Vocabulary Workshop Level D Unit 8

assurance

(n.) a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence \n \n SYNONYMS: promise, sureness, poise, self-possession \n ANTONYMS: uncertainty, doubt, insecurity

asylum

(n.) an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety \n \n SYNONYMS: sanatorium, sanctuary, refuge

console

(v.) to comfort; (n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device \n \n SYNONYMS: (v.) soothe, solace, alleviate \n ANTONYMS: (v.) distress, aggravate, bother, vex, torment

dilate

v.) to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon \n \n SYNONYMS: enlarge, expand, prolong \n ANTONYMS: compress, constrict

dross

(n.) refuse, waste products \n \n SYNONYMS: rubbish, trash, detritus, dregs, scum

dwindle

(v.) to lessen, diminish \n \n SYNONYMS: decrease, shrink, fade, peter out \n ANTONYMS: increase, enlarge, swell, proliferate

flippant

(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy \n \n SYNONYMS: frivolous, impudent, impertinent, insolent \n ANTONYMS: serious, respectful, deferential, obsequious

immunity

(n.) resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation \n \n SYNONYMS: exemption \n ANTONYMS: vulnerability, exposure

institute

(v.) to establish, set up; (n.) organization that promotes learning \n \n SYNONYMS: (v.) found, bring about; (n.) academy \n ANTONYMS: (v.) terminate, discontinue, demolish, raze

liability

(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous \n \n SYNONYMS: difficulty, impediment \n ANTONYMS: advantage, asset

preposterous

(adj.) ridiculous, senseless \n \n SYNONYMS: nonsensical, absurd, incredible \n ANTONYMS: sensible, reasonable, realistic, plausible

pugnacious

(adj.) quarrelsome, fond of fighting \n \n SYNONYMS: combative, belligerent \n ANTONYMS: peace-loving, friendly, amicable, congenial

rabid

(adj.) furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies \n \n SYNONYMS: zealous, raving, infuriated, berserk \n ANTONYMS: moderate, restrained, blasé, indifferent

realm

(n.) a kingdom; a region or field of study \n \n SYNONYMS: domain, duchy, bailiwick, jurisdiction

rejuvenate

(v.) to make young again; to make like new \n \n SYNONYM: renew \n ANTONYMS: wear out, exhaust, enervate, debilitate

remunerate

(v.) to reward, pay, reimburse \n \n SYNONYMS: satisfy, profit, benefit

sparse

(adj.) meager, scant; scattered \n \n SYNONYMS: thin, scanty, few and far between \n ANTONYMS: plentiful, abundant, profuse, teeming

sterling

adj.) genuine, excellent; made of silver of standard fineness \n \n SYNONYMS: first-rate, outstanding, worthy, pure \n ANTONYMS: shoddy, second-rate, sham

venture

(n.) a risky or daring undertaking; (v.) to expose to danger; to dare \n \n SYNONYMS: (n.) gamble; (v.) try, chance, undertake \n ANTONYMS: (v.) withdraw, retire, shrink from, shy away

warp

(v.) to twist out of shape; (n.) an abnormality \n SYNONYMS: (v.) bend, distort, misshape; (n.) irregularity \n ANTONYMS: (v.) straighten, unbend, rectify