Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Level H - Unit 8

aberration

(n.) a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome

syn: deviation

ad hoc

(adj.) for this specific purpose; improvised; (adv.) with respect to this

syn: (adj.) makeshift

ant: (adj.) permanent

bane

(n.) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison

syn: spoiler

ant: blessing

bathos

(n.) the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown

syn: mush

cantankerous

(adj.) ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with

syn: cranky

ant: good-natured

casuistry

(n.) the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument

syn: quibbling

de facto

(adj.) actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned; (adv.) in reality, actually

syn: in point of fact

ant: by right

depredation

(n.) the act of preying upon or plundering

syn: looting

empathy

(n.) a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else

syn: compassion

ant: insensitivity

harbinger

(n.) a forerunner, herald; (v.) to herald the approach of

syn: (n.) precursor; (v.) presage

ant: (n.) aftermath

hedonism

(n.) the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure

syn: sensuality

ant: puritanism

lackluster

(adj.) lacking brilliance or vitality; dull

syn: drab

ant: radiant

malcontent

(adj.) discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions; (n.) such a person

syn: (adj.) disgruntled; (n.) grumbler

ant: (adj.) satisfied

mellifluous

(adj.) flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed

syn: euphonious

ant: grating

nepotism

(n.) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives

pander

(v.) to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others; (n.) a person who does this

syn: (v.) indulge

ant: (n.) pimp

peccadillo

(n.) a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming

syn: lapse

ant: felony

pièce de résistance

(n.) the principal dish of a meal; the principal event incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment

syn: centerpiece

ant: preliminary

remand

(v.) to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court

syn: return

ant: send on

syndrome

(n.) a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterize or indicate a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc.

syn: complex