Vocabulary Workshop Level F: Unit 12

absolve

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

Synonyms: acquit, exonerate, vindicate, excuse, pardon

Antonyms: condemn, convict, incriminate, inculpate

caricature

(n.) a representation in which the subject's characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated;

(v.) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way

Synonyms: cartoon, burlesque, lampoon

clangor

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

Synonyms: (n.) din, clamor, uproar

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

contiguous

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

Synonyms: abutting, next door to

Antonyms: detached, apart, distant, remote

cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

Synonyms: avarice, rapacity, craving, lust

Antonyms: contentment, satiety, gratification

deleterious

(adj.) harmful, injurious

Synonyms: detrimental, destructive, pernicious, damaging

Antonyms: helpful, beneficial, harmless, innocuous

enhance

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

Synonyms: improve, magnify, heighten, elevate

Antonyms: diminish, degrade

enthrall

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

Synonyms: fascinate, enchant, attract, bewitch

Antonyms: bore to tears, repel

extenuate

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

Synonyms: moderate, mitigate, diminish, downplay

Antonyms: intensify, magnified, worsen, exacerbate

implicit

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

Synonyms: inferred, tacit, unspoken, unconditional

Antonyms: Explicit, expressed, stated, revealed

incisive

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

Synonyms: acute, cutting, perceptive, trenchant

Antonyms: Acute, cutting, perceptive

inimical

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

Synonyms: unfriendly, hostile, antagonistic, contrary

Antonyms: friendly, hospitable, kind

ostentatious

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

Synonyms: flashy, overdone, affected, flamboyant

Antonyms: modest, plain, simple, demure, retiring

paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

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

politic

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

Synonyms: tactful, diplomatic, judicious, circumspect

Antonyms: unwise, injudicious, imprudent, rash

prosaic

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

Synonyms: commonplace, humdrum, literal, pedestrian

Antonyms: remarkable, poetic

redundant

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

Synonyms: unnecessary, superfluous, verbose, prolix

Antonyms: terse, laconic, scarce, inadequate

sanctimonious

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

Antonyms: heartfelt, sincere, humble

scintillating

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

Synonyms: stimulation, lively, glittering, flashing

Antonyms: dull, boring, insipid

winsome

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

Synonyms: winning, engaging, delightful, prepossessing

Antonyms: unattractive, unappealing, repulsive