hwl vocab units 13-15

antipathy

(n.) a strong dislike, hostile feeling

• syn: hostility, enmity, aversion, bad blood

• ant: attraction, appeal, allure, sympathy

applicable

(adj.) capable of being applied; relevant, suitable

• syn: appropriate, fit, apt, apposite

• ant: inappropriate, unsuitable, irrelevant

asset

(n.) something of value; a resource; an advantage

• syn: property, holding, endowment

• ant: drawback, handicap, liability

beset

(v.) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in; (adj., part) harassed, troubled; studded (as with jewels)

• syn: (v.) assail, harass, badger, pester, torment

compassion

(n.) sympathy for another’s suffering; pity

• syn: concern, commiseration, empathy

• ant: indifference, callousness, heartlessness

decorum

(n.) proper behavior, good taste; orderliness

• syn: seemliness, good form, propriety

• ant: impropriety, bad form, bad taste

duress

(n.) compulsion by threat; forcible confinement

• syn: intimidation, coercion

• ant: persuasion, coaxing

exuberant

(adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained, excessive, abundant

• syn: lively, ebullient, irrepressible, lavish

• ant: depressed, despondent, sulky, restrained

facsimile

(n.) an exact copy

• syn: replica, duplicate, clone

• ant: variation, modification, permutation

imbibe

(v.) to drink; to take in; absorb

• syn: swallow, gulp, quaff, digest

• ant: eject, emit, expel, discharge

Implacable

(Adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding

• syn: relentless, inexorable, unappeasable

• Ant: lenient, indulgent, permissive, flexible

infinitesimal

(Adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable; minute

• syn: tiny, minuscule

• Ant: vast, immense, huge, infinite

innocuous

(adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificant

• syn: feeble, impotent, unobjectionable, insipid

• Ant: harmful, dangerous, pernicious, toxic, virulent

Militate

(V.) to have effect or force on or against someone or something, fight against

• syn: counter, oppose, work against

patent

(n.) exclusive rights over an invention; copyright; (v.) to arrange or obtain such rights; (adj.) plain, open to view; copyrighted

