Sadlier Unit 5 Vocabulary

Accomplice (n.) A person who takes part in a crime - The driver of the getaway car was arrested and tried as an accomplice in the daring bank robbery. Synonyms: partner in crime Annihilate (v.) To destroy completely - Throughout history, nations that are bitter enemies have sought to annihilate each other. Synonyms: obliterate, decimate Antonyms: foster, promote, encourage, nurture Arbitrary (adj.) Unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness - A judge may be criticized for rulings that appear to be arbitrary and without legal precedent. Synonyms: Capricious, high-handed, autocratic Antonyms: Reasoned, rational, objective, equitable Brazen (adj.) Shameless, impudent; made of brass - Behavior considered brazen in one era may be deemed perfectly acceptable in another. Synonyms: Saucy, bold Antonyms: Deferential, respectful, self-effacing Catalyst (n.) A substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction; any agent that causes change - Enzymes are catalysts that aid in the digestion of food. Synonyms: Stimulus, spur, instigator Exodus (n.) A large-scale departure or flight - The exodus of African Americans to the industrialized northern states is known as the Great Migration. Synonyms: Escape, hegira Antonyms: Immigration, influx, arrival, entrance Facilitate (v.) To make easier; to assist - The Federal Reserve Board may lower interest rates in order to facilitate economic growth. Synonyms: Ease, smooth the way, simplify Antonyms: Hamper, hinder, obstruct, impede Incorrigible (adj.) Not able to be corrected; beyond control - Criminals deemed incorrigible can expect to receive maximum sentences for their offenses against society. Synonyms: Unruly, intractable, incurable, inveterate Antonyms: Tractable, docile, curable, reparable Latent (adj.) Hidden, present but not realized - Don't you think it's sad that many people use only a small fraction of their latent abilities? Synonyms: Dormant, inactive, undeveloped Antonyms: Exposed, manifest, evident Militant (adj.) Given to fighting; active and aggressive in support of a cause - In the struggle for civil rights, Martin Luther King, Jr., advocated peaceful rather than militant protest. Synonyms: Truculent Antonyms: Unassertive, peaceable, passive (v.) An activist - Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a militant in the fight for women's suffrage. Morose (adj.) Having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable - Heathcliff is the morose and vengeful protagonist in Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights. Synonyms: Morbid Antonyms: Blithe, jaunty, buoyant Opaque (adj.) Not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense - I have read that book twice, but I still find the author's meaning completely opaque. Synonyms: Hazy, cloudy, foggy, murky, dull, obtuse Antonyms: Transparent, clear, bright, perceptive Paramount (adj.) Chief in importance, above all others - Voters should insist that candidates for high offices address the paramount issues facing our society. Synonyms: Supreme, primary, dominant Antonyms: Secondary, subordinate, ancillary Prattle (v.) To talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; to babble - Some people can prattle away on the phone for hours on end. (n.) Baby talk; babble - Over time, recognizable words become part of a toddler's cheerful prattle Synonyms: Twaddle, gibberish, piffle Rebut (v.) To offer arguments or evidence that contradict an assertion; to refute - It is a defense lawyer's job to rebut the charges made by the prosecutor. Synonyms: Disprove, confute, shoot holes in Antonyms: Confirm, corroborate, substantiate Reprimand (v.) To scold; find fault with - A judge may need to reprimand a lawyer for repeatedly harassing a witness. Synonyms: Reproach Antonyms: Pat on the back (n.) A rebuke - An employee who frequently violates a company's rules may receive a written reprimand. Synonyms: Reproof Servitude (n.) Slavery, forced labor - In Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is sentenced to many years of servitude for stealing a loaf of bread. Synonyms: Bondage, thralldom Antonyms: Liberty Slapdash (adj.) Careless and hasty - Landlords who routinely make slapdash repairs should be considered negligent. Synonyms: Cursory, perfunctory, slipshod Antonyms: Painstaking, thorough, in-depth Stagnant (adj.) Not running or flowing; foul from standing still; inactive - It is dangerous for hikers to drink water from any source that appears to be stagnant. Synonyms: Still, motionless, inert, sluggish, dull Antonyms: Flowing, running, fresh, sweet Succumb (v.) To give way to superior force, yield - Most dieters occasionally succumb to the lure of a high-calorie dessert. Synonyms: Submit, die, expire Antonyms: Overcome, master, conquer

