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