespass
A: obey, toe the line

Vicarious

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

S: surrogate, secondhand
A: actual, firsthand