Unit 9

accelerate

(v.) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly

syn: step up

ant: slow down

bystander

(n.) one who looks on or observes, a person present but not taking part

syn: observer

ant: participant

canvass

(v.) to go through an area in order to produce votes, sales, or opinions; to go over in detail; to discuss

syn: solicit

casual

(adj.) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal

syn: offhand

ant: formal

downtrodden

(adj.) treated unfairly and cruelly, oppressed

syn: mistreated

ant: uplifted

entice

(v.) to attract, tempt

syn: lure

ant: repel

erode

(v.) to wear away gradually, eat away

syn: abrade

ant: nurture

flounder

(v.) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way

syn: wallow

graphic

(adj.) lifelike, vivid; relating to the pictorial arts

syn: colorful

ant: dull

gruesome

(adj.) horrible, revolting, ghastly

syn: gory

ant: pleasant

melancholy

(adj.) sad, gloomy, unhappy; (n.) sadness, gloominess

syn: depressed

ant: happy

ordeal

(n.) a difficult or painful experience, a trail

syn: trauma

ant: pleasure

parch

(v.) to make dry and thirsty; to shrivel with heat

syn: dry up

ant: saturate

persist

(v.) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last, remain

syn: preserve

ant: give up

puny

(adj.) of less than normal strength or size; of no importance

syn: under size

ant: robust

quibble

(v.) to evade or belittle a point by twisting words or raising minor objections; (n.)a petty objection

syn: split hairs

ant: peace making

ratify

(v.) to approve, give formal approval to, confirm

syn: endorse

ant: cancel

regal

(adj.) royal, king like; fit for a king

syn: majestic

ant: lowly

stifle

(v.) to smother, prevent from breathing; hold back, or choke off

syn: strangle

ant: encourage

vital

(adj.) having a life, living; necessary to life, essential; key, crucial

syn: indispensable

ant: unneccasary