English 1111 Sadlier Vocabulary Unit 12

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt

S: acquit, exonerate, vindicate, excuse, pardon

A: condemn, convict, incriminate, inculpate

caricature

(n.) a representation (especially a drawing) in which the subject’s features are deliberately exaggerated (v.) to present someone was something in a deliberately distorted way

S: (n.) cartoon, burlesque, parody, lampoon

clangor

(n.) a loud ringing sound (v.) to make a loud ringing noise

S: (n.) din, clamor, uproar

A: (n.) silence, stillness, peace and quiet

continguous

(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time

S: adjoining, abutting, next door to

A: detached, apart, distant, remote

cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

S: avarice, rapacity, craving, lust

A: generosity, contentment, satiation, gratification

deleterious

(adj.) harmful, injurious

S: detrimental, destructive, pernicious, damaging

A: helpful, beneficial, harmless, innocuous

enhance

(v.) to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of

S: improve, magnify, heighten, elevate

A: diminish, reduce, lessen, degrade

enthrall

(v.) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

S: fascinate, enchant, attract, bewitch

A: bore to tears, repel, put someone off

extenuate

(v.) to lessen the seriousness ro magnitude or an offense by making partial excuses

S: moderate, mitigate, diminish, downplay

A: intensify, aggravate, worsen, exacerbate

implicit

(adj.) implied or understood through unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

S: inferred, tacit, unspoken, unconditional

A: explicit, expressed, stated, revealed

incisive

(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)

S: acute, cutting, perceptive, trenchant

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

S: flashy, overdone, affected, flamboyant

A: modest, plain, simple demure, retiring

paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

S: exemplar, ideal, paradigm, model, good example

inimical

(adj.) tending to cause harm or obstruct developments; being oppositional or adverse

S: unfriendly, hostile

A: friendly, hospitable, kind

politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient

S: tactful, diplomatic, judicious, circumspect

A: unwise, injudicious, imprudent, rash

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic or prose, not poetic

S: commonplace, humdrum, literal, pedestrian

A: remarkable, distinctive, poetic, inspired

redundant

(adj.) extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lush

S: unnecessary, superfluous, verbose, prolix

A: succinct, terse, laconic, scarce, inadequate

sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou

A: heartfelt, sincere, humble

scintillating

(adj. part) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant (applied to mental or personal qualities)

S: stimulating, lively, gittering flashing

A: dull, boring, insipid, flat, tame, vapid

winsome

(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting a childlike charm and innocence)

S: winning, engaging, delightful, prepossessing

A: unattractive, unappealing, repulsive