Synonyms: partner in crime

Annihilate

(v.) To destroy completely

- Throughout history, nations that are bitter enemies have sought to annihilate each other.

Synonyms: obliterate, decimate

Antonyms: foster, promote, encourage, nurture

Arbitrary

(adj.) Unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness

- A judge may be criticized for rulings that appear to be arbitrary and without legal precedent.

Synonyms: Capricious, high-handed, autocratic

Antonyms: Reasoned, rational, objective, equitable

Brazen

(adj.) Shameless, impudent; made of brass

- Behavior considered brazen in one era may be deemed perfectly acceptable in another.

Synonyms: Saucy, bold

Antonyms: Deferential, respectful, self-effacing

Catalyst

(n.) A substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction; any agent that causes change

- Enzymes are catalysts that aid in the digestion of food.

Synonyms: Stimulus, spur, instigator

Exodus

(n.) A large-scale departure or flight

- The exodus of African Americans to the industrialized northern states is known as the Great Migration.

Synonyms: Escape, hegira

Antonyms: Immigration, influx, arrival, entrance

Facilitate

(v.) To make easier; to assist

- The Federal Reserve Board may lower interest rates in order to facilitate economic growth.

Synonyms: Ease, smooth the way, simplify

Antonyms: Hamper, hinder, obstruct, impede

Incorrigible

(adj.) Not able to be corrected; beyond control

- Criminals deemed incorrigible can expect to receive maximum sentences for their offenses against society.

Synonyms: Unruly, intractable, incurable, inveterate

Antonyms: Tractable, docile, curable, reparable

Latent

(adj.) Hidden, present but not realized

- Don't you think it's sad that many people use only a small fraction of their latent abilities?

Synonyms: Dormant, inactive, undeveloped

Antonyms: Exposed, manifest, evident

Militant

(adj.) Given to fighting; active and aggressive in support of a cause

- In the struggle for civil rights, Martin Luther King, Jr., advocated peaceful rather than militant protest.

Synonyms: Truculent

Antonyms: Unassertive, peaceable, passive

(v.) An activist

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a militant in the fight for women's suffrage.

Morose

(adj.) Having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

- Heathcliff is the morose and vengeful protagonist in Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights.

Synonyms: Morbid

Antonyms: Blithe, jaunty, buoyant

Opaque

(adj.) Not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense

- I have read that book twice, but I still find the author's meaning completely opaque.

Synonyms: Hazy, cloudy, foggy, murky, dull, obtuse

Antonyms: Transparent, clear, bright, perceptive

Paramount

(adj.) Chief in importance, above all others

- Voters should insist that candidates for high offices address the paramount issues facing our society.

Synonyms: Supreme, primary, dominant

Antonyms: Secondary, subordinate, ancillary

Prattle

(v.) To talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; to babble

- Some people can prattle away on the phone for hours on end.

(n.) Baby talk; babble

- Over time, recognizable words become part of a toddler's cheerful prattle

Synonyms: Twaddle, gibberish, piffle

Rebut

(v.) To offer arguments or evidence that contradict an assertion; to refute

- It is a defense lawyer's job to rebut the charges made by the prosecutor.

Synonyms: Disprove, confute, shoot holes in

Antonyms: Confirm, corroborate, substantiate

Reprimand

(v.) To scold; find fault with

- A judge may need to reprimand a lawyer for repeatedly harassing a witness.

Synonyms: Reproach

Antonyms: Pat on the back

(n.) A rebuke