• syn: (n.) exclusive license; (adj.) evident

• Ant: (adj.) concealed, hidden, secret

prowess

(n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability

• syn: valor, courage, heroism, mastery, proficiency

• Ant: cowardice, incompetence, ineptitude

sedate

(adj.) quiet, settled, sober; (v.) to administer a tranquilizer

• syn: (adj.) unruffled, composed, cool and collected

• Ant: (adj.) loud, brash, flashy, flamboyant, garish, flighty

stentorian

(adj.) extremely loud

• syn: thundering, deafening,, earsplitting

• Ant: hushed, inaudible, whispered, mute

Stipulate

(V.) to arrange specifically; to require as a condition of agreement

• syn: specify, contract, provide for

ultimatum

(n.) a final proposal or statement of conditions

• syn: final terms

alacrity

(n.) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action

• syn: promptness, willingness, celerity

• ant: reluctance, unwillingness, hesitancy

alleviate

(v.) to relieve, make more bearable

• syn: lessen, allay, mitigate, assuage

antithesis

(n.) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

• syn: contrary, antipode

appall

(v.) to fill with dismay or horror

• syn: shock, stupefy, horrify

• ant: please, cheer, gladden, elate, exhilarate

bellicose

(adj.) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome

• syn: aggressive, combative, belligerent

• ant: amicable, peaceable, pacific

disparage

(v.) to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

• syn: degrade, decry, run down, underrate

• ant: praise, extol, laud, plug

dissonant

(adj.) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds

• syn: grating, unmelodious, irreconcilable

• ant: harmonious, agreeing, euphonious

droll

(adj.) amusingly odd

• syn: comical, humorous, whimsical, zany

• ant: humorless, solemn, dour

edict

(n.) an order issued by someone in authority

• syn: command, decree, proclamation

elucidate

(v.) to clarify, explain

• syn: interpret, expound, explicate

• ant: obscure, becloud, muddy, obfuscate

laud

(v.) to praise

• syn: hail, extol, glorify, exalt

• ant: criticize, censure, belittle, disparage

loll

(v.) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop

• syn: loaf, loiter, sag, dangle

loquacious

(adj.) talkative, wordy; fond of talking

• syn: gossipy, voluble, garrulous, long-winded

• ant: silent, reticent, closemouthed, terse, tacitum

magnanimous

(adj.) generous in forgiving, above small meanness

• syn: unselfish, charitable, noble, bighearted

• ant: petty, selfish, unforgiving, spiteful

mandatory

(adj.) required, obligatory

• syn: compulsory, requisite, imperative

• ant: optional, voluntary, discretionary

nondescript

(adj.) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified

• syn: plain, unremarkable, unimpressive

• ant: remarkable, vivid, prepossessing

phlegmatic

(adj.) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional

• syn: lethargic, indolent, torpid, impassive

• ant: emotional, sensitive, thin-skinned, excitable

rescind

(v.) to repeal, cancel

• syn: withdraw, retract, annul, abrogate

• ant: affirm, endorse, uphold, ratify

vivacious

(adj.) lively, sprightly, full of energy

• syn: spirited, animated, ebullient

• ant: dull, spiritless, listless, indolent

whet

(v.) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager

• syn: hone, excite, stimulate

• ant: blunt, deaden, stifle, dampen

Abrasive

(adj.) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down; (n.) a substance used to smooth or polish

• syn: (adj.) chafing, grating, rasping, erosive

• Ant: (adj.) smooth, polished, satiny, oily

acclimate

(v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation

• syn: accustom, learn the ropes

chagrin

(n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v.) to cause such a feeling

• syn: (n.) vexation, mortification; (v.) abash, mortify

• Ant: (n.) jubilation, exultation, triumph; (v.) exult, delight

complacent

(adj.) self-satisfied; overly content

• syn: smug, unconcerned

• Ant: discontented

Concur

(v.) to express agreement, approve

• syn: agree, assent, ratify, sanction

• Ant: disagree, differ, part company

defamation

(n.) the act of damaging someone’s good reputation; slander, libel

• syn: vilification, calumny

• Ant: salute, tribute

explicate

(v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret

• syn: elucidate, untangle, spell out

• ant: confuse, bewilder, obscure, obfuscate

fracas

(n.) a noisy quarrel or brawl

• syn: row, altercation, rhubarb, brouhaha

• ant: agreement, accord, unanimity, harmony

grotesque

(adj.) unnatural, distorted, bizarre

• syn: fantastic, outlandish, ugly, deformed

• ant: appealing, attractive, comely

pandemonium

(n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion

• syn: chaos, bedlam, three-ring circus

• ant: order, calm, tranquility, peace, repose

raucous

(adj.) disagreeably harsh-sounding; disorderly

• syn: boisterous, clamorous, strident

• ant: placid, tranquil, peaceful, serene, pastoral

receptive

(adj.) open and responsive to ideas or suggestions

• syn: open minded, tolerant, amenable

• ant: narrow-minded, intolerant, hidebound

renounce

(v.) to give up or resign something

• syn: repudiate, disown, abdicate

• ant: retain, secure, affirm, assent, aver

repress

(v.) to hold back; to put down or check by force

• syn: subdue, curb, stifle, bottle up

• ant: liberate, set loose, provoke, excite

reticent

(adj.) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant

• syn: taciturn, closemouthed, tight-lipped

• ant: talkative, garrulous, voluble, long-winded

savory

(adj.) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable

somnolent

(adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep

• syn: groggy, soporific

• ant: alert, lively, wide-awake, stimulating

vehement

(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful

• syn: emphatic, vigorous, impassioned

• ant: apathetic, lukewarm, subdued, muted

voluble

(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent

• syn: loquacious, garrulous, long-winded, prolix

• ant: uncommunicative, reticent, terse

zealous

(adj.) eager, earnest, devoted

• syn: ardent, fervent, devout, dogged, gung ho

• ant: reluctant, unwilling, averse, tepid