Sadlier Oxford Level G Unit 10

askance

(adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval [used especially with glances].

synonyms: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically

attenuate

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value.

synonyms: thin out, dilute, water down

antonyms: thicken, strengthen, bolster

benign

(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant.

synonyms: benevolent, salutary, salubrious, harmless

antonyms: malevolent, deleterious

cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism.

synonyms: nitpick, quibble

charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack.

synonyms: fraud, mountebank

decimate

(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of [originally, in the Roman army, ten percent, hence the prefix "deci," as in "decade" or "decimal"].

synonyms: ravage, devastate

foible

(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw.

synonyms: shortcoming, defect, quirk

antonyms: torte, virtue

forgo

(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up.

synonyms: refrain from, renounce

antonyms: indulge in, partake of

fraught

(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by.

synonyms: charged with

antonyms:devoid of, lacking, deficient in

inure

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure.

synonyms: accustom, acclimate

luminous

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating.

synonyms: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous

antonyms: dark, opaque, dim, murky

obsequious

(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons.

synonyms: fawning, serville, sycophantic, mealymouthed

antonyms: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid, frank, independent

obtuse

(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression.

synonyms: stupide, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted

antonyms: acute, perceptive, quick-witted

oscilate

(v) to swing back & forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver

synonyms: vibrate, vaccilate.

penitent

(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing.

synonyms: remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry

antonyms: unrepetent, remorseless

peremptory

(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute.

synonyms: high-handed, unconditional

antonyms: irresolute, tentative, mild, unassuming

rebuff

(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check.

synonyms: spurn, repulse, reject, setback

antonyms: accept, welcome

reconnoiter

(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection.

synonyms: scout

shambles

(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess.

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order.

synonyms: intermittent, spasmodic

antonyms: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted